Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;torontokuba, post: 2022717, member: 56793&quot;]I really prefer the opposite approach to this. Buy some inexpensive, unslabbed, worn or imperfect samples of a coin type or series that interests you. Those are the samples that will motivate you to find out more about the coins you have in hand. You will have a starting reference point, then you can upgrade as you learn more about a series or coin type. There is nothing worse than just knowledge from books without the visual experience of a coin surface, weight, sound, luster, imperfections, details, etc. That physical example will help motivate your efforts, instill curiosity and help stimulate the senses. You can learn a heck of a lot more on your own by purchasing and studying the appearance of coins in a variety of grades and conditions, than from reading someone else&#039;s opinion on how they interpret grades and conditions. Also, the internet is a much more powerful visual aide than most coin books I&#039;ve seen. You have to look at a lot of coins (not just words) to grasp the best of what this hobby has to offer.</p><p><br /></p><p>From personal experience, nothing bored me more than one of my first coin books (1976 Fell&#039;s). Almost none of the coins I owned were pictured in the amusing drawings.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH]366571[/ATTACH]&nbsp; [ATTACH]366581[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I took real pleasure in the coins themselves. Looking at prices of some of the really good books available out there, limited printings, editions, etc. that money might be better spent on your first coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>Even today, the visual aides in many books are just pathetic. I did manage to find a couple of gems in my area of interest, one of the first books I&#039;ve encountered of its kind. The giant high-resolution detailed photos and book format make this book a pleasure to explore.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH]366574[/ATTACH]&nbsp; [ATTACH]366575[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>This one just arrived and I haven&#039;t had time to really dive in, but, the quality visuals are there, along with the text.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH]366582[/ATTACH]&nbsp;&nbsp; [ATTACH]366577[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Both books are hardcover and huge. Quality paper and quality images from many important collections make it a real treat to explore.</p><p><br /></p><p>If it wasn&#039;t for the photos, I would not have invested in them. I would have spent that money on coins I wish to learn more about. With internet at most fingertips and countless photos from TPGs floating around, I believe that to be the way to go.</p><p><br /></p><p>When was the last time one of us gave an opinion about a coin without some sort of decent image being present in a thread? That is what books are, without the presence of visual aids, someone&#039;s opinion on what they saw, but, they are not showing it to you in the same capacity.</p><p><br /></p><p>That would sum up my advice for beginners regarding point 3.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>To counter the repetitive point 13, I would say...</p><p><br /></p><p>Look, look, look and then look again at your visual aids, as you read up on their types, varieties, errors, characteristics, surface condition, grade, etc.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in