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 Replies: 17 / Views: 3,157 |
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Valued Member
United States
301 Posts |
So, I love researching coins almost as much as buying, owning, and drooling over them for hours on end.....hopefully I'm not alone on that. I'm early 30s and I invest all my money into my collection and I believe that coins present a great investment opportunity, and I never got much enjoyment playing with my stocks.....plus I can share the hobby with my 2 young sons. My question to the more experienced and seasoned collectors is: What are your favored reference books, variety guides, and research materials. I'm not looking for your favorite price guide as I currently have the RedBook, KP Values, Greysheet, PCGS sub., Coins sub., CoinWorld sub., and 10 different Grading Guides. What I'm looking for is a more in depth look at scarce varieties, and a better understanding of Rariery, Current Populations, and info stemming from the earliest Colonial pieces to Modern Rarities. I figure investing some serious time and money in a vast library, will only help further my love and knowledge of this great hobby. Any information is appreciated, thank you for your time and suggestions!! |
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New Member
United States
19 Posts |
I use the Cherry Pickers Guide a lot. Mostly for coin roll hunting pennies. I also use the Morgan and Peace dollar VAM book occasionally. Lastly, The Experts Guide to Collection and Investing in Rare Coins by Q. David Bowers. This book covers a lot about the hobby. Personally, I like reading anything by David Bowers. |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
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Valued Member
 United States
301 Posts |
I saw the sub forum, but I honestly thought I woud get better responses from a wider range of people in a general forum rather than a publication specific forum. Sorry and thanks for letting it slide.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
As a great starter why not just go to the Whitman Publishing web site. Request a catalog too. They publish many, many such reference books. However, buying from them directly is not to smart. Their prices are excessive if your not a store but a good place to get a list of what is out there.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
Really depends what series you are looking at. Most of the in depth books are dedicated to a particular type, Early Half Dollar Die varieties by Overton, Getting your Two Cents Worth by Flynn, United States Pattern, Experimental and Trial Pieces by Judd etcetera etcetera the list just goes on and on..... I, no offence Carl, do not care for the Whitman books as a whole most seem trite and superficial in content....imo. Now that I said that, there is one Whitman book every collector of U.S. pieces must have,imho....... Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins....essential if you are interested in the coins and commerce of early America. Also rather inexpensive at around $35. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Coins may be more fun than the stocks, but you would probably do better investment wise with the stocks.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
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Coins may be more fun than the stocks, but you would probably do better investment wise with the stocks. Agreed. Not to mention it's going to be rough to retire on a coin collection for most people. I think coins are a good way to diversify a small portion of your portfolio, though. |
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Valued Member
United States
301 Posts |
I still have my retirement account. I just used to pour all my time and money into it. Then in 2008 it got obliterated, and caused me tons of stress. My collection was still there in its entirety and brought me joy.....Money isn't everything, happiness is.
Thanks for the tips. I'm gonna get that Encyclopedia and probably the Bust guide as well. Great tips
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4409 Posts |
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Valued Member
Australia
369 Posts |
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My collection was still there in its entirety and brought me joy.....Money isn't everything, happiness is. So refreshing to hear this. This obsession that every coin we collect MUST be worth something now or in the future spoils the basic principles of collecting. The gathering of knowledge comes with experience. Information from books and websites is useful and helpful in some cases but great care should be taken, as in most cases it is just the author's OPINION and may or may not be correct.But then if 90% of people believe it then it must be correct!! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
589 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
301 Posts |
Thats what I wanted!! Nice library! Thanks
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
The best new reference book out there is the "Grading Guide for Early American Copper Coins", put out by some EAC members. So many people buy Large Cents without knowing what they are doing. This will be a great help for them.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4409 Posts |
I acquired the EAC Grading Guide it was well worth the price. High quality pictures and well written text. I have it beside my computer at the moment along with a copy of Twenty Cent Pieces. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
MeadowView and I have a large numismatic book listing we have been working on, he can send you a copy just message him. That should give you an idea of just what is out there to be read. It's a lot, with more always coming down the pipeline, see the book forum to learn about a new Half Dime book being released in the next few weeks, I just posted about. I have spent more on books this year than on my coins! "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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Replies: 17 / Views: 3,157 |
Posted 09/14/2014 11:03 pm
I check the 
