For the complete numismatic library, all you need is Breen's Encyclopedia and the Ford Catalogs. Ag

Longacre · September 28, 2007 11:14AM

I was reading the intro to the final Ford catalog, written by Lawrence Stack. In it he writes, "in fact, a copy of Walter Breen's Encyclopedia and a set of Stack's John J. Ford catalogs will cover just about every collecting field in as much numismatic and commercial depth as any but the most advanced specialist might need."

Do you agree with this statement? My personal office is getting messy. Should I throw out my shelves of books and just have these two reference items in my library?

Aegis3 · September 28, 2007 11:21AM

I must be more of an advanced specialist than I thought!

More seriously, I disagree. My three collecting interests are errors, half cents by die variety, and Assay Commission medals. Breen and the Fords don't cover the first at all, the second is covered by Breen but in no great detail (well, there is the big red book, but the big red book is not the big black book), and the third is not covered by Breen and only two such medals were in the Ford series (Ford sold the Boyd medals off in some B&M auctions of the mid-late 80's). And that's just what I collect, not all what I'm interested in.

OTOH, if one were to digest the information in Breen and the Ford sales, they would still be much more knowledgeable than 98% of the people here.

Artist · September 28, 2007 11:37AM

I really enjoy my copy of Bowers / Winter's $3.00 Gold book, as well as my book on California Fractionals.

I have not seen the Ford Catalogues so I cannot speak to their merrits, but I do Own Breen's book - and I think it is a good general referrence, but if you really want to specialize in a series it is probably not enough.

firstmint · September 28, 2007 1:13PM

It just goes to show - you certainly shouldn't believe everything you read in an numismatic auction catalogue.

What is written in that Ford catalogue is far from being a "fact". Although there is much information covered in these works, some of it is not accurate; especially what is found in the Breen Encyclopedia.

lordmarcovan · September 28, 2007 1:18PM

<< <i>For the complete numismatic library, all you need is Breen's Encyclopedia and the Ford Catalogs. Agree? >>

Ummm, you're forgetting the Darkside, Luke.

Krause, Spink, Breen, Sear... these are some of my indispensibles.

MidLifeCrisis · September 28, 2007 1:21PM

I don't think they are the only books you need...but they form a great foundation to a complete numismatic library.

Numismanic · September 28, 2007 1:22PM

Anything from Q. David Bowers would be good enough for me.

lordmarcovan · September 28, 2007 2:55PM

Every good numismatic bookshelf should have a Bowers and a Travers or two.

Arizonadesertrat · September 28, 2007 4:06PM

I really like Breen's Encyclopedia (I own 2 copies, one that is falling apart from repeated use, and another that's a shrink-wrapped keeper). But, it's riddled with errors and is out of date. Auction catalogues are fun to read too, but there is NO substitute for substantial books that tie numismatics to other facets of American life (art, history, politics, economics, etc.). So, books by Bowers, Burdette, Vermeule, etc. are still a must. Dedicated coin collectors that focus on more than one series (especially type coin collectors) probably need at least 50 books plus selected auction catalogues to have a meaningful numismatic literature collection.

lordmarcovan · September 28, 2007 4:16PM

That fall-apart thing is pretty much par for the course, sadly. I have never seen one that didn't fall apart when read long enough, mine included. The bindings are all bad. And I know there are inconsistencies and inaccuracies in Breen's work, but nobody delved into the topic with the depth he did.

I have never really "gotten into" auction catalogs, for some reason. Probably to my detriment. I have even turned down some that were offered to me. Silly, I know.

KentuckyJ · September 28, 2007 5:08PM

> Do you agree with this statement?

No. The statement is overly simplistic. Many of the books on your shelves have nuggets of info you won't find in the other works.

KJ

Hoot · September 28, 2007 5:14PM

<< <i>I was reading the intro to the final Ford catalog, written by Lawrence Stack. In it he writes, "in fact, a copy of Walter Breen's Encyclopedia and a set of Stack's John J. Ford catalogs will cover just about every collecting field in as much numismatic and commercial depth as any but the most advanced specialist might need." >>

Horsepucky.

Hoot

PerryHall · September 28, 2007 5:35PM

<< <i>I really enjoy my copy of Bowers / Winter's $3.00 Gold book, as well as my book on California Fractionals. >>

The Breen encyclopedia only covers period 1 fractional gold while the Breen Gillio book covers all three fractional gold periods.

coppercoins · September 28, 2007 6:04PM

Breen's book is way outdated, wrong in a number of cases, and useless for most specialists of anything.

Ford catalogs? Uhh-huh. Gimme a break.

Overdate · September 28, 2007 6:36PM

In my opinion, a complete numismatic library would have to include an in-depth study of the First Spouse coins, especially MS70 First Strikes!

Broadstruck · September 28, 2007 8:29PM

Do you agree with this statement? My personal office is getting messy. Should I throw out my shelves of books and just have these two reference items in my library?

Oh Please... Larry must be on some ego trip! If you toss all your books, let me know what day they'll be on the curb?

For the complete numismatic library, all you need is Breen's Encyclopedia and the Ford Catalogs. Ag

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