Q. David Bowers

What do you think about him
Here is a list of numismatic books he has written
The Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards of United States Coins


A Guide Book Of Us Morgan Silver Dollars: A Complete History and Price Guide (Official Red Book) (Official Red Book)

The Expert's Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins

Grading Coins by Photographs

A Guide Book of Lincoln Cents (Official Red Books)

A Guide Book Of United States Type Coins: A Complete History And Price Guide For The Collector And Investor: Copper, Nickel, Silver, Gold


100 Greatest American Currency Notes: The Stories Behind the Most Fascinating Colonial, Confederate, Federal, Obsolete, and Private American Notes


The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Values


An Official Red Book: A Guide Book of Double Eagle Gold Coins: A Complete History and Price Guide

United States Gold Coins: An Illustrated History


Adventures with Rare Coins

Collecting Rare Coins For Profit
by Q. David Bowers

A Guide Book of Mercury Dimes, Standing Liberty Quarters, and Liberty Walking Half Dollars, 1st Edition

Obsolete Paper Money: Issued by Banks in the United States 1782-1866: a Study and Appreciation for the Numismatist and Historian

Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins

A Guide Book Of United States Paper Money: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Prices (Official Red Book)

American Coin Treasures and Hoards


An Official Red Book: A Guide Book of Washington and State Quarters: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Prices

A Buyer's Guide to Silver Dollars and Trade Dollars of the United States

Numismatists Bedside Companion

The History of United States Coinage

The Numismatist's Fireside Companion

A Guide Book of United States Commemorative Coins

A California Gold Rush History: Featuring the Treasure from the S.S. Central America: A Source Book for the Gold Rush Historian and Numismatist

An Official Red Book: A Guide Book of Shield and Liberty Head Nickels: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Prices

Coins & Collectors: Golden Anniversary Edition

The Inside Story of the State Quarters: A Behind-The-Scenes Look at America's Favorite New Coins

Gold eagle coins

 

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QDB is one of nicest and most knowledgable numismatists you will ever meet. I had the pleasure of working with him on some contributions to the Shield and Liberty Nickel book.

 

I have 6 of the books from your list. Some of the information is redundant in his books. Such as, grading, mint process, buying strategies...etc. He has good information on coins for the novice and beginner collector. You won't be getting a real technical book from him. The history for each coin series is presented well. He does highlight varieties and mint errors for each coin series. This information is almost the same as what one would find in the RedBook. Most of the wealth of information from him will come in the bibliographies.

Some of the series you can tell he was an avid collector. Like Buffalo nickels. Other series he has merely compiled quite a bit of other's research. I liked his book on Morgan dollars. If you are not into VAM collecting but would still like to find some varieties his books is not bad. The book on Washington and State Quarters is not really that useful. There is not a lot to write about on State Quarters that isn't already known.

Most of his books I have bought on the cheap. Sometimes when I buy Whitman products there is a mail in offer. Those occasionally will have his book for a reduced price. Hobby Lobby also carries his books. They always have a 40% off coupon on-line or in the local paper. If you have a Mega RedBook then you pretty much have one of his books.

 

This is my main reference for Morgan Dollars.

 

I have most of those books

 

Met him once
he is a nice guy

 

I've never read a bad book of his.

 

I used to like the guy and bought most everything he wrote.
Bought about a hundred great coins from him years ago.
Met him several times over the years.
Don't ever care to meet him again.

 

What happened?

I feel like QDB is one of those generalists that knows a good bit about everything because he's been doing this for a really, really long time. He knows an awful lot, but you would too if you'd devoted your entire life to a single business. Much of what he writes is reminiscences about his times in the business.

I'd like to see a condensed memoir of his "greatest hits", and then have him pass the torch to new authors. For specialized knowledge, look elsewhere.

I also think a lot of his books are probably greatly assisted by a team of experts, and then he puts his name on it to sell the book.

 

That's all?

I have the history of Morgan Dollar Book and love it .

 

Met him once. He was nice to me. I’ve got a lot of those. The encyclopedia of silver and trade dollars is really useful to me. As between that and my collection of Gobrecht journals there’s not a lot to go on for my series the trade dollar

 

Not being a collector of US coins I don't have any of those books. But this thread prompted my to look online and I found his Morgan Dollar book, used, for less than $5. Just bought it as I do have quite a few of those. I do enjoy reading his articles in the Numismatist.

 

I believe his voluminous/quality writings speak for the man who I personally believe made many positive contributions to Numismatics.

JMHO

 

I think there is a misconception about "criticism" on the forum. True for coins, but not so for people. I think Bowers has more class than that. All coin dealers have had comments thrown around about them before. If he becomes a member he will be treated like any other member. There is no shortage of thin skinned members, but almost all do not think they are, just the others.

 

Back on topic.
Bowers is not what most think he is. In person he is very different. I have known him for over 40 years. When you stop handing him 10K at a time, he no longer has 2 seconds for you. It's clear I'm too stupid to be on this forum. I can't even understand the rules. I thought they were clear but I'm wrong.

 

The Numismatical Writing Dude has way more books to his credit than that list. My favorite: American Numismatics Before The Civil War 1760-1860 isn't listed. The footnotes alone in that book are an education.

 

Q David Bowers is a prolific and knowledgable writer. He has contributed much to this hobby.

 

I'm not going to criticize someone I've never meant. From my perspective, Q David Bowers has contributed immensely, either directly or indirectly, to numismatics. I'm sure that his involvement in the publications his name is on is varied; some directly and some indirectly. Like anything else in this world, name recognition means a lot so having his name on a book helps with sales. I'm not trying to discredit him by saying that. From my experiences in a different field I've found that just having your name on a research paper or book doesn't mean that you actually did the work. One's involvement may be as little as being a mentor and editor or as much as doing all of the work.

 

QDB has been a professional numismatist for over 60 years. He is (or was) a major dealer; I think he's mostly retired from coin dealing. I have done business with some of his companies over the years.

He has written more on numismatics than anyone else, and I'm sure he has a staff for assistance. He also contacts specialists when working on books about specific series. If anyone is an expert on many areas of numismatics, it is he.

Very nice and very smart in my experience. He does NOT like the mess that grading has gotten into, and I agree with him.

 

Might i ask. What gives