Your Thoughts On World Coins Reference Book..

I usually get second hand copies of Krause, but the four covering the last 400 years that I have are 10 years old now. As you would expect, the prices are way out of date. Comparative pricing that is 10 years old can be of some benefit.

For me, not to worry, I have many ways of finding current values, via current auction catalogues, from more up to date country specific price lists, and information from the 'Net. I can easily believe that some Krause prices were not correct in the first place. The more up to date auction catalogues that I have reveal different opinions re pricing.

Nevertheless, the advent of the Krause series of catalogues was a huge leap forward in numismatic publishing, and the comprehensive photography is heavily relied on.

wheatiefan: You have made a good point. Nevertheless, a lot of the mints around the World are now issuing for circulation bulk coins commemorative coins, that are obviously NOT NCLT. That presents a problem for catalogers. Do you include these commemorative or don't you?

Krause has responded by publishing their Unusual World Coins, but the mints still find ways of making things difficult for them.

You now have me looking for the alternative publication at least to examine, because the Krause reference is ready for replacement.

If you buy a secondhand 2006 edition or earlier (the most recent edition I own), you'll also get the first few years of the 2000s included. The 2000s catalogue didn't begin until 2007.

The main difference year-to-year is prices, so if prices aren't important to you, the age of the catalogue shouldn't be either. They tend to put a few more pictures in each year. While a few errors and omissions might get corrected, Krause seems to generate new ones each year to replace them.

They didn't have CD versions back when I bought mine - the only electronic copies of Krause back then were the Russian bootleg scans, so I've never tried to use one. Krause and/or online booksellers often bundle the book and CD together.

I purchased a used, full size 2006 krause standard catalog for $15-20 a few years ago. The shipping cost more than the book. I believe this was from a CCF member.

I purchased the smaller "Circulating issues" a little later, used, for about $15 after shipping. This was from Amazon.

I've seen for sale "A Catalog of Modern World Coins, 1850-1964" by the same company that makes the Red Book, but haven't perused it. The time frame seems like it would be helpful for some collectors, but once you commit to the krause 'by century' books, you're not likely to need it. Wizard coin sells it for $15 new.




When I first received the Circulating Issues book, I saw page after page of similar coins from Thailand, Spain, UK, and others, and thought I'd been misinformed. I didn't realize there were so many intended-for-circulation commemoratives.

As far as the catalog goes, as you say, the mints have made it hard for them. I think if they're likely to show up in pocket change, they deserve to be included. I don't think every US State Quarter needs its own KM#, but that's one of many judgement calls they have to make. . .

As a collector, I'm not interested in collecting them.

-wheatiefan

I like having the hard copy but the CD versions are marvelous for 'traveling'. I have 3 of Kruase catalogs on CD (and subsequently loaded on my hard drive) and when I'm gone for a weekend, carrying my laptop anyway, it becomes invaluable when I run across a shop. And as for current pricing, others have already chimed in the NGC site is great!

The only coin books I buy are nomally several years old. I never sell coins so any prices are not what I'm interested in anyway. For US coins, I buy a Red Book, hardcover, every year but never use them. They are part of my Red Book collection, nene ever opened. Otherwise, I like any coin books at least 4 or more years old.

the Krause CD versions are PDF files, and are very easy to navigate. The file for 1901-2000 coins is about 486 meg

I stopped buying the paper catalogs about 5 years ago and shifted to Numismaster. As much as I despise the shortcomings of the interface and their reluctance to actually make it more functional and accessible, it's still much more usable than lugging ginormous catalogs around.

It also gets updated more frequently. Some of the volumes, like the 1601-1700 volume, may only get published every 4-5 years or so. If you only need 1 or 2 volumes of Krause, it might not be that worthwhile, but as someone who uses ALL of the volumes, it's quite cost-efficient.

Plus, I have access to it out on the road without carrying 40+ pounds of paper catalogs.

I get the "All Access" package, which gets you access to the following:

1. World Coins 1601-1700
2. World Coins 1701-1800
3. World Coins 1801-1900
4. World Coins 1901-2000
5. World Coins 2001-
6. Unusual World Coins
7. Canadian Coins

Don't subscribe via the Numismaster page though. That rate is $109.95 per year, which is insanely expensive. You'd be better off buying the paper books.

Instead, you want to buy a subscription to the "Numismaster VIP Club":

http://www.shopnumismaster.com/numi...ter-vip-club

For $39.98 per year you get the All-Access guide subscription, plus digital AND PRINT subscriptions to Numismatic News, plus 10% off all ShopNumismaster orders.

For someone who has interest in both U.S. and World coins, it's a great deal.

Right now, use coupon code REDTAG10NM for 10% off the price (offsets the sales tax).

You can buy subsequent and multiple quantities to extend both your Numismaster and Numismatic News subscriptions.

IMO for $40 per year, it's a no-brainer.