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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
The Error Coin Encyclopedia by Arnie Margolis. New editions are also with Fred Weinberg. This book is important in order to learn the minting process, of the past and the present which, IMO, every collector should know whether they intend to collect errors or not. The Red Book is good, but I think CoinWorld's Comprehensive Catalog & Encyclopedia of United States coins is better. Photograde. I don't believe this book ever went out of print. But you can also find the original 1970 edition in hardback, used, at ABEs. It has better photos against a black background. It's a superb book--*for circulated coins.* If you decide to learn the minting process then Numismatic Forgery by Charles M. Larson, is first rate and I believe is still in print. If you wish to go further into grading try this one-- Grading Coins: A Collection of Readings. Compiled by Richard Bagg and James J. Jelinski. These are former articles that were printed in the NUMISMATIST, the Numismatic Scrapbook and the Whitman Numismatic Journal. These are articles that go way back. Some go way, way back. But it will help you to better understand what will soon become your opponent--The U.S Grading system. I'm sorry to say, but with U.S Coin grading, the tail is wagging the dog. That book too is out of print but can be found at ABEs. Edited by longnine009
06/20/2007 10:39 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1151 Posts |
I will go with the Red Book and either Photograde or the better Official ANA Grading Standards for Unites States coins. May I also suggest a magazine subscription to Coin Values, a Coin World's magazine that has great articles and a good price guide. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1031 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
If you want to save money, go to the Walmart website. The same books you would buy at a book store, coin store, through Whitman, etc are usually about 30 to 40% cheaper on that web site. If your just starting out, you may want to try flea markets for some coin books. For a start, buy any of them that is cheap. You can always learn from any book. If you can find one cheap enough, you can't beat Looking Through Lincoln Cents. However, prior to buying a book on coins anywhere, try the Walmart web site. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Strongly recommend A guidebook of United States coins by R S Yeoman (the RedBook) When you get it READ IT! Look at the pretty pictures,read the sections on grading each series, note the specifications for each series, ignore the prices listed. The biggest mistake a lot of collectors make is the get the RedBook and all they ever look at are the prices which are the LEAST useful part of the book. If you read the first section of the book you will find one of the best short histories of US coinage found anywhere. The Error Coin Encyclopedia is very good for an understanding of the minting process, something a great many US collectors are woefully ignorant of. I through knowledge of the minting process will let you recognize a lot of damaged coins being sold as errors, and will help you understand how some of the strange things you might see on coins can happen. For a grading guide I tend to prefer the 1970 edition of Photograde, it is much better than the other editions. If I can't get that then I would go for the ANA grading guide fourth or fifth editions, not one of the earlier ones or the most recent. Either of these grading guides will work well for the circulated grades. It is not possible, in my opinion, to teach MS grading from a book and pictures. Yes the text can give you some tips and pointers, but the only way to really learn it is through in hand practice with many many coins. A fourth book that I always like to recommend (and which I think no one listens to me about.) is the Coin World Almanac, any edition except the 2000 millennium edition. It is a wonderful reference library in one volume and I refer to it constantly. I have three different edition sitting around my chair right now. (each edition has a few things in it that aren't in the others.) If you are a subscriber to any of the Amos press publications you can join Amos Advantage and buy the hardbound 1990 edition for $5 plus postage. Not bad for a 742 page book. (You have to search for it on the Amos Advantage website it doesn't just pop up.) I swear I need to buy a half dozen copies just so I can give them away to newbies. Just looked on Abebooks and they have two of the 1990 editions for about $5 each INCLUDING shipping! There are several copies of the first, 4th, fifth and sixth editions available for around $8 including shipping. Edited by Conder101
06/22/2007 3:01 pm
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Valued Member
United States
107 Posts |
Where does Breen's Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins rank? I thought it would have been recommended much more in this thread than what I've seen.
My issue with the Encyclopedia is that it's EXPENSIVE! Are there any lower-cost alternatives to be had? I can't find this book for less than $150 in used condition!!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2540 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
The Breen encyclopedia is a useful book but the question was for the first three books for a newbie. While the Breen book is good, lets teach the guy to swim first before we toss him in the middle of the lake.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2540 Posts |
1) The Red Book2) ANA Grading 3) Breen's encyclopedia. (A lifetime of reading.) 4) Anything that has information about anything that you don't already know about. Coin collecting is a lifetime pursuit of coins and knowledge. If you ignore the knowledge, then you will never truly appreciate the coins. I learn something every day, or try to learn something.. |
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Valued Member
Netherlands
376 Posts |
So many books, but I use the Krause-Mishler World Coin Catalogue for years...
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2764 Posts |
I just bought these books at Amazon.com: Red Book ($13.22) ANA Grading ($14.95) PCGS Counterfeit Detection ($13.57) The One-Minute Coin Expert, Edition #5 ($10.64) Blue Book ($11.66) Cherry Picker Guide ($26.37) A Guide Book Of United States Paper Money ($13.57) Strike It Rich With Pocket Change ($12.74) Totaling $116.72 - I only pay $4 for shipping of 1 books; I got free shipping for using the 30 days trial Amazon Prime shipping service (about $80 per year) I am also thinking of buying this book: The Experts Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins (Hardcover) for $17.62 (used) or $19.77 (new) ------- What do you guys think of this book? Of all the book mentioned above, which one is "A Waste of Money" & Which order should you start reading them, so that you will not drive yourself crazy. Thanks. Edited by SA4H
06/28/2007 8:45 pm
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New Member
United States
43 Posts |
The Red Book is very similar to the Blue Book and you almost don't need them both. Go with the Red Book instead. There are many other coin guides out there, but the Red Book is by far the best. |
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Valued Member
United States
54 Posts |
great facts, I wasnt sure which book to go with but i'll guess i'll be trying the Red Book! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Also, if just starting out you may want to check out flea markets, garage/yard/estate sales, used book stores, thrift shops, etc for any of those books. If your just starting out, you just want the facts and the prices in any book is just a guess. At one flea market I saw about 20 older issues of the Red Book for $1 each and cheaper if you bought all of them. Most were only a few years old and looked new. At one thrift store there near me there was a entire wall of books and many, many coin books and most for $1. Also, you may want to spend some time on web sites for coins and look up specific topics and then print out some and make your own reference book. The important thing to remember is not to spend to much money when first stating out in this or any hobby. There are just to many variables such as loosing interest in the hobby, an illness that is expensive, other more important interests. First be sure you want to collect coins prior to spending a lot of money on documentation. This is the reason there are so many of this type of books at used book stores, flea markets, etc. |
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Forum Kid
Kuwait
1523 Posts |
I have the 2005 RedBook, It is very informative. It may not be 2008 but heck how much price change could there be. I suggest (from personal use) the RedBook. If you like more indepth then buy individual collection. I have a book for Morgans which is very nice TheKid! |
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Replies: 27 / Views: 5,222 |
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Posted 06/20/2007 10:58 pm
