The Online Controversy Around Walter Breen’s Work And The Breen Coins Encyclopedia.

Walter Breen’s Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins is one of the most sought-after references for avid coin collectors – both new and old. However, obtaining a copy of the Breen Coins Encyclopedia is difficult; it’s been out of print for decades, and prices for an old copy can easily top $200.

For internet-savvy coin collectors, there was a brief reprieve in this regard – an online version of Breen’s Encyclopedia was available for a limited time, in its entirety. While the webmaster of the site confirmed having permission to publish the content online, ultimately, the parent company who owns the copyright for Breen’s Encyclopedia asked that the online version be taken down.

This led to a storm of controversy, as collectors speculated as to the reasons for the site being brought down. Among them, reports of a new version of the Breen Coins Encyclopedia that is rumored to be in the works.

While no immediate date has been set for any new release of the book, the old edition remains available from most online book retailers for around $220 – $400. For those who find this pricing cost prohibitive, you may also be able to borrow a copy of the book from a local library.

While we may never see  a Breen Coins Encyclopedia available online again in the future, it remains a valuable resource for those who are truly interested not only in coins, but in the history surrounding many of these older proofs.

In addition to the Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins, Breen also wrote several other works, including an encyclopedia of United States Half Cents, and another of Silver and Gold Commemorative Coins.

The commemorative coins book is priced much the same as the U.S. and Colonial Coins book, however, the half cent book is typically less expensive. The half cent book may be a good way to gauge Breen’s style of writing, if you are considering purchasing his more expensive works.