The Krause World Coin Catalogs include a few pages specifically designed for quick country identification. Of course, you basically should look at the writing on the coin (language & then translation) and then the devices on the coin. If you have a question, then post a picture here at CT (where people like to discuss coins).
I use the Krause "Standard Catalog of World Coins", which are very large (and expensive) and come as separate books (and CDs) in date ranges, such as 1601-1700, 1701-1800, 1801-1900, 1901-2000, and 2001-Present. Be aware that the latest 2010 edition only covers coins dated up through 2008 -- and possibly not all of those.
Agreed, but access to free Standard Cataolgs is only a visit to your local lending library away. If all you want is identification then an out of date SCoWC is as good as an up to date copy. Here in central Ohio a search by title will determine if a copy is available anywhere in the system and a request will have it delivered to your closest library for pick-up. Borrowing reference books frees up money for coins. :smile
I had a look at just Albanian issues on the site. Lots of missing issues, and also the presence of counterfeits (1926 Albanian 5 Franga was a fake). Of course it is free, but you kind of get what you pay for... There is no substitute for Krause catalogs when researching world coins.
Well, there are the Schön catalogs of course. But if it has to be English, you are right, I think. Also, Krause used to have a very good "Find My Coin" service at www.numismaster.com with the basic search being free. But apparently that free search does not work any more. Christian
But is the prices really okey? I saw a Malta UN coin 5 Liri from 1995 that suppose to be worth 100 dollars in the catalog. Page 1418 World Coins 2009. It was sold for 30 dollar here on a auctions site.
Prices in coin catalogs are sometimes quite different indeed from what you actually pay. Frankly, I do not envy those who do the research for those catalogs ... Sometimes such differences are a question of condition - OK, probably not in this particular case as that was a proof-only issue. Sometimes the "local" prices in various markets differ (although that is not really a major issue any more). By the way, the 2010 Krause still says $100; the Schön says €60. Cannot tell whether one or both are wrong here, or whether this auction result was a one-time bargain. Christian
