Book recommendations

AuroraRarities

Hello all,

I've been a collector of US coins for decades, but upon finding these forums it wasn't long before I found myself more often reading the World Coins forum. The dark side has me!

The only thing holding me back is my understanding. I have an extensive library on US coins, but am sorely lacking when it comes to world. I'd like to study the whole of Europe before selecting an area in which to specialize.

I have the Krause catalogs, but would really like books that are more focused and detailed. As an analogy, in US coins I can look a the Red Book to get an idea what years a certain coin was issued and very basic info about each type. If I want more specifics I could look at Breen's Encyclopedia. If I want to drill down further still I can pull Sheldon, Newcomb, Stewart, or Taxay's book from the shelf. These latter books go far beyond simply date, mintmark, and picture. They delve into history, how the denomination came about, the personalities of the die makers, specific die varieties, etc. Are there equivalent books for European coins?

Can you folks recommend books that go beyond the Krause catalogs for coins of Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and other European nations of 1500-1900? I realize this is a broad range, but beg your indulgence.

Thank you,

Pat

TwoKopeiki

Welcome to Darkside, Pat.

It's quite a broad range you've listed. There are numerous references for each of those countries. Many in the native language of those countries. For Spain, for example, there are numerous books that would go more in-depth on individual sub-series, as well as some general books like Las Monedas Espanolas. Is there anything specific you want to focus on?

TwoKopeiki

Here are a few links:

Link 1


Link 2

Zohar

I suggest combing this site LINK

For European Crowns - I recommend Davenport as a general overview of European Crowns, Moser/Tursky (Austrian Talers), Probst (Salzburg Talers), Voglhuber (Die Varieties of Habsburg Talers). Feel free to reach out with any particulars.

pruebas

Pat,

I mainly collect Mexico, but I dabble in English copper of the Soho Mint and various other eclectic European stuff.

For the copper, I highly value "English Copper, Tin, and Bronze Coins in the British Museum, 1558-1958" by C. W. Peck in 1960. Bibliophiles will tell you to get the second edition from 1964 (reprinted 1970) since it is (somehow) better. It's probably a $200 book but well worth it.

For France, I have the three works by Jean Mazard and like them. They are out of print and probably expensive now. The Gadoury references are in print and probably more up-to-date.

One thing you will find is that good world references are NOT cheap and often the better ones are out of print, so you need to get them from a numismatic bookseller (or auction).

Check out the Numismatic Bibliomania Society's Numismatic Bibliography for other titles in your areas of interest. It's not exhaustive, but it is a start.

TwoKopeiki

<< <i>Pat,

I mainly collect Mexico, but I dabble in English copper of the Soho Mint and various other eclectic European stuff.

For the copper, I highly value "English Copper, Tin, and Bronze Coins in the British Museum, 1558-1958" by C. W. Peck in 1960. Bibliophiles will tell you to get the second edition from 1964 (reprinted 1970) since it is (somehow) better. It's probably a $200 book but well worth it.

For France, I have the three works by Jean Mazard and like them. They are out of print and probably expensive now. The Gadoury references are in print and probably more up-to-date.

One thing you will find is that good world references are NOT cheap and often the better ones are out of print, so you need to get them from a numismatic bookseller (or auction).

Check out the Numismatic Bibliomania Society's Numismatic Bibliography for other titles in your areas of interest. It's not exhaustive, but it is a start. >>



Another good way to get your hands on extensive numismatic material is to join a numismatic society, like NI (www.numis.org) There are hundreds of references in their numismatic library.

pruebas

Lest you get sucked in too deep, let me refer you to this thread as a warning of what can happen if you, like many of us here, get too carried away. (I am too afraid to post to that thread because I don't want to know the answer.)

MrEureka

The best place to start may be with auction catalogs.

coachbedford

If you're interested in world coin that had direct connections to Colonial America and the early United States (most of which are not mentioned in U.S coin guide books) then "Uncovered: The Lost Coins of Early America" is your source!

LochNESS

<< <i>If you're interested in world coin that had direct connections to Colonial America and the early United States (most of which are not mentioned in U.S coin guide books) then "Uncovered: The Lost Coins of Early America" is your source! >>


That's a very cool suggestion, especially since the coins in that book came from many of the countries he listed. Well done

I think I'll check out that book from my local library

AuroraRarities

So many great resources! Thank you all for your help!

Not to worry, pruebas. I have shelf space available (for now).

DeliaBug

As others have mentioned some of the references can get very pricey. Google books actually has a slew of older books that you can 'try before you buy'.