David r sear, Roman coins and their values 1974 revised edition

That is the one @Cucumbor

 

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The 1982 third edition has a blue cover on it while the 1988 fourth edition has a red one. Either one is an excellent source/companion. The internet often carries used copies.

 

This:

The prices in Roman Silver Coins I, while patently of no use at all as prices, are in my opinion the best published guide to rarity anywhere, especially for common to scarce types. A "generic" Roma head type valued at 60 pounds really is going to be a lot harder to find than one valued at 30 pounds. There are anomalies--the scarce but not rare denarius of Q. Pomponius Rufus, Crawford 398/1, valued at an astronomical 1300 pounds is a dramatic one*--but all told the prices in RSC I are a much more reliable measure of relative rarity than Charles Hersh's erratic rarity guide in Sydenham.

Phil Davis

*I've always suspected that this is a typo and the intended price was a modest 130 pounds.

 

I find auction catalogues/ prices realized are best way to research coin trends. Plus, most catalogues have enlarged colour plates. I have a whole library of these (600+) in basement/ now set up in my older empty insect cabinets. I recently looked up coins from old NFA catalogues. Its amazing how prices have soared since late 80s. Krause/ Friedberg print updated books every 8 years or so, why can't Sear do same?

 

Agreed, and many of these prices realized are available online since about 2000 or earlier from various online sources, some for a subscription fee. But for a beginner I believe the Sear books are the best for navigation and, as many have said, "RELATIVE" value. I've owned the 1964 edition of RCV, but it has been replaced with more current editions because although the line drawings are charming, the photos are more comfortable to me. When I bought my first ancient coin from Tom McKenna more than 40 years ago, I also bought Sear's Roman Silver Coins Vol. I (Roman Republican) in the same purchase. at that time I think it cost me about $16. Its now $55 on davidsear.com. Although I've spent hundreds of dollars for more detailed and scholarly works such as RIC and RRC, I still frequently reference it and his other specialized books.

 

I have had (and used) the 4th revised edition (1988) of Sear's Roman Coins and Their Values for many years. It was a very handy and easy to use reference when I was just beginning to collect Roman Imperials. I recently purchased the first five volumes of Sear's "new" Roman Coins and Their Values. I wasn't impressed. I was hoping for more pictures of coins and more details. Considering price and shelf space, I wouldn't recommend the new books. For price and ease of use I would recommend ERIC or ERIC II. Just my two AS.

 

When I go to shows, I carry an old RSC volume 1 which has line drawings that I like better than the photos in the later books. I have been checking off what I have in this book for years since I can never remember which ones I already have. I rarely buy new Republicans anymore since I have most of the cheap ones except for the neverending Roma head types I have no interest in owning.