What Are You Reading? (Numismatically Related)

I like to read. I always have a book beside my bed. Sometimes I read a book quickly. Other times I take a long time to finish it. In addition to books I read periodicals like Coin World and The Numismatist (ANA's monthly magazine) as well as peridicals related to my work.

I mainly like non-fiction books because I like to learn something when I read. Lately I have been reading mostly books related to coins. Over the last month I have read four books:

The Neighborhood Mint (by Head & Etheridge). I bought this book at the ANA Book Sale. The book covers the history of the Dahlonega Mint. Since I am originally from Georgia I have an interest in the Dahlonega Mint and the coins minted there (although I don't own any). This book filled in a lot of blanks for me. I learned that politics played a HUGE role in the running of the Branch Mints during the mid-1800s.

Ancient Coin Collecting (2nd Edition by Wayne Sayles). I don't collect ancient coins but I thought it would be interesting to learn something about them. This book fulfilled that goal, and more. The book covers ancient culture, how to collect, buy and sell ancient coins, how to identify and attribute ancient coins, and much more. It was interesting to learn how coins and coin making changed over time from the early Greek coins, through the Classical Greek coins, through the Roman Empire and later. This book made me want to buy an example or two of ancient coins. I will probably read another book or two in the series of 6 books.

Numismatic Photography (by Mark Goodman). See my book review of this book on another thread.

Classical Deception (another book by Wayne Sayles). I am in the process of reading this book. I am very interested in counterfeit and fake coins. This book is subtitled Counterfeits, Forgeries and Reproductions of Ancient Coins and it covers counterfeits and fakes and how and why they were made through the ages. I have learned about contemporary counterfeits of ancient coins that I was unaware of as well as more modern fakes that were made to sell to coin collectors as far back as the 1500s. There are plenty of photos of counterfeit ancient coins throughout the book. I am only 25% of the way through the book so there is plenty more to learn.

So what are you reading? If you have read a book that you would recommend (or one that you would not recommend) let us know about it.

 

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Counterfeit Mis-struck and Unofficial U.S. Coins by Don Taxay , I'd recomend this book , it has all the wheeling and dealing behind some of our most famous coins .
rzage

 

2 books are open ( numismatically speaking) in my house

1 is Paypal Wars, a semi related book if your into Ebay ( to me? It relates)
2 is " Treasure in the Cellar" about a find of riches, gold coins........I wont blow it.

I will lend both of these books out upon request when I am finished.

 

Great idea for a thread!

As I'm mainly into ancient coins, much of my numismatic litterature concerns them. I have yet to read a book from first page to last - I usually read a chapter or some sections at a time, to find information on a specific coin.

Spink/Seaby has released a series of books called "Coins in history". I have "Ancient Greek coins" by G.K. Jenkins from the British museum, and "Coins of medieval Europe" by Phillip Grierson. I highly recommend both of them. Both are hard-backs, with lots of nice photos.
Two (cheap) books that I've enjoyed even more, are two soft cover volumes from Spink called "Coinage in the Greek world" by Carradice/Price and "Coinage in the Roman world" by Andrew Burnett. Very interesting books that answers a lot of the questions you have on your pursuit of becoming an ancient coin collector on "advanced level", if you allow me to use such a term.

The last book I read, however, was a novel - "The flames of Rome", by Paul Maier. That was a very exciting book, which was easy to read, to a large degree historically correct (he even adds a chapter explaining his facts in the story), and a nice way to learn about the reign of emperor Nero. I recommend it for anyone interested in ancient history.

 

well.. other than CT, I read Charltons guide to Canadian coins, and the hardcover american coin book I have. (just prices) I dont have any books 'per say' other than those. I picked up a cherrypickers magazine and a couple weeks worth of the numismatist in Oregon, So Ive been reading, and re-reading those.

 

Excellent post, Hobo, interesting and well expressed. Also, it's a pleasure to see such perfect grammar and punctuation.

I have a book I would recommend to any numismatist: Collectible American Coins, written by Kenneth E. Bressett with the American Numismatic Association. It's a history of American coins, but also has special sections, such as coins designed by the Barber family, Commemorative Coins, etc. The hardback book is superbly illustrated and would probably cost a lot today. I bought it at a special sale in an office park about 10 years ago at an unbelievably low price.

I also, more recently, made the mistake of buying a piece of junk masquerading as a book entitled Coins and Collectors. If there has ever existed a nothing book, that is it.

 

There are actually two books that I'm working my way through.

1. Experts Guide Colecting and Investing in Rare Coin by Dave Bowers
2. Arizona: Years of Courage 1832-1910 The Life and Times of William H. Kirkland (Who happens to be my Great Great Grandfather)

 

Always have Cherrypickers 1, Breen encyclopedia and Redbook open as well as coinage magazine. Been looking through some NumismaticScrapbook from the 50's and 60's lately also. Great thread.

 

Reading (and re-reading) Goodman's Numismatic Photography.

 

A guide Book of Double Eagle Gold Coins: A Complete History and Price Guide

and

The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins 2009

Just bought my first Type I and needed some general information. :secret:

 

what are you.....................................

at this very second i'm NOT reading anything but instead am on these boards.

when i do read i like to read:

NN

CW

coinage

coins

lincoln cents by QDB

morgan dollars by QDB

by the way, in coin world issue dated 9/1 on page 14 there is an editorial opinion that i find

interesting and i think others would enjoy. it is a point counterpoint article on CAC

i recommend reading it, it is very entertaining!

 

Currently engaged in two reference guides:

Bust Half Fever (1807-1836) 2nd edition by Edgar E. Souders

United States Early Half Dollar Die Varieties (1794-1836) 4th edition by Donald L. Parsley.

I feel as if I'm back in college as these volumes are by no means easy reading, especially for a novice such as I. Wealth of information none the less as I strive to pick my first acquisition.

 

Hard copies:
Alexandrian Coins by Kieth Emmett
The Coinage of the Roman Republic by Sydenham
Chinese Cash by O D Cresswell

In pdf form on my computer:
Greek Imperial Coins and their Values - Sear
and various sections of the BMC Greek

As far as non-numismatic related things, I'm reading Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy, and wills oon start the Satyrica by Petronius (in Latin of course) for class, as well as a dozen other books.

 

Ancient Coin Collecting by Wayne G. Sayles
and just finished The Galic War and moving onto the Civil war.

 

Right now:
There Are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
and Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

These are required for my AP English class (school hasn't even started yet) so as you can see reading anything numismatically-related is going to be hard for a while.

 

I'm gona be in the same boat, just got my emt book for school. :desk:

 

Sounds like fun guys , but well worth it in the future . With the right education you'll make the big bucks to live a comfortable life , with extra money for collecting .
rzage

 

I hope ;_;

 

Sorry to go off topic, but college bound people check out the Money magazine this month. It has an article about money, debt and college and if it is worth it. Both of my degrees (computers/networking, communication) don't mean anything to me as there are few jobs like this where I live and due to double load I didn't have time to get the on the job experience. Experience beats college, but having both is the best. BTW picked up 2 coin magazines I have never gotten before today and already read one completely including all the ads.

 

thanx I'll check it out, if I have moeny yeah experince is definatly better