A 354-page book just published called El Numiscadero is now the most extensive Spanish -English numismatic dictionary in the field. It is now being distributed by its author from both Spainand California. A first edition of 1,000 serially numbered copies have been printed in Spain. Half ofthe books for distribution in Europe are in Spain, and half for the Americas have been shipped toCalifornia.

The dictionary's author is veteran numismatist Gary Beals, of San Diego, California who haslived in Spain for 16 years. The inch-thick book has a full color, plastic laminated cover with asewn spine and fold-in wings. It lists 2,543 Spanish terms, 1,876 English terms and has 1,264illustrations and photographs. The book's price is $39, or $30 for numismatic associationmembers.

The book has four sections: An introduction, a Spanish to English glossary, a English to Spanishglossary, and a special lists section that includes major numismatic associations, grading coins,current spending power of old Spanish coins, money slang, monarchs of Spain, monarchs of GreatBritain, Roman emperors, a list of popes, and Presidents of the USA. The listings at the rear of thebook augment the main glossaries and clarify certain points quickly and easily.

"Spanish-speaking and English-speaking collectors have a lot to share with each other," Beals said."This book is a tool to make the numismatic learning curve more fun and a richer experience. Thisis a jumping off point into deeper corners of the coin collecting world. Sometimes there are threeor four numismatic languages to consider. For example the process of rolling the edges of coins forstacking capability is called upsetting in USA English, rimming in UK English and torculadorawork in Spanish. There are Spanish terms in the Americas which are different from those of Spain."

Spanish-speaking collectors could be baffled by such English words as bucks, slabs, crack-outs,brockages, hubs, banknote pinholes, cuds, junk silver, basining, non-circulating legal tender,Sacagewea, smackeroos, chops, bits, whizzing, trussels, tressures and artificial toning.

"English speaking collectors might wonder about Spanish terms like media leche, patacones,pachucos, pacificos, pasta, patolcuachtlis, menudo, mereauz, perra gorda, marias, marinos,ochavos, onzas, óbolos, novenos and vellón - both rico and pobre.

Technical Editor for the book is D. Wayne Johnson, past editor of Coin World and a veteran medalsproduction expert for Medallic Art Company. "Thanks to Dick we have some fascinating and little-known details about coin and medals manufacturing," Beals notes.

"The English to Spanish glossary makes this book a far more complete cross-cultural reference. Itrelates the two languages more completely by listing expressions in English about coin production,collecting and a full range of numismatics - much more on medals, tokens and banknotes. Ourhope is that Spanish speaking numismatists will add to their English vocabulary of British andAmerican coin collecting with this section at hand," Beals said. "We can imagine new collectors inArgentina wondering 'Que es un slab?' Well amigos, los gringos invented the slab, or encapsulatedcoin, in 1972. It began its major growth in 1989. Interestingly, slabs are pervasive in the USA nowyet still almost unknown in Europe where collectors like a close touching rapport with their coins"

"Some great numismatists generously helped in the research and preparation of these books. As ayoung collector and author of the 1966 book I received the assistance, friendship andencouragement of noted numismatists who I remember to this day for helping with NumismaticTerms of Spain and Spanish America.

Interested collectors and dealers can contact Beals directly at: Segovia.gary@Yahoo.com.

El Numiscadero Gary Beals, Calle Roble 10B 1-E Segovia, Spain 40002. 34 921 413138

El Numiscadero's ISBN is: 0-86549- 950-0
Member: American Numismatic Association

Gary adds: