This is a book for the experienced collector to give to a favored child at Christmas. It is great if you are new to the hobby. Discussion boards are outstanding resources, but, like collecting itself, you have to invest time and effort - and sometimes some wasted expenses - finding out who really knows what they are talking about. With books, you have more assurance. In this case, Ken Bressett and Whitman both come with long histories of achievement that hallmark them. From coins as collectibles, to finding the right dealers and price guides, to the usual prices and relative values of the Federal coins that are the mainstream of our hobby, to the supplies you need, to the other books you can rely on, this 275-page guide (issued at $12.95) will help the new collector get oriented to the broad and deep avenues of our hobby. Throughout the book, Bressett points to collector organizations such as the Liberty Seated Collectors Club (www.lscc.org), and Barber Coin Collectors Society (www.barbercoins.org) that bring experts, their expertise, and experience, to those who pursue the special interests that can become truly valuable collections.
