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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2133 Posts |
I'd like some advice, please. I've got the KM standard catalogues for 1600 to date, as well as a grading guide for US coins. I've been thinking about asking for 'A Guide Book of United States coins 2014' for my birthday, however, do I need the Red Book, Blue Book or Black Book ? The Blue and Black books seem to be half the cost of the Red Book. What is the difference in content ? I'm quite interested in Civil War tokens - are there listings for that ? |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4591 Posts |
Whittman has a specialized book for CW tokens. Not sure what any of the guide books will really offer you... the same data is available online (NumisMaster and Numista) with more current prices... althought it IS nice to just page though. .. get the Red Book - more useful IMHO than the others -----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1959 Posts |
Get the Red Book. I used it for years. It is nice to look through. Prices are pretty accurate on most coins. High dollar coins, key dates, and extreme rarities fluctuate and are difficult to put a number on price sometimes. I used a Red Book for years with the understanding that it isn't the coin Bible or anything. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
2133 Posts |
I find Numista unusable - there aren't a lot of coins, many coins are wrongly indexed, many ordinary coins missing. I don't want to subscribe to Numismaster because it's noit worth it to me. Regarding ordinary coins, I was hoping to get more detail on recognising varieties because that's not (explained) on Numismaster. Does Numismaster contain info on US and Canadian tokens or is it the same content that's in the KM standard catalogues for 1600 to date ? Regarding Civil War tokens, are you talking about A Guide Book of Civil War Tokens: Patriotic Tokens and Store Cards, 1861-1865 and Related Issues By Q David Bowers or is that what's in the Red Book ? |
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New Member
United States
10 Posts |
The RedBook lists retail prices (reasonable prices to buy coins from dealers for), the Bluebook lists what dealers will pay for coins that they will insert into their inventory (less than retail), and the Blackbook is a combination of both and no one really uses it, as it only lists values for a very limited amount of conditions. |
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New Member
United States
14 Posts |
I would buy the Red Book too. The information is great and it is widely regarded by coin collectors. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
531 Posts |
The greatest value in the Red Book is it's complete listing, coin specifications, etc. Current auctions are the best source for values. The best information on Civil War Tokens are two volumes published by the Civil War Token Society. See here: http://www.cwtsociety.com/ Membership in the CWTS will get you discounts on the books you need. Be aware that a Third Edition of the Store Card book is in the works, perhaps as soon as the end of 2014. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Yes every collector of US coins NEEDS a copy of the RedBook, I'd personally go for the 5th printing of the professional edition. No better book to list just about every fact you will ever need on US coins. The professional edition is larger, and has more die varieties along with more photos, it doesn't cost all that much over the regular edition. Unless you plan to collect Redbooks, you probably only need one every decade or so (unless you are really into new modern releases from the Mint. Don't use it for pricing information, use it because it is and has been vetted by the best collectors and dealers in the world when it comes to US coins there is nothing better for general US coin knowledge and facts published out there, period! While I haven't yet started down the path of civil war tokens, it seems a natural considering I collect 2¢ pieces, I'm going to start with Q. David Bower's newest Whitman book on them, I'm sure I will end up with the volumes Penny Guy recommends eventually. "Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2133 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Just get the United States Guidebook AKA the Red Book, it's the best there is at giving you almost any answer to US coinage you'll come across in your dealings. Look for a used or year or so older one on ebay on the cheap. I see 2008 or 2009 sell for a couple of dollars lately. The ANA used to (maybe still do) hold a numismatic quiz at the Summer Seminars (similar to the college bowls of knowledge) three people on each team, every question can be answered from the RedBook alone, it was a tough game. "Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
As already mostly stated, get the Red Book. However, before you make up your mind, go to the Whitman web site for info on all the different styles of that book. Not sure this year but usually there is the Hard Cover edition. A soft cover ringed version. Sometimes other versions also including at one time a so called Professional Edition. Might request a catalog while your at it. Many, many other coin books also available from Whitman. I suggest not buying direct from Whitman since they mostly like to deal with dealers and their prices are rather high for an individual. Same books are or should be available on Amazon. |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,042 |
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Posted 12/31/2013 10:34 am
