Which books (or e-books) can you recommend for the newbie collector?

Is there an e-book which is updated regularly which shows:
1) All U.S. Coins
2) Varieties
3) Errors
4) Grading samples with large, clear photos
5) Anything else that the newbie should know?

Also, does anyone know where I can find info on how to use the forum properly? I know I should know by now, but I still keep double quoting and don't even know the difference between a post and a thread.

 

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Well, a post is your message as shown above. A thread is a group of posts on a topic. And you can read about forum usage by clicking on the Forums tab at the top of the page.

 

100 greatest U.S. Error coins by Fred Weinberg.

 

I don't know about an e-book, but the Red Book will give you first four. It's only updated once per year, but for what you're asking, that should be good.

As for #5, my suggestion is first and foremost, have fun. I'd start with a particular coin I like and try to build a set. There are sets you can build on just about any budget.

Also, I personally subscribe to Coin World magazine. Lots of good articles. You wouldn't necessarily have to subscribe, either. They have a very good website.

 

# 1 for coin information
http://www.pcgscoinfacts.com/

phone/tablet downloadable app - pcgs coinfacts

# 4 for coin grading with pictures of each grage
https://www.pcgs.com/photograde/

phone/tablet downloadable app - pcgs photograde

#5 - recommend buy a RedBook. Peruse and learn.

 

Mega Red has it all. great book. Cost around $ 40.00

 

All of those are great sources, though I’d suggest you get the basics down before delving too much into errors. Good luck!

 

I've noticed a lot lately that younger, newer collectors seem to be all about errors. They're all hoping to hit the lottery, I guess. The thing is, while I don't personally think that's a great way to start collecting, it does seem to get them excited about the hobby, and if that's the case, then I say let them search. Who knows, maybe some of them will hit the jackpot.

 

I don’t fault error collectors. Not at all. But IMHO a newbie may be short-changing himself or herself a lot of fun and knowledge by “specializing” too soon.

 

That's easy, Monster ! A Post is what the mailman delivers, and a Thread is what you sew your shirt-buttons with. That wasn't difficult, was it ?

 

Have you seen all the youtube and online click bait webpages on making it rich with pocket change? Makes me want to check !! Problem is they are totally vague on the rarity .. most of the websites make it seem like it is very common to find a $1500 dollar penny in your pocket change.

 

I recommend starting with the Red Book as well.

 

Cherrypickers guide Vol. 1 and 2.

 

I've come across these books, second-hand, and very cheaply. I haven't read them from cover to cover, just dipped into them now and then. I cannot say whether they are good, bad or ugly. Here's the titles. "An Introduction to Coins and Medals" by Colin Narbeth. "Beginner's Guide to Coin Collecting" by Howard Linecar. "Coins" by John Porteous. My favourite, so far, is "Coins", it has great pictures, 183, many in colour. - One possibility is to visit one or two Coin Fairs, and see what books are available there. If you're lucky, you may even , as I have, be given some outdated coin catalogues - not by decades, maybe a month or two.

 

Sometimes there are books that are a few years old that would give you the basic info your looking for . I would pick up a used copy of the Red Book , and study that one, and later buy the new version. I am in Canada or I would send you one , the shipping would not make it worth it. Maybe a member in the US, if that is where your at, may have a copy they are willing to donate to a newbie collector. Regardless you would have to pay shipping no matter what unless you use an e-Book , and I do not know what coin guides can be had by e-Book if any?. I will check the price from here to Arizona , and if it is not that much I will send you a book to get started by. Maybe another member will chime in with a book they can part with to help out a fellow collector. . Dillan

 

The Error Coin Encyclopedia, by Arnold Margolis.

 

For errors: "Price Guide to Mint Errors" by Alan Herbert is an extremely handy, compact book on the different types of mint errors and not really a price guide. 95% of the book is collector information and good explanation and categorization of every anomaly that sets one coin apart from another. Cheap and easily obtained ... it's not the prices that are needed ... it's the words.