How much do you invest in your numismatic Library?

So far I have bought only one book and thats on the series I collect. I do plan on getting more as I go along. Sometimes when I pass by used book stores I would go in and ask if they have coin books. It seems that not too many second hand stores has coin books though.

 

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Its a good point. People need to know where to get books. If anyone ever has a question please post or PM me. Trust me, i know most sources both domestic and internationally. I know all US dealers, all numismatic auctioneers, many different websites to search, etc. Its not easy sometimes to find a certain book, I grant you that.

Good to hear you have the standard reference on your series icerain. Do you find it helpful? Does it improve your collecting enjoyment?

 

Not many videos I am aware of man. I basically get through them by whatever I happen to be interested in I read about. Books are boring if you don't care about it, but if you happen to be interested in Franklins at the moment, a book on Franklins will be fascinating. If you stop being interested in them, it will be boring. Roll with your tastes, and eventually you will get around to many different series.

What I do, if I want to read about say Ostrogothic coinage, is to buy one. Nothing gets you interested faster than having an example that you own.

 

I'm about a good book collection but I think if you collect say just one thing it would minimize what you need for books.

 

Numismatic Library: 1 Red Book that I don't really use

 

The one I'm using is the Official Morgan silver dollar Red Book or something like that. It is a good read with lots of info. To tell you the truth I thought it was going to be boring when I got it, but it is very enjoyable. I'm planning on getting the book on halves and cents later on.

 

I have my library down to about 16 feet.

 

I'm hooked on numismatic books, especially those about Canadian coinage.
I get the Charlton catalogs every year and the Haxby too.
I have a lot of the Whitman books, including the latest cherrypickers guides.
All told I probably have 50 or 60 books, not to mention all the back issues of the RCNA journals which I saved for the past several years.
I'm a firm believer in buying the book before the coin.

 

Could you post the links or locations in this thread medoraman? I use to have a lot of links saved to my favorites but that laptop died and I have not been able to find all of the links again.

 

ok, thanks GDJMSP. I forgot about that section. I believe that is where I got most of my links to begin with!

 

Couple hundred a year but that said it is shame not many books for coin collection are available as E-books.

 

I only get coin world, Celator *for ancients*, red book and some roman coin books, thats it. I dont really spend $ on specialist books. I dont have a care for what VAMS, Overtons and so on my U.S. coins have so I dont feel the need to study when I am just a type collector in U.S. coins. With ancients, I mainly focus on Romans and majority could be found online. I do know what my U.S. coin varieties are though thanks to the kind folks here

If I was to expand to other regions of ancients full time like middle eastern, china or something like Chris, then I would be more inclined to spend $ on specialist books like his but over 3 years in, I prefer romans and the usual "buy what I like" when it comes to other regions.

 

Just pointing out, Mat, that Doug and Ardatirion and other helpful members over on the ancient side get their answers from these same books. This is the source of their knowledge, and since we both respect those men, it might be good to have a few of the same resources as them.

My problem is so many books, and so little free time. Still, I would rather have that problem than the other way around.

 

Books?

Did someone say books?

How many?


Good question, about (pure guesstimate) 100' of shelf space.

minus: Red & Blue Books? then about 3 other books.


J/K

I buy any book that seems interesting, or is about a series that I am interested in reading about.

For example, I have all editions of the Overton series on Bust $1/2 plus any other references that I have ever seen.

The same with all Barber series.

Then, I buy any other coin book that seems well written.

And, then I buy any book recommended to me.


Then, I look again, and buy the other books on the shelf.

 

Oops, I forgot:

Any book is worth more that it costs, BUT:

Only if you read it.

 

Most books. To quote one of my favorite numismatic reviews ever, (Dennis Kroh in his Ancient Coin Reference Reviews)

"-three stars, that's right, negative stars. If ever there was a book not worth buying, (or even looking at), it has to be "The History of Coins & Symbols in Ancient Israel"......"If you already have it, throw it away".

Ouch.

 

Now, that review is priceless.


And, nope, I don't have that book.