At last there is a comprehensive catalog of the coins of Palembang.

This sultanate on the Island of Sumatra (Dutch East Indies, today's Indonesia) issued coins until 1821; nearly all lead-tin, uniface, mostly inscribed in Arabic. Previous references gave them only sketchy (and inaccurate) coverage, with two nineteenth century works each illustrating fewer than 30 varieties.

Now Frank S. Robinson has compiled a little book, with background information, properly cataloging 291 distinct numbered varieties, all with clear enlarged photographs, plus rarity ratings on a ten-point scale. The work is the culmination of a project intensively analyzing 35,000 Palembang coins.

Copies can be purchased from Robinson for just $4.99 postpaid (foreign $6.50; Paypal or credit cards add 50c). Contact him at Box 8600, Albany, NY 12208; 518-482-2639; frank@fsrcoin.com; website www.fsrcoin.com.

Robinson, a former New York State administrative law judge, is a longtime dealer in ancient and world coins, and author of seven previous books including Confessions of a Numismatic Fanatic, and The Case for Rational Optimism.