I have became addicted to slabbed US coins. So much, I even sold most of my unslabbed collection, to pay for slabbed US coins. Now I have a new addiction:Old world copper and silver coins.
Considering your post history, you are also addicted to posting new threads! Haha. I went through a similar phase, however, I prefer raw coins. The feel, the touch, the ability to roll them your fingers and touch a piece of history.
To each his own man. I am like protovdo and prefer mine unslabbed, but I do own a couple of slabbed US coins I have not cracked out on purpose. Now, getting interesting in old world coins is interesting. I believe you will be shocked how much better bang for your buck you will get with world coins. While I still love US coins, having spent a couple decades of my life with them, I simply find the value and the more varied history a very attractive aspect of world coinage. You can only memorize the red book so many times, but the 4 volume KN books offer unlimited learning possibilities.
Right now I'm starting a small collection of British coppers. I'm going to focus on higher grades. I just bought a 1806 half penny in what seems to be a good grade. The photos are bad, so I will take some when it comes. http://www.ebay.com/itm/330745099604?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
Nice overall condition. I question the color, as there should be more differentiation, but a pleasant coin.
Hello Detecto, If you don’t yet have the Spinks Catalog or the British Coins Market Values book, consider getting a copy. There is much good reading on the copper coins from Great Britain. It was a couple years ago when I got bitten by the Great Britain copper bug. At that time I began putting together a Great Britain penny type set. I limited the set from 1798 (the big cart wheel coin) to the last GB large cent. All these coins were struck with modern coin press machinery. Of course, if you go back before milled coinage, the GB penny type set could take you back to the Roman denarius [Hence the abbreviation "D" for penny]. I searched some old CT posts depicting GB penny coins. Here are some links with pictures: http://www.cointalk.com/t198155/ http://www.cointalk.com/t174421/ http://www.cointalk.com/t157934/ http://www.cointalk.com/t107336/ http://www.cointalk.com/t83446/ http://www.cointalk.com/t47690/
But, especially given Detecto's penchant for switching gears, would you still recommend a GB only book? I would say the 20th and 19th century editions of KM, (bought used and cheaply), might have longer term value to him. Once he gets those, and still loves GB coins, by all means get this title.
Krause books for 1800-1899 and 1900-1999 You are spot-on. P.S. I purchased my first KM catalog at the library sale at the ANA's summer seminar. As I recall I paid $2 for it on the last day of the library sale (when everything is marked down to practically nothing). I still use it today :smile
Careful Detecto..... you might discover Conder Tokens and then you'll be in big trouble! http://www.condertokens.net/product.php http://www.wnccoins.com/0029.htm http://www.coinsandstamps.com/foreigncoins/Condor Tokens/01 New Tokens/british_condor_tokens.htm