would you buy a book that costs $200?

mozeppa · May 26, 2005 4:54AM

say on lincoln cents...
if it had nearly 10,000 hi-resolution photos...
consisted of about 1200 to 1500 pages ...
and maybe bound in 5 or 6 volumns...
and included all known coneca doubled dies...
all known coneca R.P.M.'s

key word here being "all"

nay sayer's restrain yourself from posting to say "it can't be done"

cuz i don't really want to hear any negativity....this is america...we can do anything!

Wekar · May 26, 2005 4:55AM

What about when the *all* in the book becomes out of date a week later when a new DDO is discovered? That's why websites like coppercoins' are most excellent.

kranky · May 26, 2005 5:05AM

Loose-leaf binders solve the problem of new varieties.

I have paid more than $200 for a coin book and it was only two volumes.

Numismatics · May 26, 2005 5:07AM

Right now, I won't pay $200 on books.

RBinTex · May 26, 2005 5:10AM

How many do you need to sell at that price, Mike, to break even?

Put me down for one

weresteve · May 26, 2005 5:11AM

Nope ... in all liklihood it would already be obsolete by the time it hit the streets ...

vega1 · May 26, 2005 5:13AM

No, you can find that info on the web in most cases, or just ask here on the forums.

mozeppa · May 26, 2005 5:26AM

if......and it would be a BIG IF .......IF I DID SUCH AN UNDERTAKING....it would be a labour of love of the hobby.

breaking even wouldn't be the issue!

also as wekar pointed out ...being obsolete wouldn't be an issue...as it would be compiled in a format that would allow "add in pages"

the same way the dewey decimal system allows for new books on the same subject...i.e..............page 598.1...598.2 and so on.

might take a few collaborators tho.

I have nealy every book that has photos in them now....you'd be surprized at the lack of proof reading in them.

edited for my own poof reeding

RedneckHB · May 26, 2005 5:28AM

edited for my own poof reeding

Lincolns aren't reeded

Yes I would buy it

BillJones · May 26, 2005 5:30AM

I won't pay $200 for a Lincoln cent book, but I've done it for books that covered early coins.

clackamas · May 26, 2005 5:32AM

I would, but I don't think it could be done. You would have to get an example of each wich is monumental. If you do it you can photograph some of my doulbed dies. I have 09 VDB, 39, a few different 43's, and the rare 47 all in high mint state. I would think that if you sat in the ANACS grading room for a few years you may come close but it would be a monumental task.

mozeppa · May 26, 2005 5:38AM

thanks clakamas....might call ya on that one!

i have over 1600 varieties myself.

800+ rpm's

260 + ddo's ddr's

lots of dups in various stages.

mind boggling! to say the least!

pharmer · May 26, 2005 5:47AM

I would pay that or more if it had pics of all the coneca rpm's and doubled dies, especially the latter. Wiles is doing OK with the rpm's, and some new ones get into errorscope occasionally. Please let me know where to send the check prior to any work being done, so you have some incentive to finish it. Wait a minute, that makes no sense. For the buyer, that is. Pretty good deal for the author, though.

Shamika · May 26, 2005 5:50AM

Yes I would!

xbob · May 26, 2005 5:53AM

You could do it as a web site. Then, If demand is merits, publish it into a book.

I prefer the web as a resource. $200 is more than I would spend on a book like this but I'm more of a casual Lincoln cent collector. Cherrypickers is about as in depth as I get with the variety searching for now.

Best of luck if you take on the task. Just don't make Stanton's mistake (on CPG v.2) and promise the book - until it's done.

291fifth · May 26, 2005 5:58AM

Well done specialized books can be successfully sold for rather high amounts...but only in very limited quantities. As an example, I have a copy of "Irish Banknotes - Irish Government Paper Money From 1928" by Martan Mac Devitt. Including shipping, I paid about $140.00 for it. The book, which is the standard (and just about only) reference in its field was published in 1999. Only 500 copies were printed. I bought this from the publisher last year...the original 500 copies still had not sold out after being in print for 5 years.

If the book is well done it can sell...but slowly.

lathmach · May 26, 2005 6:14AM

Sure, I'd pay that if it were in a series I collect.
I don't have any that cost that much, but if I couldn't replace the ones I have, I wouldn't sell them at any price. At least as long as I'm collecting.
The best investment a coin collector can make is buying good books.

Ray

BowTieCoins2 · May 26, 2005 6:16AM

Sure would!

RYK · May 26, 2005 6:17AM

A high quality reference with excellent photos on a series of interest is priceless. You bet I would pay $200!

BigD5 · May 26, 2005 6:35AM

<< <i>I won't pay $200 for a Lincoln cent book, but I've done it for books that covered early coins. >>

Ditto that!

Longacre · May 26, 2005 6:41AM

If I collected the series and the book was the foremost reference in that series, then I definitely would pay $200. It would have to be a quality work, if not "the" reference at that price.

cladking · May 26, 2005 6:50AM

Sign me up.

Stunner · May 26, 2005 7:00AM

I paid $60.00 for the Krause book of world coins, so I guess $200.00 isnt out of the question.

mozeppa · May 26, 2005 7:42AM

man i'm so tempted

for instance...look up in your wiles book on lincoln cents...these examples

1949-s rpm #8
1949-s rpm #9............................both have the same photo!

1950-s rpm #6
1950-s rpm #7............................yup!.....again its the same photo!

anyone else notice this?

believe me there are many other goofs and faux pas in the other texts as well!

bigtonydallas · May 26, 2005 7:58AM

Just dont copy the Cherrypickers Guide 4th edition!!!!! lol

DennisH · May 26, 2005 8:45AM

$200 on a Morgan book, yes.

On a Lincoln book, no.

LincolnCentMan · May 26, 2005 8:47AM

yes

David

carl · May 26, 2005 9:03AM

Rather spend that much on a coin. Only book I ever buy is the Red Book and recently coppercoins book on Lincolns but that's my limit on books.

coynclecter · May 26, 2005 9:16AM

Are you buying a "book" or are you buying a lot of knowledge that you don't have, can't get elsewhere for less and that might make or save you a lot of money?

joeyuk · May 26, 2005 9:16AM

Absolutely. A good reference book with close-ups is essential.
I have many on cents because few are complete.

Conder101 · May 26, 2005 6:06PM

On Lincolns, I probably wouldn't but I have on other series. The D&H book runs from $185 to $200, I'm on my third copy.

richbeat · May 26, 2005 6:30PM

Yes, I would. In fact, I'm doing so now. I'm surprised no one has mentioned coppercoins' Lincoln cent attribution guide, which is exactly what you are describing. Just go to coppercoins.com and you can order it.

AlaBill · May 26, 2005 7:59PM

I'm of the opinion that money spent on books is an investment in the hobby not an expense. Still the book must be accurate and definitive for the series.

would you buy a book that costs $200?

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