Got a bit more numismatic budget than usual this month and I thought I would purchase some coin books. Here are some ideas of which books and I would like for you to give me a recommendation on which ones to buy or not to buy. As you may have realized my collecting is very broad but is sorta focused on 1900-64 coinage 4th Edition Mega Edition Red Book Whitman Guide to United States Type Coins The 100 greatest series of books These are some ideas, any advice on important books to purchase to highly appreciated
The 100 greatest series are not worth buying. Save your money. They have some interesting stories, but aren't useful or important when starting to build your library. The Red Book is a must have. If you have that, you don't really need the Whitman guide for type coins - everything in there will already be in the Red Book. I'm not really sure what your numismatic experience is, but maybe you could buy a book about grading coins? The ANA guide, or my book? If you have decided on a collecting focus area, perhaps you might want to buy a book specializing in one series? For example, a Mercury dime, or Walking Liberty book? If you want recommendations for those, we can give you some more recommendations.
The Red Book is useful. I get one about every 5 years. A good quick reference, particularly for issues I'm less familiar with. I don't know about the Mega Red Book. If you don't have the ANA Grading Standards, get it. And as Physics said, if you have an issue you are specializing in, get the guide for that issue.
Based on what has been said I think the mega red and the Ana grading standards sound the best. I'll make sure to get around to buying those pretty quick
Do you already have a copy of the regular Redbook? If so I'm not sure the mega red would add much more value? You seem to be interested in type coins? Have you narrowed that down to 20th Century type coins? If so I think a book on type coin collecting may be your best bet. I don't know about buying a grading book, you might be better off using on of the on line grading guides. And I'll mention that with all of the numismatic books I own that the hard bound version of the regular Red Book is the on I use and refer to most often. It's hard to beat for value. Oh and I'll mention the Red Book for Paper Money....A Guide Book of United States Paper Money. Sooner or later if you maintain an interest in the hobby you're going to want one. I found one on sale at a local Hobby Lobby recently because it had some minor damage.
You know, unless it is something really specific, like Civil War Store Cards, I rarely ever buy a book to learn about coins. I get pricing from the NGC website... I use the PCGS PhotoGrade online (and the App). NGC also has most World Coin Prices. I use Numista online to ID coins that I don't know. ...AND... you don't have to pay absorbent prices for Coin Books... which are all expensive.
