Numismatic literature has hitherto been prepared for the specialist, and adapted to those who wish to possess in categorical form a complete- or as nearly so as the writer's knowledge enabled him to make it-- list of the coins and medals of the period under review. Some books have been written for the beginner and those who at small cost were desirous of obtaining an elementary account of the particular branch of coin collecting in which they were interested. Few attempts, however have been made to provide in condensed form a book dealing with the obsolete currencies which have, throughout the world's history, been used by its most prominent nations.