I would like to thank everyone on this site who has helped me to understand coins. How to correctly clean, identify, and just general knowledge. I ordered a book online today to help me further. Hopefully I won't have too many more of the same questions. No promises tho! I'm still learning and would love to be a better part of this coin world! Thanks again to all of you.
I really need it so I try not to ask so many questions of you guys. I like paper books for this rather than e-book. I can flip through easier.
It is an excellent reference book. Just don't pay much attention to the price guides, there are many excellent sites on the web to asses the value of coins
If you look, you can find an earlier edition of the VAM Morgan/Peace Dollar variety book. It has great information on how coins are made from the beginning, and has great pictures and drawings of the process. You can find a copy for $10 or so.
I've found valuing coins to be difficult. Prices can rage dramatically. If I find anything I think might possibly be valuable I'll definitely get several opinions. Also it's difficult to sometimes find if a coin error is recognized by NCG. Will this book help with that. I'm not just interested in errors but the value of old coins as well. I don't want to get ripped off when purchasing them. Thank you
You can look at the sold prices for coins of a type you have or are interested in on e=bay. A genuine error or variety will only be included on a slab label if the submitter requests and pays extra for attribution. And, as with anything else, if in doubt do not rush to purchase without somehow verifying what it is you are buying
I sometimes find eBay "error" coins for sale than a lot more than they're worth. Most aren't true errors. It can get confusing. May I ask, what would be a price you'd expect to pay for a half cent in pretty good shape? I know that's difficult not having seen the coin but just an average value?
The VAM Bible, Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars, Fourth Edition by Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis contains a lot of information if you want to collect Morgan and Peace Dollar varieties, but keep in mind that the last edition was published in 1991 when there were about 1,800 varieties and now there are more than 4,000 of them. Personally, I think you would be better off purchasing a book on grading coins and/or a book on errors. The Mint Errors book explains how a lot of errors occur at the US Mint.
Like you, Kelly, I too have learned a lot by being a member here. I don't think I would have gotten a better education on my own, so thanks to all that make this site so great, and to Peter for bringing it to us.
Very wise choice. You will find that this book will be an invaluable resource as long as you love the hobby.
One of the many wonderful things about numismatics is that you're always learning. I learn more everyday when I come to coin talk and read a few threads. I will never know it all but will keep trying!
It gets really fun when you show us your finds/purchases. If you’re able to identify the subject item/error yourself, bazinga And questions get better as we learn