If you are looking for a unique gift idea for that certain coin or history enthusiast, you should consider the award-winning biography by Rusty Goe, about Cason City Mint superintendent James Crawford.

Packed with more information about an officer in the Bureau of the Mint system than any other reference, this 650-page book, entitled James Crawford: Master of the Mint at Carson City – A Short Full Life, traces this historic figure from his birth in Kentucky to his rise to fame and authority at Nevada’s venerated coin factory in Carson City. While a small minority of coin collectors are familiar with the name James Crawford, this great man’s legacy has unfortunately been obscured in the passing pages of time. Until now, that is. For, author Rusty Goe, employing the tedious tenacity of a skilled researcher, has reconstructed James Crawford’s life, primarily through excerpts from hundreds of pages of newspapers spanning the second half of the nineteenth century. From stories of California’s Gold Rush to a probing chronicle of Nevada’s Comstock Lode, readers will be transported back in time to one of the most colorful eras in American history.

Even readers that are unfamiliar with James Crawford, or the mint at which he served, will enjoy the experience of learning about how some of the most famous coins in history were produced; and about how political chicanery affected the monetary system of the United States. But aside from coin making and political rascality, readers will appreciate the many human-interest stories scattered throughout the pages of this enchanting biography. James Crawford loved life and certainly lived it to its fullest measure.

Whether out in the woods on a hunting expedition, participating in a sporting tournament, attending a masquerade ball, vacationing at beautiful Lake Tahoe, escorting a dignitary around town, presenting a speech at a Republican rally, or playing a practical joke on a friend, Crawford always found himself at the center of attention. And, just as those who were close to him admired, respected and loved him, readers will also become enamored with him by the time they have turned to the last page in this exhaustive volume.

Complementing the absorbing narrative is a visual-feast of images, including dozens of coins from the Carson City Mint, and numerous pictures of persons, places, and old newspaper clippings. Rusty Goe spiced up his first major work, The Mint on Carson Street, which won Book of the Year honors from two prestigious numismatic organizations (PNG and NLG) in 2004, with a similarly profuse presentation of images, and he has not detoured from this award-winning style in this new biography on James Crawford.

• The Numismatic Literary Guild honored it with its 2008 Extraordinary Merit Award
• This riveting book will appeal to a diversified readership, including lovers of Nevada history, Old West history, U.S. monetary system history, U.S. Mint history, and biographies of famous Americans
• Extensive history of the Carson Mint
• It is filled with interesting facts and inspiring anecdotes.
• Laced with more than 2,250 footnotes
• The most comprehensive biography of any figure related to numismatics to date

The book is available in hardcover and softcover. The suggested retail price for the hardcover is $89.95, but due to a special discount offered by the publisher, you can get it for as low as $53.98. The retail price for the softcover is $59.95, but discounts can reduce the cost to $41.98. Ask your favorite bookseller. For more information, please contact Southgate Coins at 5032 S. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89502; or phone (775) 322-4455.