|
Treasure in the Cellar: A Tale of Gold in Depression-Era Baltimore | 
| Author: Leonard Augsburger
Publisher: Maryland Historical Society
Category: Book
List Price: $26.00
Buy New: $15.98
You Save: $10.02 (39%)
New (22) Used (4) from $15.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 43977
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 208
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6 x 0.5
ISBN: 0938420976
Dewey Decimal Number: 737.4975271
EAN: 9780938420972
ASIN: 0938420976
Publication Date: May 9, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Coin collectors and enthusiasts have long been familiar with the story of two boys who unearthed a fortune in gold coins while playing in a Baltimore basement in 1934. But the rest of the story trailed off to a few odd details. One of the boys died young, the other ran into trouble with the law. No one seemed to know more. A lifelong coin collector, Leonard Augsburger was determined to uncover the rest of the story. What happened to the kids? The gold? Who buried it in the first place? Meticulously researched, Treasure in the Cellar delves into the lives of the boys and their families, recreates the hours at the police station after the boys reported what they found, and describes months of courtroom drama as descendents of several former property owners came forward, each claiming the fortune for themselves.
|
| Customer Reviews:
Liked it September 7, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book was a page turner. It's a true and interesting story that is well written. I'm very satisfied and looking for more books by this author.
Historically entertaining August 20, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was not sure what to expect when I started my read. Within a few pages I felt like I was part of the 1930's. Len brings the reader through the time period as if you are traveling in a time capsule. Soon you are living the story. The historical facts, intertwined with the personal story of events, presents an educational history lesson of real life in 1930's Baltimore in an extremely entertaining fashion. Unlike "National Treasure" the movie this story is plausible and true. Excellent work Len!
Treasure in the Cellar - A Gem of a Book August 19, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Treasure in the Cellar is a real page turner and fascinating read. I was captivated by the story and drawn into the drama surrounding the coins. The smooth writing style and narrative account make the characters and the time period come alive. The author provides just enough detail and historical background to set the stage and to put the story into context without getting bogged down with too many obscure facts. The author does an excellent job of revealing how the effects of historical events such as the Civil War, the 1918 flu epidemic, and the Gold Recall Act along with treasure trove law impact the fate of the boys and the gold coins. A real gem of a book!
Treasure Lives Up to Its Title June 23, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Treasure in the Cellar is a beautifully written true-life adventure. Len Augsburger's writing style makes you want to keep reading to uncover the next twist and turn as you root for these disadvantaged kids to keep their treasure. Meticulously researched, the book brings depression-era Baltimore and its characters to life.
An excellent read for anyone interested in coins, Baltimore, treasure troves, and history June 21, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Len does a terrific job weaving history, numismatics, law, and lore, backed by extensive research to spin a masterful tale. As the story goes, two poor boys find a sizable accumulation of gold coins from 1834 through 1856 (including the mega-coin, an 1856-O $20) in the basement of a slum in Baltimore in 1934. Naturally, the coins change their fortunes, along with those of their families, forever, but in ways which are not entirely expected. The book deals a lot with the legal challenges for ownership of the coin, which are indeed complex, but fascinating. There are twists and turns in the story line, and while you never know exactly what is going to happen in the end (and I am not going to tell you), a Hollywood ending never really seems in the cards.
Len has a polished, professional writing style that is very smooth and readable. The research goes deep and touches upon many aspects of the history of the City of Baltimore from the early 1800's through the Depression. Despite that the subject is relatively esoteric, anyone who enjoyed Tripp's Illegal Tender or Frankel's Double Eagle (both written about the 1933 Saint) would find this book to be equally pleasing.
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
