Old Copies Of Penny-Wise Available Online

Staggering reference base.

Lots of valuable information in that link! Thanks!

Yes thanks for that. I never heard of this before.

I'm thinking about it westcoin. It seems like a really interesting area of coin collecting to get into.

I'm following the advice oft cited here .... "buy the book before you buy the coin." So, before I take the leap of purchasing a large cent or joining the EAC, I'm doing my research.

I've requested Newcomb's United States Copper Cents for Father's Day. I'm also going through these old copies of P-W. Finally, I'm starting to watch large cent auctions to look at grading and see how things price.

While Newcombs book is interesting, it only has line drawings, and it was printed from his handwriting, looks much like an architect's handwriting and quite legible, it is also available online, I have a PDF if you'd like it drop me a PM and I'd be glad to email it to you, to see if it's really what you want.

I could never really wrap my head around determining varieties very well using it on any coins lower grade than EF or AU.

John Wright's The Cent book is the one to get for the middle dates. Still available from John & Mabel Wright directly, you can find the info in pretty much any recent Pennywise. (PM me if you can't find it).

Then there are the Noye's multi volume set, expensive but the very best books on large cents right now, a full set will run at least $650.00, available through Charles Davis Numismatic Books, I saw some on Klobe & Fanning's site last month as well.

For the later date large cents there is also Grellman's excellent book (2nd edition is best) I have the 1st edition myself.

Also Breen's encyclopedia of large cents is excellent, Del Bland and my friend Mark Borchardt worked a lot on that one, can be found online for free reading at PCGS.com it took me about 8 months after I decided I wanted a copy to find one under $200 but they do pop up in the usual locations.

Better quality printing from what I understand, fixed some errors and updated information. THe binding on that 1st edition wasn't so great, I recall an earlier copy of the 1st edition in a 2 volume 3-ring binder as well.

Also forgot to mention Red Henery put out a great middle date instant finder, very helpful on quickly figuring out a variety, again anyone that wants copies let me know I can provide them as I don't think it's online anywhere. It's only 4 pages, but designed to be a quick way to see if a coin is a tough variety at a show, flea market, pawn shop, etc. without needing to haul around an entire encyclopedia.