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 Replies: 8 / Views: 2,294 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2200 Posts |
Like most collectors, I started off with the Red Book (and for me, the Blue Book too). It still is the one place where I get most of my information. So I consider the Red Book to be a basic beginner's source of information. At the other end of the spectrum, I view Breen's Coins as the supremo ultimo book for a coin collector. Well, being that the Breen book costs a ton, I'm wondering if there are excellent coin books somewhere in the middle for us intermediate/advanced collectors. What do you like? |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
The problem with books in the current numismatic market is that the prices can be out of date in a short time.
Yes, buy the book because of the detailed information, but more for the COMPARATIVE prices of the coins in relation to each other. Then refer to the Net for current price of the coins you are interested in and consider in conjunction to your book reference.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2200 Posts |
I'm not necessarily looking for books with prices. I'm looking for books about coins in general.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
jpsned: I like your numismatic academic attitude.
Good reference books and good books on nunismatic history are the 'tools of trade' for an interested coin collector, or if you are high falutin', a numistmatist. I have over 200 books in these two categories. I have been collecting for nearly 50 years, and my learning curve is still steep. Even so, I still do not know enough about numismatics to call myself a numismatist.
I sold a large part of my collection when I bought my first house 35 years ago. But I never sold any of my books. That would have been like committing numismatic suicide for me.
I collect coins of all centuries all cultures, ancient to modern, so you may well imagine that I am highly dependent on books that are based on good numismatic research.
If you come across a good specialist book with a big price that suits your needs, buy it anyway. Long after you have forgotten the pain of the big price, you will be glad that you did.
Ancient Chinese proverb:
'Expensive is not expensive, cheap is not cheap'.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Hate to sound like a Whitman agent but if you go to their web site or call them for a catalog, you'ld see they now have a really large assortment of coin books available. IF you order their catalog, the back if full of order forms.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
Coins books are very plentiful. I would get a book by a well known subject matter expert on the tpye of coins you want to collect. I just purchased J.H. Cline - Standing Libert Quarters (4th Edition) since I wanted to know more about the series. I also have the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins by Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
My favorite books on general interest come from Q. David Bowers, "All about coins" and " US coins as Illustrated by the Garret Collection" For Morgan dollars the Comprehensive guide to varities by Van Allen and Mallis of course and John Highfill's Complete Silver Dollar Encyclopedia. "Penny Whimsy" by Sheldon, Overton's Bust Halves, Fletcher's Shield nickel & 3 cent guide books, All of Rick Snow's books on FEC and IHC coins, Flynn's 2 Cent pieces variety books, there are so many specialized great books out there today! Many of these are expensive, here's a way you can read them all for free - Join the ANA and use their wonderful library by mail! "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 States
2295 Posts |
Search Amazon for coin books and you'll find a ton. You can even buy a used version at a much lower cost. Buy a book on whatever series or types you are interested in. The old saying is, "buy the book before the coin". That way you learn about what you are buying and to know how to find the proper deals. Some great coin authors to search on are: Bill Fivaz David Ganz James Wiles John Wexler J.T. Stanton Ken Bressett Q. David Bowers |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Heck, become a member of the ANA and you can check out books for nothing except the postage costs, they have just about everything. I tend to buy most of mine as I want to reference them at a latter date, but I use the ANA for things I just want to read about - or watch, they have tapes and DVD's too. "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: 8 / Views: 2,294 |
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Posted 09/24/2011 3:53 pm
