Name three coin books everyone should own or read to improve their collecting.

Monstavet

I have my three in mind, but will wait to see what other people recommend.

mojorizn

Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of U.S. Coinage
That Gold Coin Book by Q. David Bowers
The Complete Guide to Buffalo Nickels by David Lange

KlectorKid

Cherry pickers guide
The Red book
Walter Breens Encyclopedia of U.S. coins

Russ

United States Coins by Design Type - Q. David Bowers (Just got this one for Christmas.)
Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection - PCGS
The Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of US Coins - Coin World

Oh yeah, and The Kennedy Half Dollar Book - Dr. James Wiles

Russ, NCNE

coinkat

It really depends what you collect. Walter Breen's book is probably the best for U.S. Coins in terms of providing a comprehensive overview. I haven't used the Redbook in over 10 years...but it is still significant because when varieties finally get listed in the Redbook it just makes alot of difference to collectors for whatever reason.

BillJones

A Red Book (a latest edition with lots of new color photos would be better)
Breen's Encyclopedia
Breen's Book on Proof coinage

I spend more time with those three books for general questions.

Runners up - The three catalogs for the Eliasberg collection because he had virtually one of the everything.

keets

.............Oh yeah, and The Kennedy Half Dollar Book - Dr. James Wiles as edited by Russ "Kent"!!!

hey monsta

nice to see you "back in the saddle" again!!!!!! when you settle on a series to start, give a whistle and i'll make a donation. you're a champ!!!

good books, Breen's for general use, Overton's and my next purchase---which i can't hardly believe i don't have---which will be the Jefferson Nickel Analyst.

al h.

Flash

Red Book
Coin Collecting for Dummies
PCGS' Coin Grading and Counterfeit Dectection

DoubleDime

Krause Standard Catalog of World Coins
Red Book
A grading guide

nwcs

Any grading book by a respected publisher (eg ANA, PCGS)
Red book
Subscription to a good coin magazine/newspaper

nwcs

I should also add Krause's World Coin Books.

Jamericon

Every collector should read Travers' Survival Manual.

CoinResource

I like Wayne Miller's Morgan and Peace Dollar Textbook -cr

pmh1nic

I echo Jamericon for my first choice:

Travers Coin Collectors Survival Manuel - It provides a good overview of the coin industry, grading, buying and selling coins, etc.

Yeoman's Redbook - A concise history of U.S. coinage and each U.S. coin series with a price guide (high retail).

From there it depends how deep and broad your collecting interest become. Breen is the best exhaustive book on the whole range of U.S. coinage. If you decide on a specific series there are many books that focus on individual series.

truthteller

A frigging dictionary- Several members cannot spell worth a hoot
An encyclopedia- Many forum members don't know history
Daily newspaper- Keep up on current events

TRUTH

shirohniichan

Krause's Catalog of World Coins (1901-present)
Krause's Catalog of World Coins (1801-1900)
Breen's Encyclopedia of US Coins

Bonus: Charlton Guide to Canadian Coins

I think the Krause catalogs are great references for US coin collectors since it gives a much better picture of what coins were used in the US. Many collectors don't realize that foreign coins were legal tender in the US until 1857 and that most of the "silver dollars" people in Western states saw until then were actually Mexican 8 reales coins (there weren't a whole lot of Seated Liberties floating around back then). In fact, Continental currency was supposedly payable in 8 reales coins.

TRUTH has a point about the encyclopedia. Some collectors must think American coins begin with the Morgan or Kennedy designs.

WilliamGibbs

Don Taxay's "U.S. Mint and Coinage"
Cornelius Vermeule's "Numismatic Art in America"
Philip L. Mossman's "Money of the American Colonies and Confederation"

While none of these books may help you in knowing how to distinguish between an MS-64 and MS-65 1895-O Morgan dollar, or how to detect artificial toning, each will help the reader understand the origins of U.S. coinage.
I've read the Taxay and Vermeule books in their entirety, and certain passages many times. I've used both many times as sources for articles I've written. Taxay's book is an excellent history on the early U.S. Mint, its technology and its officers. Vermeule's book is essential to anyone who wants to understand why our coins look the way they do.
I've not completed Mossman's book yet, but what I've read provides powerful insights into the nation's first coins. I plan to finish the book during next year (so many books, so little time).

William T. Gibbs

relayer

As soon as somebody writes them, buy these:

1) How to not get ripped off buying coins
2) How to not get ripped off grading coins
3) How to not get ripped off selling coins

Barndog

This would be a challenging assignment if you were limited to just three books!

perfectstrike

Red Book
ANA Grading Standards (surprised I'm the first to name this one)
Cherrypickers Guide

David

keoj

Breen's Encyclopedia
QDB's Silver Dollar and Trade Dollar Encyclopedia (this was an incredible feat.....a must have for silver dollars)
Redbook


keoj

Smoker

Red Book
ANA Grading Guide
Breen's Encyclopedia

ar18

breen
redbook
cherrypickers guide

michael

pcgs coin guide and counterfeit detection

breens usa and colonial coin hardcover telephone book

q david bowers experts guide to collecting and investing in usa coins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

construct

Scott Travers's The Coin Collector's Survival Manual

Red Book

PCGS Grading and Counterfeit Detection

RTS

...may not improve your collecting but may increase your love and appreciation of collecting...