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What are your favorite coin books and research materials?

What books do you almost always have on hand that you use for research or just to flip thru? Which books would you recommend to a new collector? Any books on specialties or just coin books in general?

Tomimage

Comments

  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,772 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My specialty is southern gold, so I always have Doug Winter's New Orleans, Dahlonega, and Charlotte gold books at hand. The first thing I do when evaluating a coin for purchase is read his two-three page analysis of it, preferably with the coin in-hand.

    As for more general reading, Bowers' Adventures with Rare Coins and More Adventures with Rare Coins are among my favorites. I also like his Numismatic Companions series--their small size makes them easy to tote around. Bowers books are generally excellent; I am currently enjoying the book, The Norweb Collection: An American Legacy. Unfortunately, this one, like several others, has become hard to find.

  • DaveGDaveG Posts: 3,535
    I'd recommend that any new collector start off with "The Coin Collector's Survival Manual" by Scott Travers.

    After that?

    It depends on what particular interests the collector has, but you can't go wrong to start with a Red Book, Breen's Encyclopedia and a grading guide (such as Photograde, the ANA Grading Guide or the PCGS Grading Guide - first edition only, of course).

    Check out the Southern Gold Society

  • DentuckDentuck Posts: 3,812 ✭✭✭
    I most often find myself going to the Red Book for specifications (weights, diameters, mintages, compositions, etc.).

    For U.S. gold, The Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins, 1795-1933, by Garrett and Guth.

    For the most numismatic facts packed per square inch, The Expert's Guide to Collecting and Investing in Rare Coins, by Q. David Bowers.

    For early small coins, Fractional Money by Neil Carothers.
  • College of Hard Knocks , manuals and study guides.
  • farthingfarthing Posts: 3,294 ✭✭✭
    Standard Catalog of World Coins from Krause
    The Provincial Token-Coinage of the 18th Century by Dalton & Hamer
    Old Davisson sale catalogues
    R.I.P. Wayne, Brad
    Collecting:
    Conder tokens
    19th & 20th Century coins from Great Britain and the Realm
  • segojasegoja Posts: 6,112 ✭✭✭✭
    Great question. I'm working to add some reference material to my web site.

    Love ideas from whomever.
    JMSCoins Website Link


    Ike Specialist

    Finest Toned Ike I've Ever Seen, been looking since 1986

    image
  • cherrypickers gude, breen, greensheeet, kelly and scott, and of coarse the dreaded grey sheets.
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭


    << <i>College of Hard Knocks , manuals and study guides. >>



    image many of us learned that way you knowimage
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    What about the giant coffee table books by Bowers, Encyclopedia of US Coins/Garrett etc?

    The Bowers books on Silver Dollars are also quite pricey. I saw part one listed for 500 bucks earlierimage
  • A Guide Book Of United States Coins (The Official RED BOOK), 56th Edition by R.S. Yeoman
    Handbook Of United States Coins (The Official BLUE BOOK), 56th Edition by R.S. Yeoman
    Official A.N.A. Grading Standards for United States Coins, Fifth Edition by American Numismatic Association
    Official Guide To Coin Grading And Counterfeit Detection, First Edition by Professional Coin Grading Service
    Grading Coins Today: An ANA Correspondence Course, by Don Bonser
    Grading Mint State U.S. Coins: An ANA Correspondence Course, by J.P. Martin
    How To Grade U.S. Coins, by James L. Halperin
    Photograde Official Photographic Grading Guide for United States Coins, 18th Edition by James F. Ruddy
    Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States A Complete Encyclopedia, Volume One by Q. David Bowers
    Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States A Complete Encyclopedia, Volume Two by Q. David Bowers
    Morgan Silver dollars A Complete History and Price Guide, 2nd Edition by Q. David Bowers
    The Morgan and Peace Dollar Textbook, by Wayne Miller
    The Comprehensive U.S. Silver Dollar Encyclopedia, by John W. Highfill
    Comprehensive Catalog And Encyclopedia Of Morgan & Peace Dollars, Fourth Edition by Leroy C. Van Allen & A. George Mallis
    Morgan Dollars An In-Depth Study, Second Edition by Dean F. Howe
    The Top 100 Morgan Dollar Varieties: The VAM Keys, by Michael S. Fey, Ph.D. and Jeff Oxman

