Coin Books: Know the Coin Before You Buy It
Ranked #13,686 in Hobbies, Games & Toys, #201,875 overall
Coin Books: More Than Just Reference Material
Read the Book Before You Buy the Coin.
It's an axiom in the world of Coins. The more knowledge you have about a coin before you try to purchase it the better your chances of making a good decision. Finding out what it is that adds value to a coin (or which drives a coin down in value) can really help you determine more than just the price you should pay or ask, it can help you decide whether the coin you are looking at is really one that you want to put into your collection or you should use your monetary resources elsewhere.
Acquiring knowledge in the field is done two ways. The first way is experience. Physically examining a coin and others like is an invaluable source of knowledge. The second way to acquire knowledge is by using reference materials -- websites, magazines and books!
What Makes a Coin Book REALLY Good?
The First Key: Accurate, Comprehensive Information.
The Quality of the Information is the reason you buy the book. Look for books written by recognized authorities in the field, or which are endorsed as excellent resources by those people.
What kind of information should a collector look for?
1. Good statistical information on the coin. How many coins were produced?
2. What are the "key dates" for a given design?
3. What are the characteristics which cause a coin to be graded higher (or lower)?
4. What are the areas to look at to make sure a coin is authentic?
A Cents-ible Shirt for Coin Lovers
Folks Will Grin, Or Folks Will Groan, But You WILL Be Noticed.
Coin Books Available on eBay!
Some of the Best Prices You'll See.
I like looking at the coin books available on eBay for several reasons. First, you can sometimes get some excellent prices. Second, you'll find books that you'll never find on Amazon! Trying to track pricing trends over the last 30 years? You might just find every Red Book or Blue Book you need with one search. Take a look!
Tell Us About Your Favorite Coin Books
What books have you found especially helpful, or incredibly irrelevant? Do you have a favorite book that needs to be added to our collection? Is there one listed that you think needs to be tossed out with the culls? Is there a specific book that is just "cents"-ible to read for a beginner (or even an experienced numismatist?
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kougar
Jan 25, 2011 @ 12:18 pm | delete
- Very Informative lens. I have a huge bag of old/rare coins I am interested in selling and this information has be helpful to me. Thank-you
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kougar
Jan 25, 2011 @ 12:18 pm | delete
- Very Informative lens. I have a huge bag of old/rare coins I am interested in selling and this information has be helpful to me. Thank-you
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hobbycoin
Apr 26, 2009 @ 4:04 pm | delete
- I liked your site. A lot of info. on resources that will help. We all have to have some knowledge about what were doing, and what our goals are before we dive into this fun and relaxing hobby. You can also see my lens about coin collecting for kids and beginners for more fun.
Thanks, Trevor
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The Official Red Book - 2013
Guide Book of United States Coins 2013
The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of U.S. Coins 2013 (Guide Book of United States Coins)
Amazon Price: $8.76 (as of 05/30/2012)
The Industry Standard for US Coins, this book is almost a requirement for people interested in coins. If you are a new collector, this will give you a wealth of information all in one place. Published annually (frankly, I update my cope every couple years...not annually), serious collectors and professional numismatists are almost never without the newest edition of this book.
Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents
The Official Red Book: a Guide Book of Indian And Flying Eagle Cents (Official Red Books)
Amazon Price: $1.25 (as of 05/30/2012)
This is a fabulous book written by THE expert in the field. Rick Snow knows more about Flying Eagles and Indian Heads than anyone I have met. I own this book. I regularly consult this book. I recommend this book.
Guide Book of United States Type Coins
A Guide Book Of United States Type Coins: A Complete History And Price Guide For The Collector And Investor (The Official Red Book)
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 05/30/2012)
If you are just getting involved in coins, this is one of the books I recommend. A very good overview of U.S. coinage.
The Coin Collector's Survival Manual
The Coin Collector's Survival Manual, 6th Edition
Amazon Price: $69.95 (as of 05/30/2012)
Another one of the books in my personal library. I truly recommend this book. A tremendous amount of knowledge for beginning and intermediate coin collectors. I refer to it often.
