Out in a farm in Everett, Massachusetts, Hermon Atkins MacNeil was born on February 27th, 1866. He began art classes at a school in a large city of Boston, Massachusetts. Hermon would later graduate form the school and attend a university. While at Cornell University, he continued to learn and grow in multiple areas of art as a young adult. After this, Hermon moved to Europe to master sculpting, modeling, and other forms of art. He settled in France for a couple of years and attended well known schools to increase his mastery in the skill. Hermon returned to America to work with Frederick MacMonnies and Lorado Taft. He took the role of teaching at the Art Institute of Chicago and eventually started his own art studio. A typical work of art by Hermon produced Native Americans. Over time his respect for natives increased. He even traveled to tribes to recreate artwork and pictures for them. At the young age of twenty-nine, Hermon married Carol Louise Brooks who was also a sculptor. Their wedding took place on Christmas Day, 1885. The following year, Hermon received a scholarship allowing the newly wed couple to move to Rome. There they had a son and Hermon started another art studio. After completing pieces of art, they traveled again back to Paris, France. As he traveled around, his reputation increased as he made more and more art. From there he settled back in United States of America. Here Hermon created many works of art to be displayed at various expositions. The United States mint directory which was Robert Woolley at the time, was pushing for new coin designs. Hermon entered the contest for the new quarter design. A famous man named Adolph Weinman at the same time entered his designed. Adolph's were chosen for the United States dime and half dollar. Hermon's design was liberty holding a shield and an olive branch. This is today called the Standing Liberty Quarter. His intent with the design was to symbolize that the United States wanted peace during World War I. Also, the shield represented that they would fight if needed. He wasn't happy about all of the changes wanted by Director Friedrich von Engelken. Hermon placed changes he wanted on the Standing Liberty Quarter, resulting in a type II. Hermon's inspiration was based off of Doris Doscher for his Standing Liberty. This design lasted for fourteen years, and ended at the start of the Great Depression, in 1930. This was to be his only United States coin, but his work didn't stop there. He completed work on the United States Supreme Court building, the Pony Express, and competed in several contests. He lived in his home and art studio till his death. He died at the age of 81. Hermon Atkins MacNeil completed many accomplishments in his life full of art and sculpting.

     In London on November 16, 1840 Charles Edward Barber was born.  Together, his family moved out of London and into the United States of America, because his dad, William Barber, had taken a job opening with the Philadelphia Mint. Charles learned from his dad about engraving skills growing up, and took the job of being his father's apprentice. During his time of assisting his dad and being his apprentice, Charles fell in love with Martha E. Jones in 1875.  They would later have a daughter named Edith. August 31, 1879 was the day that his dad died. The mint was then looking for a new chief engraver following the death of William Barber. In search for a new engravers, they created a contest for ten people. The whole contest ended up falling apart and the United States Mint then went to its plan B. George Morgan, Charles Barber, and William Key were told to each create a design to see which would be chosen to take over the job. In the end,  Charles was chosen to work as the Chief Engraver for the Mint. His first coin designed by  Charles was the the $4 Gold Stella Coin. It only was produced only for a year and interestingly possessed the words "400 CENTS" on it. Currently, this coin brings up to seven figures in value to collectors. A few years down the road, Charles introduced the Liberty Head V Nickel.  The Mint at the time was wanting to replace the current design of the seated liberty and other types of coins around the time. The words "5 CENTS" were later added on to help keep fraud transactions from happening. Charles started the journey in creating the Barber coins in 1891. He designed a plaster half dollar containing a seated liberty named Columbia for his first design. This was rejected by the Mint. Many people complained about parts of the design including President Harrison, Mint director, and the public.  Another person who heavily criticized Charles was President Roosevelt. The president would have preferred Augustus Gaudens to create the designes instead of Charles. The result produced a similar creation of Charles' first design. His design was used for the dime, quarter, and half dollar. He also helped over see the start of the Denver Coin Mint.  Other countries he helped produce coins for were Hawaii (later a state), Venezuela, and Cuba. He had a large stash of coins he engraved over the 48 years at the Mint. He did produce commemorative coins and medals in the remarkable career that he had.  He married Caroline Gaston on December 3, 1907.  His Barber design for the dime, quarter, and half dollar would last for several years later after his death. He died in Philadelphia on February 18, 1917. He was also buried in the city too.  

     The author of the book, Scott A. Travers, (former ANA vice president) creates a book full of pointers and tips on making money off coins, avoiding counterfeit coins, graded coins, buying, selling, and more throughout the book. Over the coarse of the book, Scott helps the reader identify safe and secure transactions versus risky  and dangerous buys.  He well states the benifts of grading coins, and informs the reader on making profit through the "crack-out game".  Content on the history of grading is also included. The book explains ways to get the best deals when buying, and getting the most money when selling a collection. Scott places forth his experienced knowledge on the gold and silver market as well as a simple United States and Canada silver coin melt value chart. This book gets four and a half stars. The Coin Collector's Survival Manual, Revised Seventh Edition is a book to go back to refer to at every step in a coin collector's journey. I would recommend this book to other people.

2) Online Library. Sadly, many people don't live close enough to use the American Numismatic Association library on a regular basis. Members are spread out all over the country. As they have made it possible for books to be shipped, today's prices of mailing items are extremely pricey. An online library will be used by all members, regardless of location.  Through the online library, books could be borrowed from planes, car trips, or on a regular day anywhere. It would let all Young Numismatics the chance to have a book to review for YN dollars too.