All the Money in the World

While some of the "reviews" here do not even really review the book, here is the real story. This is a beautiful collection of illustrations of coins and currency from all over the world. I obviously could not afford to include some of the items illustrated here in my own collection -- they are just too expensive. But owning this book is a great substitute.

The best of its kind.

Excellent!

This book lives up to its title. This is an extremely large area to cover and spends most of its pages on modern issues. The first chapter presents the early history of money in a nice short, but fairly comprehensive way. The book is mostly photos which should make the subject interesting to most readers. Many examples are not out of the reach price wise for the average collector. I find that appealing and found a number of items that I would like to add to my personal collection. There are many high quality color photographs of both coins and banknotes. This is not a good reference for identifying money, but rather a brief overview of money from its beginning to present day. I found a number of subjects that triggered the desire to know more. It is an excellent introduction to the field of world numismatics and will help most to see the big picture from a global historic perspective.

This is one of the best books about the history and types of money. From gold coins, to silver dollars, and the paper dollar, along with other world currencies, the photos here are fantastic. Money has connections with the forms of government, national symbols, political leaders, along with abstract and artistic ideas. Contemporary money is very sophisticated with colors, watermarks, and fine detail. The color and art on the Dollar has improved over the past two decades, and since the launch of the Euro, its art and images have been wonderful. Other nations, like Denmark and the UK, retained their currency during the Euro launch for economic and sovereignty reasons. Incidentally, their currency is very interesting and nice to look at from time to time. As for the antique currencies here, they are also alluring, particularly the gold coins.The transition from gold and silver to paper or fiat currency was of immense importance in the early 20th century in the US, UK, and other nations, followed by another significant change in the early 1970s. Today, the US Dollar includes the essential statement: "This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private". The issuance of money by government is central to our stability and power yet the general public often avoids the detail of budget debates which, over time, affect the value and circulation of dollars. In Western and Central Europe, the single currency project appeared to have a good basis but has also caused issues in southern Europe. Interestingly, one reason for the Euro, ease of small transactions, has become obsolete with low-cost or free credit cards. Yet the Euro is on the whole a benefit for Europe, and will incentive southern Europe to become more industrialized and engage in more long-term infrastructure investments, as the business sectors that relied on cheaper exchange rates decline. We in the US have both a liberating and a difficult relationship with money -- whether it's spending, personal loans, home mortgages, Medicare, or Social Security. We are connected with money throughout our lives. Writers like Ayn Rand have spoken about the central role of commerce and individual freedom that money brings us, considering it inseparable from constitutional freedoms. Today there are new challenges as government spending and corporate borrowing are at higher and higher levels. Where there is a borrower there is also a lender. Once impoverished, China is now a world lender. Where all this is going, and whether inflation at the 5, 10, or 20% rate could return are issues we'll probably only find out when the national debt is $35 trillion, $40 trillion, or higher. At the One Trillion per year deficit spending rate it will only be ten years before we reach $35 trillion or so, representing about $300,000 of debt for every American family. Whether God or destiny will save us if inflation returns is unclear. If inflation reaches the 10 or 15% level the working poor and retirees on Social Security will bear most of the costs.On every dollar the national motto, "In God We Trust" is printed. This phrase first appeared in 1864, and subsequently appeared on famous currency, including the Liberty Dollar. Senators and Representatives may universally or nearly universally have faith, and have trust in God, but that does not excuse them from their obligation to act in our national interest without fail. For the 2020s and 2030s, many issues and questions will recur. One of these questions is: When Congress is rapidly increasing spending, generating higher and higher volumes of dollars in circulation without a corresponding security or economic gain, is the Congress protecting our national interest and the future of the American people? If not, some Congressmen should retire or be voted out of office. At this time the only real consolation is that Europe, Japan, China and other nations are generating new volumes of currency at the same rate or faster.

The book has tons of paper money from around the world very amazing book good to speak to kids with this book too

As a historian (former corporate historian for Grumman Aerospace) and an educator, I found Mr. Mudds book informative, insightful and entertaining! It is especially useful to educators as an introduction to the amazing world of money. The author has a wonderful way of presenting historial events and anecdotes that is compelling to all age groups. The illustrations and photographs are especially striking. My students are actually vying for the privelege of borrowing it. If you are a history or business teacher it is sure to become a classroom favorite!I noted in some previous reviews that the author, Mr. Mudd, has been misunderstood in regards to his comments on the introduction of new dollar coins. If one were to take the effort to review his original quote, it is clear that he was not saying the dollar coin has never been successful, but rather, for it to be successful, the existing paper notes must first be withdrawn. It is understandable for children to misread data but it is sad when adults do so.

This is a wonderful overview of the world's money, written in a concise, knowledgeable manner. The illustrations a magnificent and I would recommend it to anyone with any interest in the subject. But then isn't everyone interested in money? If you read this and remember half of it, you will be an expert of the highest order.

Just what I wanted for my hobby