ANA Grading
The Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards for United States Coins
Amazon Price: $11.03 (as of 05/30/2012)
This book is one of the two or three anchors of my coin collecting library. I consider it an irreplaceable reference. I use it to check coins that I already have, prepare myself for coin shows so that I know what I am looking at, and confirm my own thinking before I buy the coin. I use it to help me place a value on coins before sale. GREAT REFERENCE for beginners and intermediate collectors alike.
How to Make Money in Coins Right Now
How to Make Money in Coins Right Now (House of collectibles)
Amazon Price: $3.89 (as of 05/30/2012)
Available from other sellers through the Amazon website, this is an interesting book from which you can pick up a great deal of knowledge about the coin market at an extremely reasonable price!
Commemoratives are Very Collectable
Here's a Good Reference for Beginners and Experienced Collectors Alike
Modern Commemorative Coins: Invest Today - Profit Tomorrow
Amazon Price: $4.73 (as of 05/30/2012)
If you are a modern coin collector of gold, silver, and/or platinum coins, this is a must own book. The author, Eric Jordan, has done all the hard for you and gives you wonderful advice to profit from key coins/series. Hard to find mintage numbers of all modern coins are listed and is easy to read and understand.
- An Amazon Reviewer
The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint
The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint: How Frank H. Stewart Destroyed, And Then Saved A National Treasure
Amazon Price: $16.20 (as of 05/30/2012)
A tour-de-force work of scholarship that sets straight longmisunderstood Mint history. This groundbreaking new book by award-winning authors Joel Orosz and Leonard Augsburger is filled with dozens of sketches, paintings, and photographs of the first Mint that have been preserved in archival collections for decades.
Coin Books from Amazon
Here Are Some Good Coin Resources
General Reference Books on Coins
Buyer's Guide to Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States
by Q. David Bowers
Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins: Half Dimes Through Dollars, Gold, and Commemoratives (Official Whitman Guidebook)
by Bill Fivaz and J.T. Stanton
Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins
by Walter Breen
Coin Collecting For Dummies (For Dummies--Sports & Hobbies)
by Ron Guth
The Coin Collector's Survival Manual, 6th Edition
by Scott Travers
Determining Die Doubling From Other Forms of Doubling
by J.T. Stanton
Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins
By Q. David Bowers
Guide Book of United States Coins by R.S. Yeoman
Hard Times tokens: A complete revision and enlargement of Lyman H. Low's 1899 classic reference
by Lyman H. Low
One-Minute Coin Expert, Sixth Edition (One Minute Coin Expert)
by Scott Travers
The hobo nickel: An exclusive upgrade of hobo nickel artistry
by Joyce Ann Romines
The Top 100 Morgan Dollar Varieties: The VAM Keys
by Michael S. Fey and Jeff Oxman
United States Patterns and Related Issues
by Andrew W. Pollock
United States Pattern Coins (Official Red Books)
by J Hewitt Judd
United States Proof Sets and Mint Sets 1936-2002
by Ron Guth and Bill Gale
Books on Grading Coins
by Q. David Bowers
NGC Grading Guide For Modern U.S. Coins
by Richard S. Montegomery & David W. Lange
The Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards of United States Coins >
edited by Kenneth Bressett
Photograde: Official Photographic Grading Guide for United States Coins, 19th Edition
by James F. Ruddy
Making The Grade: A Grading Guide to the Top 50 Most Widely Collected US Coins
by Beth Deisher
Books About Half Cents
by Roger S. Cohen
Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of United States Half Cents, 1793-1857
by Walter Breen
United States Half Cents 1793-1857
by Q. David Bowers and James F. Ruddy
Books About Large Cents
1793 - 1857
