What's Your Favorite (or Most Used) Numismatic Book

[IGWT]

It will be hard to limit our answers to just one, but I'm really interested to know what is at the top of each peson's list. I'll be taking the responses as suggestions for adding to my library (and, if I figure out how, maybe I can save this thread for later reference).

 

I'll start: E. Fletcher, Jr., The Shield Five Cent Series (1994).

[TomB]

I can't limit it to one book since not each book attempts to accomplish the same goals and there are things about many books that I like. This is a list of my favorite numismatic books-

 

1)Numismatic Art in America by Cornelius Vermeule; Far and away the best numismatic book that I have ever read.

 

2)Early Half Dollars by Al Overton; A classic and a must-have for collectors of early half dollars.

 

3)America's Silver Coinage, 1794-1891 by the ANS; Some masterful work is printed in here.

 

4)Bust Half Fever by Edgar Souders; I like early Federal coinage very much and Souders puts together a numismatic analysis with some history.

 

I would highly recommend each. The Vermeule book is a quality hardcover from 1971 that is long out of print but might be found for about $100; the newest Overton book is in its thrid printing and is from 1991 and can be found for $50 or less; the ANS book might be found for $15 or so and is well worth it; while the Souders book from 1995 sold out long ago and might be upwards of $115.

[Becky-migration]

My 3 VAM books, The Encyclopedia, Hot 50, and Top 100, and my Krause. I use all 4 too much to pick just one.

[supertooth]

Hi IGWT-----Got to be my Walking Liberty Book by Bruce Fox----out of print but a copy comes up on Ebay now and again. At the time that I first went through this book it filled in a lot of holes---answered a lot of questions. Naturally, I have many others that could go on a list but you did ask for only one. Bob [supertooth]

[jtryka]

"A Handbook of 20th-Century United States Gold Coins" by David W. Akers, it's an absolute must have for anyone seriously collecting Saints, Indian Eagles, Half Eagles or Quarter Eagles. I also have a copy of "A Guide Book of Double Eagle Gold Coins" by Q. David Bowers, and it's a nice book, but the section on Saints pales in comparison to Akers' work.

[michael]

books sort of............

 

ngc and pcgs pop reports

 

heritagecoin.com permanant auction archive

888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

[jom]

I agree with jtryka on the Akers book. It's needs some serious updating however.

 

My most used and favorite book, by far, was Bower's "Buyers Guide to the Rare Coin Market". It also needs some updating now but it was a terrific read.

 

I also like Bower's biographys of Abe Kozov (sp?), Eliasberg and another guy who's name escapes me at the moment.

 

But unquestionably, my most used book was the "Guide" by Bowers.

 

jom

[RobertB]

books sort of............

 

ngc and pcgs pop reports

 

heritagecoin.com permanant auction archive

888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

 

Michael,

You just covered everything I was about to say. Heritages archives lets you know what market prices are and pop. reports let you know the true "rarity" of a particular coin.

[cpm9ball]

My 3 VAM books, The Encyclopedia, Hot 50, and Top 100, and my Krause. I use all 4 too much to pick just one.

 

Ditto - Becky

 

I'd have to add Red Book of Morgan Silver Dollars by Q. David Bowers and I know I'll be getting a lot of use from the Hibler-Kappen book on So Called Dollars but I only recently ordered it. Has anyone heard any more on the rumor of an update to HK?

 

Chris

[Jabba-migration]

This is my #1 book, well my only book but Im a Morgan guy!

Red Book of Morgan Silver Dollars by Q. David Bowers

Is there a Morgan vam book? I need one!

[IGWT]

Hi Smoky1 --

 

This link will take you to a thread that provides the titles/authors you're looking for.

[James_OldeTowne]

Most used? the Overton book.

 

Favorite? Breen's Encycolpedia.

 

James