Building Your Book Collection

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Nice Going. I know that Breen Encyclopedia will take some time to go through but you will enjoy every minute. Be sure to readin the introduction to each series a couple of times..

catman

 

Well I'm still watching 2 books.

ANA Grading Guide
and Jim Halperin's Guide to Grading Coins too.

I should get my franklin book the first of next week!!! I can't wait--but since I start back to school next week too I'll have to wait till night to read.

Speedy

 

Hi Speedy,

Out of all the grading books your buying I was wondering which one you decided to use when building your collection..?

catman

 

Catman
Right now I like photograde for coins from AG-AU but I'd like to go beyond that and go to MS and PF's.
I guess what I'll do is combined all of them and then go back and see what one I think is best.

Speedy

 

Grading Books

That's Kool Spencer,

I have used Photograde for many years. I still have my first edition 1970 hardback edition. I also have a new addition as well. I usually pick up a new one about every five years.

Starting January 1, 2005 I will no longer buy, sell, or trade any coins in the MS-62, MS-64, MS-66 grades. I will replace them with a MS-63+, MS-65+, and MS-67+

I have found that no one can seem to agree on these intermediate grades. The difference's are too minor. If someone has diabetes, Gloucoma, had too many cups of coffee or soft drinks, didn't get a good nights rest or a hundred other things that can easily effect the grade of a coin by a simple point.

catman

 

Yes, as well as Amazon, Half.com, and 2 or 3 coin supply stores online. The only one I found available is a revised edition (1970) for $30 on eBay. Being that its 35 years old, I think I'm gonna wait.

 

Al Overton's work is being carried forward by his son-in-law Don Parsley. However, in addition, there is a totally new attribution guide for Bust Half Dollars by Dr. Glenn Peterson. I found Peterson to be a quantum leap. (Peterson really built on Overton, and never recatalogued coins that were known, and his own new additions are fit to the Overton scheme.) Do you prefer a verbal description such as "Fouth denticle has missing corner" or do you want to see a picture?

Of course, these books get fatter as new varieties are identified and catalogued. On the other hand, it is to the point where people are cataloguing die states: each noticeable difference in die wear gets an entry.

If your Bust Half collection is "busting" the seams of Overton's First Edition, you have a doff of my hat.

Are you in the John Reich Society or the Bust Half Nut Club?

 

Is there any single best source of numismatic reference books?

 

Books

Hi Dave, if looking for new,

Brooklyn Gallery, good prices.

Brent Krueger Coin Supplies carries a good amount of books. Have to thank Susan for this one.

Try Lake Books, he runs an auction every few months and features alot of different stuff, good stuff.

Tony

 

Doug,

You sure hit that one right on the head. Breen himself said the exactly the same thing. I had the priviledge knowing Walter Breen when he was living in Berekley, CA. Not only was he brilliant he was a down to earth person as well. His knowledge of coins could easily stagger you. However, one of these days, I will tell you of a 2 year arguement I had on going with Walter about one of the coin series.

catman

 

Amen--I've seen that done not only in coins.

That's neat--down here there is a Senator by the name of Don Parsley.

I can't wait till you tell about the arguement you and Mr. Breen had


Speedy

 

UPDATE
I thought I had lost out on the ANA grading guide--I didn't !!!!

Two questions.
What book would you buy for Currency??

I've seen the United States Currency by Bressett--is this one a good one??

Are the 2 books by Snow, the FE and IHC Attribution Guide good?..do they have good photos?

Thanks
Speedy

 

I don't have the individual books by Snow yet, but I do have the FE and IC Die Varieties book by Larry Steve and Kevin Flynn. I like this one very much.

Since I don't do a lot with currency, I only bought the 2005 Blackbook. It's okay but does not go into enough detail for someone who collects currency.

Hope this helps.

 

I have the original work by Snow, but that's like a decade old. The updated version is broken up mostly by decade (i.e. 1856-58, 1859-1869, 1870-1879, et cetera); I don't have that yet. At some point I'll bite the bullet -- perhaps if Rick finds that XF/AU 1909-S I need to finish my Indian collection, I'll order it then.

I also picked up the Flynn and Steve book. I managed to find it in eBay for about eight bucks a couple of years ago.

These both have good pictures of the varieties listed, but are somewhat dated because so many more varieties have been identified and catalogued since then.

 

You're right, the Flynn and Steve book is outdated. I should have mentioned that. I just haven't found a good updated one.

 

As for currency books, the first should be Paper Money of the United States by Robert Friedberg. This book established the numbering system used by 99% of the currency dealers in the country.
As for national banknotes, the best work is National Banknotes by Don C. Kelly.

 

Hi Speedy,

I like the snow book for Indian Head Cent very much. If your looking for U.S. Currency I would lean towards Paper money of the United States by Robert Friedberg. This is the standard reference guide for paper money. Its a hardback edition that is fully illustrated.

catman