Books

Since I know nothing about World Coins, what books are recommended? I know about the Krause books, anything else I should know about?

thanks Tony

 

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English and UK coins 1066-1999 all you'll need is a Coincraft 2000.

 

Krause is as good a starting placeas any for the general subject of `world coins'. Just don't take their pricing to be gospel ;-)

Bear in mind that `home markets' are always the most bhoyant. That is the most expensive place to buy UK coins is (usually) the UK, the most expensive place to by US coins is the US etc etc etc. Sure you might find one or two exceptions but that is a pretty sound rule of thumb.

If you start getting an interest in a particular country, then you are always best advised to obtain books specific to that country (Coincraft for the UK for example as Sylvester has already said). I can't immediately think of anything finer as an introduction (that is up to date that is) than Krause.

If on the other hand you wanted to gain some insight as to what was there before Krause then you might want to consider books like `Coins -Ancient Mediaeval and Modern' by R.A.G. Carson (first published in 1962) I can't think of a better book for giving an across the board picture (historically and geographically speaking) of the scope of `world coins' than that book.

Another of my favourites is`Coins of the World / 1750 -1850' by Wm D Craig. It's layout is more `Krause like' , certainly isn't all that `all encompassing' and to be honest you can get a copy of Krause that is just a couple of year old for probably less than a second hand copy of `Craig'. I still like it though basically because it has a couple of pages on counterstamps i've always found useful.

I also recommend WC Hazlitt's `The Coinage of The European Continent' (printed in 1893). There is data in that book that you just won't find elsewhere. It's pretty hard to come across these days though at an affordable price, but then again all good books usually are (unfortunately).

Advice? Start with Krause and work outward from there once you know what areas you are most attracted to.

Ian

 

For Japanese coins:

• Japanese Coinage, by Jacobs & Vermuele (Covers pre-Meiji through 1970)
• Modern Japanese Coinage, by Cummings (Covers Meiji through mid-70s - 1st or 2d Edition is OK)
• Japanese Numismatic Dealers Association Catalog (annual publication in Japanese, but good clear pictures of ancient & modern coins and notes, and special issues)

All three are frequently available on EBay, or through Amazon/Alibris/Barnes & Noble or other used book sites.

 

The Krause SCWC series is based directly on Craig. That is why many coins in the older SCWC have C-numbers.

To complement Craig, there is another "World Coins" book for modern issues created by R.S. Yeoman of Red Book fame.

I have both Craig and Yeoman, but they are more for show and comfort than use. Sometimes I look to see how things were back then, but mostly, the Krause SCWC does the job now.

 

If you want to know about European coins, especially German issues, there are over a dozen catalogs by John Davenport.
Davenport, John S. European crowns and talers since 1800. (1964)
Davenport, John S. European crowns 1484-1600. (1977)
Davenport, John S. European crowns 1600-1700. (1974)
Davenport, John S. European crowns 1700-1800. I, Denmark. (1948)
Davenport, John S. European crowns 1700-1800. II, Spain. (1948)
Davenport, John S. European crowns 1700-1800. III, Salzburg. (1949)
Davenport, John S. European crowns 1700-1800. III & IV, Salzburg & Malta. (1950)
Davenport, John S. European crowns 1700-1800. V, Sweden. (1950)
Davenport, John S. European crowns 1700-1800. VI & VII, Poland & Courland. (1950)
Davenport, John S. European crowns 1700-1800 VIII, Switzerland. (1952)
Davenport, John S. European crowns 1700-1800. (1961)
Davenport, John S. German church and city talers, 1600-1700. (1967)
Davenport, John S. German secular talers, 1600-1700. (1976)
Davenport, John S. German talers, 1500-1600. (1979)
Davenport, John S. German talers, 1700-1800. (1958)
Davenport, John S. German talers since 1800. (1949)

 

And for heaven's sake don't forget the ANA library as a source for borrowing a copy of almost every numismatic book out there, to decide whether it is worth its purchase price to you!

 

....and the rest too...like `Silver Gulden 1559-1763' as well as the various (and numerous) soft cover extracts from his books.

Of course, you could always save yourself an incredibly large amount of money by giving all of these books a miss in favour of Bachtell's `World Dollars - A Pictorial Guide 1477-1877'. Bachtell picks up on numerous variants that Davenport simply fails to catalogue. Strange thing is, you can usually find Bachtell for around the $10 mark on ebay. The original is the best. The second edition missed out more than it added. An additional volume covering 1479-1937 compliments the original work. Heck, for $30 buy the three of them and there won't be a single coin in Davenport that isn't referenced in Bachtell. That's roughly the second hand cost of ONE of the least expensive Davenport books listed above.....but i'm Scottish. It's in the genes. ;-)

Ian

 

Thanks

Thanks all for your replies, Wow alot of book on this subject, guess I have my work cut out for me.

Tony

 

Charlton for Canadian coins

 

Krause

Hi all, I picked up the Krause book at a show this weekend, it will help alot since I know nothing about World Coins. Now I have a reference at least.

thnks Tony

 

I hope you bought a wheelbarrow to cart it around in!

 

That's a good start. I make due with a 2005 Krause and Redbook for US coins. The Charlton cat is next on my list.