Books good for someone who wants to learn

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Brandi Wilson, Mar 14, 2020.

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  1. Kevin Mader

    Kevin Mader Fellow Coin Enthusiast Supporter

    More to consider:

    Sources of information are critical and not all sources are created equal. Something you should keep in the back of your mind is the credibility of the information you are taking in; is it reliable? Is it sanctioned? There is a ton of information and data out there that litter the 'learning fields'. Be careful. Learn from Masters and not from Hacks.

    Now there are subjects and subject matter more compromised by the proliferation of bad information. You'll often note here that folks tell newbies to avoid Youtube...and with good reason. Plenty of the videos there present bad, incomplete, or intentionally misleading information. Youtube = Hack in most instances. Some sites offer good information and offer credit to their sources. You'll learn to sift through the presenters/authors/critics to find the Masters. Listen to them closely. We are fortunate to have a couple of them who visit these forums. This is not to discredit the many knowledgeable collectors here either. Many have weighty responses to help develop you.

    Regarding books; they are wonderful resources for learning, but again...not all books are created equal. But there is a publishing process...editorial vetting and peer review that helps sanitize the information being offered. This is piece of mind that you are getting 'good' information. I always encourage reading. I personally feel that reading is learning and learning is life. Read to live! I'm an avid reader and I find that one book leads to another...like pulling a string. I love history, so often times I zigzag about reading on various topic of interest (coin topics can lead to history lessons). I'm quite content. But there are tons of online resources, published white papers, and articles that are worth their weight. But as always, validate the information presented against what you know and other reliable sources. It's as true about coins as it is about our history or a cake recipe. And as noted by our fellow enthusiasts above, read the many posts by our trusted CT members and Masters. This may be the fastest way to gain perspective leaving a deeper dive to the books, papers, and articles.

    And keep the phrase "In God we trust...all others bring data!" Be 'data' driven. There are plenty of opinions out there, but we need less of that and more data driven responses. Select resources (books, sites, articles) where you can trust the data. Opinions vary from bad to good and knowing which is which will affect your learning. I think your question to the community about books to read is a good one. Good luck!!
     
    Kevin Mader, Mar 16, 2020
    #21 + Quote Reply
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  3. Brandi Wilson

    Brandi Wilson ... a kid at heart

    That's why I wanted to ask you guys about this. I didn't want to read the wrong books and get misinformation.

    Thanks for everyone's responses. I'm going to get the Cherrypickers Guides next then see where that takes me. ;)
     
    Brandi Wilson, Mar 16, 2020
    #22 + Quote Reply
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  4. MeowtheKitty

    MeowtheKitty Well-Known Member

    Cat Fancy.
     
    MeowtheKitty, Mar 16, 2020
    #23 + Quote Reply
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  5. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    I no longer do, but I subscribed to Coin World and Numismatic News, and received Numismatist as a member of the ANA for many, many years. CW and NN they often duplicate each other to a limited degree in that they have articles on the same subject every now and then. But each also covers different topics that the other doesn't, maybe not for years. And the Numismatist, well it's different all together, usually covering topics that others do not.

    Now there are, or at least used to be, 3 or 4 other coin magazines but those 3 are the big 3 in my opinion. And for anybody who wants to be serious about the hobby pretty much a requirement. Of course not everybody sees it that way.

    So if that's the case why don't I still subscribe ? To a degree it's because I quit collecting coins, completely, and sold my entire collection in 2006. But it was also because my studies and research went in areas and directions, and beyond, way beyond, what any magazine, I won't say could cover, but does cover. At least in most cases.
     
    GDJMSP, Mar 16, 2020
    #24 + Quote Reply
  6. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    This blows my mind.... Doug, you don't ever have the urge to pick up something when you see all these photos of beautiful coins on CT? This forum is my largest enabler!
     
    Randy Abercrombie, Mar 16, 2020
    #25 + Quote Reply
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  7. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Nahhh. It's fairly simple Randy, one day I had what you could call a "profound revelation". Simply put, I finally realized that it was the study of coins, the accumulation of knowledge about coins I really loved. And there is no need to collect them in order to accumulate knowledge about them.