Walter Breen's Encyclopedia of Early United States Cents 1793-1814
by Walter Breen
The Cent Book by John D. Wright
Penny Whimsy
by Sheldon, Pascal and Breen
United States Copper Cents 1816-1857
by Howard R. Newcomb
Small Cents
1857 - Date
Flying Eagle 1857-1858Indian Head 1859-1909
The Finders Report: A Comprehensive Guide to Selected Rare Flying Eagle and Indian Cent Die Varieties
by Larry R. Steve and Kevin Flynn
A Guide Book of Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents
by Richard Snow
Treasure Hunting in the Flying Eagle and Indian Cent Series
by Kevin Flynn
Lincoln 1909-
The Complete Guide to Lincoln Cents
by David W. Lange
The Complete Lincoln Cent Encyclopedia
by Shane M. Anderson
A Guide Book of Lincoln Cents (The Official Red Book)
by Q. David Bowers
Lincoln Cent Doubled Die by Wexler
Looking Through Lincoln Cents: A Chronology of a Series
by Chuck Daughtrey
Price Guide to Lincoln Cent Mint Mark Varieties by By John Wexler
RPM Book of Lincoln Cents by James Wiles
Standard Catalog of Lincoln Cents by Sol Taylor
Two Cent Pieces
1864 - 1873
Getting Your Two Cents Worth
Three Cent Pieces
1851 - 1889
Silver Three Cent Pieces 1851-1873Three-cent Silver Pieces
by Paul Anderson
Nickel Three Cent Piced 1865-1889
Authoritative Reference on Three Cent Nickels
by Kevin Flynn and Edward Fletcher
Five Cent Nickels
1866 - Date
Shield 1866-1883
Shield Five Cent Series
by Fletcher
Liberty Head 1883-1912
Guide Book of Shield and Liberty Head Nickels : Complete Source For History, Grading, and Prices (The Official Red Book)
by Q. David Bowers
Treasure Hunting Liberty Head Nickels
by Kevin Flynn and Van Note
Indian/Buffalo 1913-1938
Buffalo Nickels - The Abraded Die Varieties by Ron Pope
Complete Guide Buffalo Nickels by David W.Lange
Treasure Hunting Buffalo Nickels by Wexler, Pope and Flynn
Jefferson 1938-
Guide Book of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels by Q. David Bowers
Jefferson Nickel Double Die Varieties By Wexler & Ribar
The Jefferson Nickel Analyst by Bernard Nagengast
The Jefferson Nickel RPM Book by James Wiles
Half Dimes
1794 - 1873
Federal Half Dimes 1792 - 1837 by Russell Logan and John McCloskeyThe United States Half Dimes by D. W. Valentine
Books About Dimes
1796 - Present
Draped and Capped Bust 1796-1837Early United States Dimes 1796 - 1837 by David Davis, Russell Logan, Allen Lovejoy, John McCloskey, and William Subjack.
Liberty Seated 1837-1874
Barber 1892-1916
Authoritative Reference on Barber Dimes by Kevin Flynn
Complete Guide to Barber Dimes by David Lawrence
Mercury 1916-1945
Complete Guide to Mercury Dimes by David W. Lange
Treasure Hunting Mercury Dimes by Wexler & Flynn
Roosevelt 1946-
Authoritative Reference on Roosevelt Dimes by Kevin Flynn
Quarters
1796 - Present
Draped Bust 1796-1807Early Quarter Dollars of the United States 1796 - 1838
by A.W. Browning
United States Quarters 1796-1838
by Steve Tompkins
Capped Bust 1815-1838
The Early Quarter Dollars of the US
by Browning & Breen
Liberty Seated 1838-1891
Comprehensive Encyclopedia of US Liberty Seated Quarters
by Larry Briggs
Barber 1892-1916
Authoritative Reference on Barber Quarters
by Kevin Flynn
Complete Guide to Barber Quarters
by David Lawrence
Standing Liberty 1916-1930
Standing Liberty Quarters
by J. H Cline
Standing Liberty Quarters Varieties and Errors
by Robert H. Knauss
Washington 1932- date
Complete Guide To Washington Quarters
by Geigenbaum
Guide Book of Washington and State Quarters
by Q. David Bowers
Official Guidebook to America's State Quarters
by David Ganz
The Washington Quarter Dollar Book Vol 1, 1932 to 1941
by James Wiles
The Washington Quarter Dollar Book Vol 2, 1942 to 1944
by James Wiles
The Washington Quarter Dollar Book Vol 3, 1945 to 1949
by James Wiles
Half Dollars
1794 - Present
Flowing Hair 1794-1795Draped Bust 1796-1807
Capped Bust 1807-1839
Bust Half Fever by Edgar E. Souders
Contemporary Counterfeit Capped Bust Half Dollars
by Keith R Davignon
The Ultimate Guide To Attributing Bust Half Dollars
by Glenn R. Peterson, M.D.
