Collectors of US coins have the benefit of much data on what a certain coin should be sold for because so many nearly identical coins sell each year. Ancient/Medieval coins don't work that way. There are coins I'd like that come up once a decade (if that often) so it is hard to tell what the track record has been. As a result there are even greater spans in price than would seem reasonable because it is a matter of opinion as well as supply and demand. Now I discover that the situation with specialized books on coins is at least as bad. Yesterday I bought two out of print books on coins. One was available from three different sources (same book including shipping) for $28, $48 and $245. The other (also 3 dealers but not the same three) was $38, 36 GB pounds and $193. This was not a matter of condition or of new vs. used but whether an out of print book is considered a rare collectible or a remaindered overstock. Which should I have bought? I assume it is inappropriate to offer a hint where you should look for a book so I'll just say, "Shop around."
This brings up a good question for me... I've been looking for a D and H book on Conder Tokens. It's made by Dalton and Hamer I guess. Out of print I"m told too and the only one I've heard of was over $300 bucks. Ouch Do you know of any other means of getting it or the info like on CD? Thanks.
My first stop would be vcoins, Charlie Davis' shop is a good one. Failing that, check http://www.abebooks.com/. You can usually find the book you're looking for somewhere in the world.
The family of Jerry Walker, a major Numismatic Bookseller, is running a sale on remaining stock mostly at 25% off. He has a VCoins site. http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/jwalker/store/dynamicIndex.asp Books are new or clearly marked as used. I do note that some titles have sold out so it might be good to check for anything you might want soon. I was planning to order a copy of a book from the UK based author who tipped me that Jerry had bought a stock and I could save money and postage that way.
I second Ardatirion's suggestion ! Abebooks represents bookstores from around the world and Charles Davis' always has a very good selection of numismatic material. I have bought books from both places and been very pleased !!
Weren't you looking for this book? http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/jwalker/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=680
Yes, I ordered it. It is $200 on ABE Books, $193 on Amazon. When I posted a review of the new Tye book (Early World Coin and Early Weight Standards) I got a nice note from the author so I asked him if he had any idea where to buy the Jitals book. He told me about Walker's sale. He is still selling them in the UK but foreign postage makes buying it here a better deal even if it weren't for the 25% off sale. This and another book "Living Without Silver" byJohn S. Deyell is what set me off on used booksellers.