    And you can take that even further because it is the study and accumulation of all knowledge, any knowledge, that truly drives me. Not the collection of any objects, not even the books that contain the knowledge. But for a while that was a "thing" for me. But in recent years I have selling of my books so that others may share in that same knowledge.

    Ya see, my signature line, is quite literal ;)
     
    GDJMSP, Mar 17, 2020
    #26 + Quote Reply
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  8. John Skelton

    John Skelton Morgan man!

    Sooo, you've sold the books that you no longer need? And you are still seeking knowledge. Does that mean you're buying different books? How do you manage to continue accumulating knowledge? What resources are you using?
     
    John Skelton, Mar 17, 2020
    #27 + Quote Reply
  9. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    It's not a question of my need, it's a question of the need of others. Many of the books I owned, and those I still own, you just don't find those books every day. And even when you can almost all are fairly expensive. Just as an example I've got 1 that most folks don't even know it exist, there were only 150 copies ever printed. And it's about a mint and its coins that most folks think was myth, but it wasn't. Short and sweet I've been selling my books to help other people.

    How do I keep learning ? No I don't buy books anymore, don't have the money to buy them anymore. But in this day and age I know enough about research and how to find things, thesis quality papers and the like, that other folks never even hear about let alone ever find. That's how I keep learning.
     
    GDJMSP, Mar 18, 2020
    #28 + Quote Reply
  10. mlov43

    mlov43 주화 수집가

    An out-of-print book, but one that MAY be at your local university library:
    Author: Denis R. Cooper
    Title: The Art and Craft of Coinmaking: A History of Minting Technology (1988)

    Click to enlarge:
    Screen Shot 2020-03-18 at 10.34.14 AM.png

    Not sure where everyone lives, but let's check worldcat:

    Screen Shot 2020-03-18 at 10.37.46 AM.png
     
    mlov43, Mar 18, 2020
    #29 + Quote Reply
  11. mlov43

    mlov43 주화 수집가

    Let us know where you access those, Doug!
    Or if you told me, you'd have to kill me?
     
    mlov43, Mar 18, 2020
    #30 + Quote Reply
  12. GenX Enthusiast

    GenX Enthusiast Forensic grammatician

    Is that a book? Asking for a friend...
    IMG_0457.jpg
     
    GenX Enthusiast, Mar 18, 2020
    #31 + Quote Reply
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  13. MeowtheKitty

    MeowtheKitty Well-Known Member

    Actually it is a bi-monthly magazine that is now called Catster.
     
    MeowtheKitty, Mar 19, 2020
    #32 + Quote Reply
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  14. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    Scientific American, Readers Digest, Mother Earth News, The Numismatist, World Coin News. And for club publications, Penny Wise, The Gobrect Journal, C4

    I don't get much in the way or magazines anymore
     
    Conder101, Mar 19, 2020
    #33 + Quote Reply
  15. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Kill ya ? Nahhhh - you would however have to undergo the vetting process, and participate in the "Oath Ceremony' ! :jawdrop: :wideyed:
     
    GDJMSP, Mar 19, 2020
    #34 + Quote Reply
  16. mlov43

    mlov43 주화 수집가

    original_11.png ​
     
    mlov43, Mar 19, 2020
    #35 + Quote Reply
  17. Mainebill

    Mainebill Bethany Danielle

    Used to post regular on their site years ago. My late great kitty Salem posted from the road and stories all the time. Was a frequent daily diary award winner
     
    Mainebill, Mar 19, 2020
    #36 + Quote Reply
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  18. MeowtheKitty

    MeowtheKitty Well-Known Member

    Terrific! Meow is impressed.
     
    MeowtheKitty, Mar 19, 2020
    #37 + Quote Reply
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  19. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    Learning how to grade is absolutely essential for all collectors. I'm glad that you have found that book useful!

    To the OP - whether you use this book or a different book, one of your top priorities should be to become a confident grader!
     
    physics-fan3.14, Mar 27, 2020
    #38 + Quote Reply
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