    Out of all of the refernces above, I use Official Guide To Coin Grading And Counterfeit Detection, First Edition by Professional Coin Grading Service the most, followed by Comprehensive Catalog And Encyclopedia Of Morgan & Peace Dollars, Fourth Edition by Leroy C. Van Allen & A. George Mallis
  • Without a doubt, Coin World Almanac. I use it as a primary reference source and refer to it constantly.
  • My library is quite small. I refer most to the red book and Cherrypicker's Guide, with Complete Guide to Lincoln Cents and Looking Through Lincoln Cents right behind. image
  • TavernTreasuresTavernTreasures Posts: 1,262 ✭✭✭
    I always find myself going to Breen's "Complete Encyclopedia of US and Colonial Coins" first, and I have an extensive library.
    Advanced collector of BREWERIANA. Early beer advertising (beer cans, tap knobs, foam scrapers, trays, tin signs, lithos, paper, etc)....My first love...U.S. COINS!
  • Definitely Coin Atlas and 19th century Krausse

    TKC!
    Want List
    Proud member of the CUFYNA
    Need a Banner Made? PM ME!
    image
  • CDN (both greysheet and greensheet), Coins Magazine, Coin World (Value Trends is a super priceguide), Bank Note Reporter, Kelly Book on National Bank Notes, PCGS online priceguide, Numismatic News, Kitco (precious metals quotes).
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    Any of you dated gold collectors think that Akers books are still relevant?
  • Steve27Steve27 Posts: 13,267 ✭✭✭
    19th Century 1801-1900 Standard Catalog of World Coins (if you thinks it's only good for darkside material, you should take a look at the US Territorial Gold and US Patterns sections).
    "It's far easier to fight for principles, than to live up to them." Adlai Stevenson
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,772 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Any of you dated gold collectors think that Akers books are still relevant?

    Only for issues which have do not have a more up-to-date resource. Even for these, Heritage and ANR archives, Bass catalogues, and others are more useful--you just have to work harder to get the information.
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭


    << <i> Any of you dated gold collectors think that Akers books are still relevant?

    Only for issues which have do not have a more up-to-date resource. Even for these, Heritage and ANR archives, Bass catalogues, and others are more useful--you just have to work harder to get the information. >>



    Now if prices realized from all legitimate auctions could be archived and be made available in one place.image

    I'd happily pay a subscription fee for that service and watch several other pricing sources fade away into oblivion.
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,772 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Now if prices realized from all legitimate auctions could be archived and be made available in one place.

    I'd happily pay a subscription fee for that service and watch several other pricing sources fade away into oblivion.


    Whitman offers such a product yearly. It costs about $150 and covers all major auctions for about 10 or 15 years. I saw it in Atlanta at the spring ANA show, but I did not want to carry it home with me. Wen I finally got around to ordering it from Whitman, it was sold out. image

    I plan to purchase it next year.
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    Oh jeeez, no no no, I've got those. I meant something like the Heritage Archives.( does this qualify for research "materials"?) Nice drop down menu, click, done.

    That's a link to a good source of info by the way ( what RYK posted)
  • shylockshylock Posts: 4,288 ✭✭✭
    or just coin books in general?

    Numismatic Art In America by Cornelius Vermeule. Aesthetics of the United States Coinage by the curator of classical
    art from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

    Great book!
  • CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,614 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Probably the thing I reference most frequently are back issues of the Numismatist and Numismatic Scrapbook, indexed in NIP at the ANS (amnumsoc.org).

    I suspect Coin World could be on the same level, but alas no index exists, and even if it did, who has a full set?
  • Since I collect Buffalo nickels, I'm partial to David Lange's "The Complete Guide to Buffalo Nickels". For grading help, the ANA video on mint-state coins, the PCGS grading guide, old editions of Brown & Dunn and Photograde and Coin Values "Making the Grade" are all favorites. I like QDBs "The Expert's Guide to Collecting and Investing in Rare Coins". And, of course, the Red Book needs to be a standard. For research (price), I use all of the previously mention reference sources. I have lots of auctions catalogues with PRLs going back to the early eighties and lots of Bowers & Ruddy and Bowers and Merena catalogues, Rare Coin Reviews, etc. I also have issues of the Buffalo Nickel Reporter (anybody remember this publication) from 1981-1982. And this only a sampling of books, catalogues and other printed materials I've been hoarding for no particular reason.