United States Early Half Dollar Varieties 1794-1836
by Al Overton
Liberty Seated 1839-1891
The Complete Guide to Liberty Seated Half Dollars
by Randy Wiley and Bill Bugert
Barber 1892-1915
Authoritative Reference on Barber Half Dollars
by Kevin Flynn
Complete Guide to Barber Halves
by David Lawrence
Liberty Walking 1916-1947
Collecting and Investing Strategies for Walking Liberty Half Dollars
by Jeff Ambio
Complete Guide to Walking Liberty Half Dollars
by Bruce Fox
Treasure Hunting Walking Liberty Half Dollars
by Kevin Flynn & Brian Raines
The Walking Liberty Half Dollar
by Anthony Swiatek
Franklin 1948-1963
Complete Guide to Franklin Half Dollars
by Rick Tomaska
Kennedy 1964-
The Kennedy Half Dollar
by James Wiles
Dollar Coins
DollarsFlowing Hair 1794-1795
Draped Bust 1795-1804
Early Silver Dollars by Reiver
Gobrecht 1836-1839
Liberty Seated 1840-1873
Liberty Seated Dollars 1840 to 1873 by Weimar White
Trade Dollar 1873-1883
Morgan 1878-1921
A Guide Book of Morgan Silver Dollars (Official Red Book)
by Q. David Bowers
Morgan Dollar Overdates, Over Mintmarks, Misplaced Dates and Clashed E Reverses
by Flynn & Henry
Top 100 Morgan Dollar Die Varieties: The VAM Keys by Michael Fey
VAM Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Morgan & Peace Dollars by Allen & Mallis
Peace 1921-1935
A Guide Book of Peace Dollars (Bowers (Burdette))
by Roger W. Burdette
Top 50 Peace Dollar Varieties by Oxman & Close
Eisenhower 1971-1978
Authoritative Reference on Eisenhower Dollars
by John Wexler & Kevin Flynn
Susan B. Anthony 1979-1999
Sacagawea 2000-
President 2007-
Native American 2009-
Gold Coins
Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties
by John W. Dannreuther and Harry W. Bass Jr.
Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins 1795-1933
by Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth
Guide Book of Double Eagle Gold Coins
by Q. David Bowers
Gold Coin of the Carson City Mint
by Douglas Winter
Gold Coins of the Charlotte Mint: 1838-1861
by Douglas Winter
Gold Coin of the Dahlonega Mint 1838-1861
by Douglas Winter
Gold Coin of the New Orleans Mint: 1839-1909
by Douglas Winter
United Stated Three Dollar Gold Pieces 1854 - 1889
by Q. David Bowers
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Keep Track of Your Coins!
Check List and Record Book of United States and Canadian Coins (Official Red Books)
Amazon Price: $5.00 (as of 05/30/2012)
Organize Your Coins! Prioritize Your Acquisitions! Know in an instant what you have and what you need! Very Handy!This is a Great Tool for ANY Collector!
Magazines About Coins
Stay Current by Reading About Coins Regularly
What Makes a Coin Book REALLY Good?
The Second Key: Relevant Information
What Makes a Coin Book REALLY Good?
The Third Key: Illustrations
Coin Magazines on eBay
Sometimes the Best Books Aren't Books...They're Vintage Magazines
CoinAGE Magazine
I Read This One Every Month
Coinage
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 05/30/2012)
Interesting writing, coin price trends. One of the better coin magazines on the market.
by ViolinStudent
Arthur Haule began to collect coins on Christmas Day in 1963. His Grandparents gave him two Lincoln Penny folders containing common dates. He was intrigued... more »
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