Ten Numismatic Books I'd Love To Read

Posted 01/05/2021 11:56 am

Here are three I'd be interested in buying and reading...

In the same vein as the current library of "100 Greatest..." books:

1. The 100 Greatest 20th Century Collectible Commemorative Coins from Around the World

I wouldn't be interested in a book filled with ultra-rare coins that are impossible / near impossible for most collectors to acquire.

To support my medal collecting habit:

2. The US Medal Market: 1960-1990

There were thousands of medals released in the US during this 30-year period. I would love to explore a comprehensive discussion of the sponsors / producers of the medals of this period and see as complete of a list of medals as possible. I read a lot of publications from that time period to learn what I can, but it would be great to read the findings of another researcher / author!

Lastly, a book that would help me understand some of today's collectors:

3. The Top 10 Methods Third-Party Grading Companies Use to Convince Collectors to Collect Coins by Slab Insert

Many collectors of today (regardless of age) have abandoned the "Buy the coin, not the holder" advice in order to pursue multiples of the same coin encapsulated with different inserts. Even as someone prone to collecting multiple official packaging options for modern US commemorative coins (i.e., base coin + coin in Coin & Stamp Set + coin in Young Collector's Set, etc.), I can't make the leap to collecting the same coin by TPG slab insert variety. I'd love to learn the insider secrets as to how the TPG companies have made it happen!

An illustrative story of the insert collecting phenomena: I was at a coin show a few years back and overheard two collectors discussing their pursuits (we were sharing a lunch table at the time). One was a baseball fan and was attempting to collect the 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame silver dollar by PCGS insert type. He said there were more than 100 different labels! I couldn't help but think about the money it would take him to complete such a set! (FWIW: I checked the PCGS site before posting this and found that there are more than 190 different inserts each for the proof and uncirculated coins listed! I wonder what progress that collector has made in the last few years?!)

Quote:
2. Inside the mind of Q. David Bowers and his insights and personal stories about the rare coin business.

@westcoin: This sounds like the Bowers book you posted about last summer. Is this book still a possibility? I haven't seen an update from you since November and have been wondering.

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