    Wow! No wonder my wife tells me to clean up the bookcase so often. She doesn't even realize all the stuff I have stored in the basement.
  • WaterSportWaterSport Posts: 6,696 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Counterfeit Detection : a reprint from the Numismatist Vol ll 1988 for Lincolns. It is especially good for 1922 cent Die types and die markers for all Mate proofs.

    WS
    Proud recipient of the coveted PCGS Forum "You Suck" Award Thursday July 19, 2007 11:33 PM and December 30th, 2011 at 8:50 PM.
  • A Guide Book Of United States Coins - Yoeman
    Official A.N.A. Grading Standards for United States Coins - Bresset
    Commemorative Coins of the United States - Q. D. Bowers
    What do you think, Mr. Bigglesworth?
    image
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Probably the thing I reference most frequently are back issues of the Numismatist and Numismatic Scrapbook, indexed in NIP at the ANS (amnumsoc.org).

    Good ones! When I worked at Heritage back in 1991 a fellow came into the showroom on a saturday and asked if we would have an interest in a virtual complete set of Numismatists. I asked him what year and he replied "all the way back". I asked Steve Ivy is we ( Heritage) wanted them and he told me that if I wanted them to go ahead and buy them for myself. OK! I asked the fellow what he wanted for them which turned out to be reasonable and he asked me if we had a hand truck as his van was outside and these things were heavy. I wound up moving the equivilent of 6 bannana boxes of Numismatists, all in sets and still have them today. Has to be several hundred pounds!image

    Needless to say I was out bid on a duplicate set tonight heh.
  • LongacreLongacre Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
    I use the Winter books and read anything by QDB. My favorite QDB book is Abe Kosoff Dean of Numismatics, but that is far from being a "research material".
    Always took candy from strangers
    Didn't wanna get me no trade
    Never want to be like papa
    Working for the boss every night and day
    --"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
  • Owing to my specialty, I keep close by, a copy of the 3rd edition of Overton, Herrman, BHNC preturb die state study and census, personal notes, old Downey catalogs, and whatever upcoming auction catalog has coins of interest.
  • chiefbobchiefbob Posts: 1,077 ✭✭✭
    The Accugrade System, Vol 3, by Alan Hager.

    It's the definitive guide to Ike Dollars.

    This is still 1987, isn't it? image
    Retired Air Force 1965-2000
    Vietnam Vet 1968-1969
  • So Far

    The Coin Collectors Survival Manual: Scott Travers.
    The Expert's Guide to Collecting 7 Investing In Rare Coins: Bowers
  • jpkinlajpkinla Posts: 822 ✭✭✭
    I would strongly recommend David Aker's books on 20th Century gold as well as his volumes on U.S. gold coins.....
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    read anything by QDB. My favorite QDB book is Abe Kosoff Dean of Numismatics, but that is far from being a "research material". >>



    I just bought a signed copy in Hard Cover ! I don't recall seeing a hard cover one before. What an adventure!
  • CoxeCoxe Posts: 11,139
    Full set of the annual VAM Updates/Supplements
    CDN from within the last 6 months for basic valuation reference
    Kessler's Fugio Cents
    Breen's Half Cents

    Silver dollar attribution guides used to be around me a lot more. As I absorb them, I rarely consult them. Rob's 21-D comes in handy still and I am just getting into the new 78-S one. The 79-S rev 78 guide I should use more than I do.

    If I am going to a dealer's shop, I take nothing except rarely a grey sheet.
    If I am driving to a show, I'll take the grey sheet (and probably buy a new one if they have a table) and have the VAM updates in my backpack to check out the interesting coins I cherry. I never actually take them out of my backpack at a dealer's table.
    If flying to a show, The VAM book and a couple attribution guides will be added and probably remain at the hotel while on the bourse but might be in the rolling backpack.
    Should I be specifically looking for Fugios or half cents, I'll just memorize the characteristics of the varieties I want.
    Select Rarities -- DMPLs and VAMs
    NSDR - Life Member
    SSDC - Life Member
    ANA - Pay As I Go Member
  • AuldFartteAuldFartte Posts: 4,597 ✭✭✭✭
    The Cent Book 1816-1839, John Wright (middle date large cents)

