What is your favorite Numismatic Reference Book

Jim M · 06-29-2009, 06:19 PM

What is your favorite reference book and why? I have been looking at some of my "special" books and wondering just how extensive other collectors book accumulations are and why they purchase a particular book.

Mine has to be the Bust Halve Fever book from Edgar Souders. (Sorry Frank)

Edgar has put together one special very well put together knowledge base that is second to none in the bust half series. Its not for attributing halves just a GREAT overview on the history, minting, techniques and general knowledge of the series. Anyone who collects or is thinking of collecting should have this book!

Treashunt · 06-29-2009, 06:27 PM

Mine has to be:

http://www.whitmanbooks.com/Default....wUpcoming_1208

hontonai · 06-29-2009, 06:48 PM

The reference I consult most often is the latest edition of the annual Nihon Kahei Katurogu (Japanese Numismatic Dealers Association Catalog), followed by the 20th Century volume of the Standard Catalog of World Coins by Krause/Mishler/Bruce, and then - in this order - the 19th, 21st, 18th, and 17th Century volumes.

For more traditional "reference books", It's really a tossup between Japanese Coinage, 2d Ed., 1972 by Jacobs and Vermuele, and Coins of Japan, 1904, by Neil Gordon Munro.

Why? Because they contain the information I want to ascertain. Other than Krause, they are all vital for collectors of Japanese coins, and virtually useless for everyone else.

Of course I have quite a few other catalogs and reference library material covering my interests. I even own a Red Book that's less than 10 years old.

byrd740 · 06-29-2009, 06:56 PM

I will have to say that my favourite book is Spink's 2007 Coins of England and the United Kingdom. I have enjoyed that book more than anything else.

physics-fan3.14 · 06-29-2009, 07:47 PM

My favorite is Tomaska's Guide Book of Franklins. Although I do like Spinks as well.

mmarotta · 06-30-2009, 01:05 AM

"Favorite" is such a difficult word... The one that I enjoy reading is Q. David Bowers' History of American Coinage as Illustrated by the Garrett Collection. So, that would be my favorite in that sense. However, the one I rely on most often is The Red Book for ready access of common facts. That said, the truly superlative and unsurpassed work is Breen's Encyclopedia.

I am not a Bust Half collector and while the Souder Book (in large and small versions) is truly nice, the one that I look to is THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ATTRIBUTING BUST HALF DOLLARS by Glenn R. Peterson, MD. (2000. Money Tree, Rocky River, Ohio), but, again, it is not the first one that I reach for because I do not actively collect the series, but it is the one I rely on for authority, not the same thing as "favorite."

Leadfoot · 06-30-2009, 01:12 AM

"What is your favorite Numismatic Reference Book"

The Internet.

Lehigh96 · 06-30-2009, 01:24 AM

PCGS's OFFICIAL GUIDE TO COIN GRADING AND COUNTERFEIT DETECTION. This is the most comprehensive guide to market grading and authentication I have ever found. IMO, a must have for any serious numismatist.

Close Runner up would be Mark Goodman's NUMISMATIC PHOTOGRAPHY. Taking photos of coins is a hobby unto itself and this book is king of that hobby IMO.

orpheus72 · 06-30-2009, 02:51 AM

My favourite book is 'An Indexed Guide Book of Silver Art Bars' from Archie Kidd'.
I know many of you will say that it's not a 'numismatic' book, but Silver Art Bars ARE considered Numismatic items and are great to collect.

It's the only book I know that has a superb overview on the history, minting, rarity and a general knowledge base of Silver Art Bars.

coinman0456 · 06-30-2009, 05:34 PM

that is going to be a new addition for me lehigh96.

Dimedude2 · 07-06-2009, 02:36 PM

I have read a wide range of books, but my favorite and best overall is The Expert's Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins: Secrets Of Success by Bowers. It is a very comprehensive book and I have learned a lot from his experiences and stories. There are times he is long winded and a bit arrogant, but the material and insight is very good. He definitely knows what he is talking about. He also has a very good book on Morgan silver dollars (Wittman). I would buy more books from Bowers to get a solid numistmatic education.

Travers' books are also very good on grading and counterfeit detection. His material for the most part is very interesting. However, several of this books have the same material but written in different chapters or sections.

Naive or simple, Coin Collecting for Dummies is pretty darn good and entertaining reading.

**Speedy** · 06-30-2009, 09:33 AM

Cointalk.com!

I have so many books that I don't know what one to pick - most likely it would be one of my RPM books where I can research what RPM I'm looking at on my coins...or the CP guide.

Speedy

**GDJMSP** · 06-30-2009, 11:41 AM

See this ? There are a least 50 in there that would qualify as my "favorite"

And that's just 1 bookcase.

physics-fan3.14 · 06-30-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GDJMSP

See this ? There are a least 50 in there that would qualify as my "favorite"

And that's just 1 bookcase.

I'm green with jealousy. My numismatic library only has about 25 books.

coinman0456 · 06-30-2009, 05:29 PM

great looking library GD. May I ask what is the most rare reference book/material in your collection? I have approximately 600 pieces of reference material, with 25% being Auction catalogs with prices.

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