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Books on Coins as an Investment

CoinManiac527CoinManiac527 Posts: 76
in U.S. Coin Forum
Can you guys recommend to me the best books out there on buying coins as an investment? I am a collector, but I'm interested in the idea of selling some stocks and putting the money in coins.
My eBay Auctions of US Type Coinage


PM me if you have any MS63 or higher large cents and half cents. I'm also looking for a PR64RB Two cent piece, a PR64/PR63 3CS, and an 1859 Indian cent in MS62/63.

Comments

  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You can't learn much about investment coins from books. Collect first and then, when you have a very good feel for the coin market, start buying coins as an investment. Beware of any investment advice you may get from dealers!
    All glory is fleeting.
  • Conder101Conder101 Posts: 10,536 ✭
    How long have you been collecting? And how much study have you done on coins? You seem not to know that the standard answer to those who want to invest in coins is that "Coins are great for collecting, but as far as investing you would probably do better in stocks or Mutual funds." If you hope to make money from your collection, buy problem free pieces and hold them long term. Collectors who build nice collections usually find that the "investment" takes care of itself, while "Investors" usually wind up losing their shirts.
  • greghansengreghansen Posts: 4,301 ✭✭✭
    Although its somewhat dated (published 1998) Scott Travers' "Top 88 Coins over $100" is still a worthwhile read. At the time it listed his best 44 coin purchase ideas and also his 44 coin 'blacklist' to avoid. It is still worthwhile because of the thought process he takes you through for each coin he likes or dislikes. I still glance at it frequently and I still think a lot of his specific recommendations hold merit even 5 years later. It would be interesting if he (or someone) did an update on his picks to see how the market has reacted to them since publication.

    Greg Hansen, Melbourne, FL Click here for any current EBAY auctions Multiple "Circle of Trust" transactions over 14 years on forum

  • shylockshylock Posts: 4,288 ✭✭✭
    Maybe the best article was written by Barney here on the forum!

    As Greg mentioned, Scott Travers writes a lot on this topic but there's some sound advice for hobbyists in them as well. His "How To Make Money In Coins Right Now" has a title that turns me off but turned out to be an interesting read. Topics include grading, doctoring, cherrypicking and "insider trading" (how some buddy dealers can manipulate the sheet prices). Also has a few candid interviews with D Hall, Jesse Lipka, and John Albanese.
    Paul <> altered surfaces <> CoinGallery.org
  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    .............Books on Coins as an Investment should all be burned ala "Fahrenheit 451" sans memory.

    al h.image
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,636 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Check out "The Profit March of your Coin Investment" by G W Haylings 1964.
    Its grandiose claims about the tremendous gains yet to come in BU rolls will
    put you in the proper frame of mind for viewing coins as an investment. It
    also is fairly well done for what it is and has some interesting insights. There
    are some other books by the same author and others in this same vein from
    this era. They make interesting reading and will show you that there is no
    sure thing.

    BU rolls were the hottest investment around in early 1964. Shortly afterward
    they crashed and took many fortunes with them. Many of the rolls from this
    era have yet to recover.
    Tempus fugit.
  • cherrypickincoincherrypickincoin Posts: 1,760 ✭✭
    How to make money in Coins Right Now, by Scott Travers. A lot of this book is centered on a fallacy in my opinion, by selling coins immediately for profit, rather than holding onto them.

    Much of the book has to do with the crackout game. If you acquire a PQ MS64 and resubmit it and it gets the 65, you just made yourself some money. Good book but you may not agree with everything it says!
  • VeepVeep Posts: 1,423 ✭✭✭✭
    Other than those mentioned, here are a few:

    1) Investing,Collecting, Trading in Certified Commemoratives
    by Laibstain
    2) Don Kagin's Personal Guide to Rare Coin Investment
    3)Best Buys in Rare Coins by Pearlman
    4)High Profits from Rare Coin Investment by Bowers
    5) A Buyer's Guide to the Rare Coin Market by Bowers
    6) The Investor's Guide to Coin Trading by Travers
    7) Investors Guide to Silver Dollars by Hudgeons
    8) Silver Dollar Fortune Telling by Les & Sue Fox

    Most of these are old. Some are way olda nd out of print. I believe that nearly all can be borrowed form the ANA Library.
    "Let me tell ya Bud, you can buy junk anytime!"
  • Oldtrader3Oldtrader3 Posts: 121 ✭
    Here are a couple books for your consideration:

    The US Rare Coin Handbook, by: Les and Sue Fox.
    Coin Collector's Survival Manual, by: Scott Travers.

    I think that both are still in print.
  • abuellabuell Posts: 715


    << <i> Collectors who build nice collections usually find that the "investment" takes care of itself, while "Investors" usually wind up losing their shirts. >>



    There, in a nutshell, is all the advice that you need.

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