Post your U.S. coin books

I thought I'd start a thread for U.S. coin books. Post yours and/or post your recommendations!

I'm a huge fan of Making the Grade and after gifting my only copy to a friend, I put it on my wish list, and my family came through. I've heard nothing but good things about Breen's encyclopedia and now I see why!

 

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For Newbies or Experienced Collectors :

 

Here's some of my 2020 readings:

(1) RED BOOK for Morgan Dollars: Always good to re-read this classic. I have the 4th Edition (2012); 5th edition out or coming out soon ?

(2) RED BOOK for Double Eagles: 2004 Edition, again, anything new planned by Bowers/Whitman ? Prices would change alot but maybe he has new commentary, too.

(3) Gold Coins 1907-33 by Akers: A classic, 2nd Edition is from 2008. Akers passed away a while back, maybe they'll get someone to update it with new prices/commentary.

(4) Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles: A classic in the making by Roger Burdette. Great reading even if you have no Saints or interest in them. If you do own them or are buying, a must.

(5) Heritage Auction Books: Just wanted to say that if you have the opportunity once HA starts up again at big coin shows, check out their auction books. Or maybe subscribe to them if you aren't comped. They are a FANTASTIC resource on specific stuff you have an interest in buying. This one from FUN dealt with U.S.coins with a special sale of the 1927-D Saint-Gaudens DE. The entire catalog is 400+ pages with tons of information on coins, history of specific coins, auction prices, etc...including stuff I didn't see elsewhere.

 

Just a couple laying around by my desk. Both have long stories about how my interest in them was inspired.

 

Over the years, I let my library get out of control. About 90% of it is now stored in boxes. I was building a new office for myself but the wife took it from me. She wins on this type of thing because she is also the cook.

 

Here's the 6th Edition Morgan - A real good read lots of VAM's

 

I totally feel your pain.

 

Here’s a shout out to Jason’s book.

 

Great book.

 

I would not want to spend the day listing all of my U.S. coin books. If you count all the paperbacks, it’s got to be pushing 1,000.

I think more of the Breen Encyclopedia than some people do. Part of the criticism of it is based on the man’s personal life. Almost all of us know the facts, so let’s not rehash it.

Breen took on a monumental task and generally provided some good information in one place. No one else has really tried to do that. Unfortunately he did make some things up, but criticisms of his rarity estimates are unfair. Quite often you put the information out there, and collectors really start to look at their holdings. This results in new discoveries which often results in lower rarity ratings. Almost no one gets it all right the first time.

 

The Breen book is one of the best books I ever bought. For years I had to look up every coin I bought. Learned a great deal from it.

 

I didn't know he was an author, I'm gonna buy that !!

Nice Job, JP !

 

Wow, I missed the 5th AND 6th Editions....thanks !

2019 is very up-to-date time-wise. 4th Edition has 287 pages and the 6th lists 304 pages.

My 2012 book probably uses a silver price close to the 6th edition but the Double Eagle (2004) book is using $400/oz. as the gold price. I wonder if Bowers/Whitman are planning even a revised edition, even with updated prices it'd be worth it. New commentary could be minimal.

 

You become a takeout fan, you get your room back, LD !!!

 

I love the way the 6th edition is laid out. Putting each year of a Morgan in its historical context really enhances the coin. I wished all my coin books did that. And the details of the 1878 Morgan is what has made me work on collecting the different variations.

 

You mean the "What's Happening In Year So-And-So....." pages that separates the yearly reviews of Morgans, right ?

Yes, those are nice. Not in the Double Eagle book though you do have sections on hoards, shipwrecks, and other gold-related topics. Similar chapters and sections in Roger Burdette's Saint-Gaudens DE book, too.

I like it...breaks up the monotony of year after year after mintmark after mintmark.....plus interesting tidbits mentioned in the years covered.

 

My library is too big to show images.
Here's a listing in MS Excel:
https://www.dcderoo.com/Library.xlsx
(I assume it will show.)

 

@kanga It didn't open for me .

 

I have the ANA Grading Standards 7th edition, Mega Red 6th edition, Blue Book, Whitman Penny, Nickel, dime, quarter, half dollar, Morgan paper backs and several other coin and currency readers. Wow, I didn't realize how many I have. Thanks for asking, great post.