Not only is Mr. Foster’s subject one of crucial importance; he states his case clearly, drawing on a wealth of primary and secondary sources, touching upon many diverse cultures, from the Chinese to the European to the North American. His professional familiarity with all types of currency and coinage grounds the book, making it refreshingly free of airy theories and complicated jargon, accessible to any intelligent reader. His style is brisk and lively, enriched by the author’s own varied life experience. It is a subject to be ignored at one’s own peril. I highly recommend it.
Dr. Ruth S. Arnon Hanham
PhD. History
Harvard University
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