Foster Publishing, Coin & Stamp

We buy and sell precious metals and rare coins. Come by the shop or see my eBay listings.

Pick up a copy of Fiat Paper Money and learn the history of money and why it matters today.

phone (510) 845-3015
2189 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA 94704

Monday-Friday: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday: 12:00 am - 4:00 pm

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Foster Publishing, Coin & Stamp   >  "About the Author"

About the Author

posted by silverbull on Jan 9th, 2008 at 11:25 am

Here is a little background on me and how I came to write Fiat Paper Money.

Ralph T. Foster was born in 1941 in the farming community of Galesburg, Illinois. He lived a typical Midwestern childhood there and subsequently attended Colorado College, at Colorado Springs. Upon graduation he received a degree in Political Science, with honors, and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. While serving in the Far East, on his off duty time, he taught conversational English to anyone who wanted to learn. Many of his pupils eventually became executives of major Japanese corporations. After leaving the Marine Corps, he pursued a career marketing pharmaceuticals, heart valves and pacemakers. Pursuing a life-long interest in precious metals and coins, Mr. Foster opened his own business in 1975, in Berkeley California (taking over an existing coin store that had been in business since 1931).

In 1991, Mr. Foster began compiling research on his major life's work, a book the history and evolution of fiat paper currency. In the meantime he published his first book, The Lost Stamps of the United, States (1993). He embarked on a series of book signings and classroom presentations to promote the book. It received widespread acclaim, and was eventually approved by the California Department of Education for classroom use.

Yet the passion to bring forth the history of fiat paper money remained. Given his location just a block from the University of California campus Mr. Foster has had the benefit of its renowned library system, and in depth discussions about fiat monetary systems with countless foreign travelers and students. Combined with the efforts of several dedicated and talented research assistants who shared their knowledge, the project went ahead at full steam. In 1995 Foster began working with Mr. Paul Myslin, who was then pursuing an English degree at the University. Mr. Myslin, himself interested in the subject matter from a young age, shortly thereafter became the editor of the book. After sixteen years of meticulous research Fiat Paper Money—The History and Evolution of Our Currency became a published work.


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$29 USD 260+ pages, full glossary, bibliography, and index.


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