    The Die Varieties of United States Large Cents 1840-1857, Bob Grellman (late date large cents)

    The Half Cent Die State Book, Ron Manley (U.S. half cents)

    Penny Whimsy, Sheldon (early date large cents)

    Standard Catalog of World Coins from Krause (18th, 19th & 20th century volumes)

    The Provincial Token-Coinage of the 18th Century by Dalton & Hamer (British Conder Tokens)

    ... and NOTHING by Breen.
    image

    My OmniCoin Collection
    My BankNoteBank Collection
    Tom, formerly in Albuquerque, NM.
  • Unless you have a copy of the 1949 edition of Early American Cents you'll have to get rid of your Sheldon. Breen was a collaborator on Peny Whimsy and his research was responsible for much of the rarity ratings and some of the other research. The Wright, Grellman, and Manley books probably also draw on Breen's research as well.

    By the way, am I the only person who uses the Coin World Almanac? Whenever the question about what boks we use comes up, no one ever mentions it but me.
  • BarndogBarndog Posts: 20,454 ✭✭✭✭✭
    "Federal Half Dimes 1792-1837" by Russell Logan and John McCloskey

    A copy at work, a copy at home, and need to buy a copy for my car.
  • lkrarecoinslkrarecoins Posts: 2,137 ✭✭✭
    For the beginner.....I suggest:

    The Red Book
    ANA Grading Guide and/or Photograde guide
    Cherrypicker's guides
    Any book by Scott Travers ("How to make $ in Coins right now" is very good)

    Good luck...and when you are ready to step it up a notch, there are many great books if
    you decide to concentrate on one series.
    In Loving Memory of my Dad......My best friend, My inspiration, and My Coin Collecting Partner

    "La Vostra Nonna Ha Faccia Del Fungo"


  • << <i>read anything by QDB. My favorite QDB book is Abe Kosoff Dean of Numismatics, but that is far from being a "research material". >>



    I just bought a signed copy in Hard Cover ! I don't recall seeing a hard cover one before. What an adventure! >>




    For pleasure rather than research reading it is hard to go wrong with the Bowers books on famous collectors/dealers such as Norweb, Kosoff, Garrett, Eliasberg etc. The one exception for me was the one on
    Virgil Brand, it just kind of left me cold I think because he did not come off as a very likeable person and his
    personal life seemed to be pretty messed up.
  • All of James Wiles' reference books, Breen's US Encyclopedia, Cherrypickers, Wexler/Flynn's RPM book, Charleton's Canadian reference book, Wexler's The Lincoln Cent Doubled Die book, etc.
    Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

    Apropos of the coin posse/aka caca: "The longer he spoke of his honor, the tighter I held to my purse."

    image
  • Breen's book on the cents of 1793 - 1814 still a useful tool despite his tendency towards some inaccurate information. Mark Borchardt edited the work after Breen's death and it was published in 1999. Del Bland's census information is very useful. though not current,

    Bill Noyes' Large Cent worjs for both the early dates and middle dates

    The Official Large Cent Condition census book by bill noyes - 2005 publishing

    CQR (Copper Quotes by Robinson 18th ed ) and Penny Prices (Bill Noyes 2005)

    old Superior LC Auction catalogs featuring ( especially Jack Robinson 1989; Robinson Brown 1986 and 1996; G. Lee Kuntz 1991; JR Franknfield 2001; Wally Lee 2003) unpallelled LC cataloging



  • lkeneficlkenefic Posts: 7,741 ✭✭✭✭✭
    PCGS Guide to Grading Coins and Counterfeit Detection

    Snows Book on Flying Eagles and Indian Head Cents

    ...and as soon as I can find one [at a reasonable price] Penny Whimsey and Bob Grellmans book on Large Cent attribution...Leo
    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

    Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    Does anyone here collect these books and not just use them for research on coins?

    I do. I have a pretty extensive library.......some of them I've never even openedimage
  • CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,614 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I don't "read" books either. I just use them for reference. I read them enough when I get them so that I have a high level view of their contents.
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    Good gravy, it would take several lifetimes to actually read them all!

    Anyone have an opinion on the Type I, II, and III double eaglle books??

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