2 comments about 2009 Standard Catalog Of World Coins 2001-Date (Standard Catalog).

1. The first two editions of this catalog received less than favorable reviews, so I waited until the third edition to buy one hoping that the bugs would be worked out. The listings for most countries are more current in that coins up into 2007 are included, which is reasonable for a 2009 edition that had to be printed in early 2008 or earlier. Older editions often were three to five years behind. On the down side, the catalog still includes major problems: LARGE numbers of coins for most countries are listed without pictures (80% or more for some smaller countries), some catalog numbers are different than those in earlier editions, some coin descriptions do not match the coins pictured (which is correct, the description or the picture???), some descriptions do not list the subject of the coin (especially a problems with some poor pictures), some coins are listed more than once with different catalog numbers (if all coins had pictures, this problem would be more obvious). The listed coin values are a mixed bag. Most of the values for newer commemoratives look like full retail as issued by the mints or their distributors. Values for coins from countries that are hot right now are a joke, but predicting market swings is beyond the scope of any catalog. Use the values as guides to approximate values and not the actual values.
   
   With all the problems, this catalog (and the others in the series) remain the most comprehensive source of information available on world coins. The specialty collector can find better catalogs--usually at much higher prices. The more general collector or novice should use this catalog, if for no other reason than using the catalog numbers for record keeping and communicating with other collectors or dealers. The publisher could do a great service to the hobby by fixing the problems, especially adding pictures for ALL of the coins.



2. With every passing year the edition of a separate 21st century coin catalog becomes more justified. Any coin collector can easily list a number of countries which do their best to fill the volume with products of their mints and national banks. China and France alone add at least two to four pages yearly, Russia and Poland are not far behind. It does make sense to produce this catalog and yet there are doubts.
   The 2009 edition brings another selection of new commemoratives plus a handful of fairly interesting regular coins but somehow I am still unconvinced that there were credible reasons for splitting the 1900+ volume into two - the 20th and the 21st century (apart from making more money on collectors ;) If you could remove "patterns etc." sections - most of which interest less than a hundred people all around the world - the 20th and the 21st century catalogs could still easily be produced as a single volume.
   The volume seems to have become too big to handle for its editors. Several times the same coins are listed twice (Bangladesh 2 taka is the first to come to mind) with minute differences in descriptions as if there were differences between two coins. It seems nobody had the strength to edit the whole volume carefully...
   In short - if you are seriously interested in commemorative world issues, this is your book. You simply must buy it as the only other choice is checking various internet sites. Yet if your interests are more moderate getting a new edition every two or three years should be enough.

1 comments about The Official Blue Book Handbook of United States Coins 2009 (Handbook of United States Coins) (Handbook of United States Coins (Cloth)) (Handbook of United States Coins (Cloth)).

1. Information about US coins in this book is easy to find, easy to understand. It contains some background information about each series, but not enough. I find myself using the Red Book more often.

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

1. It's been many years since I've had this book. All of my expectations were satisfied. This book has been the "Bible" for US Paper money as long as I can remember. If you want to understand grading, pricing, or just want to learn about an important piece of American history, its worth the money.



2. I found this book to be very informative & an important book for any collecter/history buff.



3. This book has been so helpful in my collecting quests. I spent about an hour in Borders trying to find a book that gives values of modern as well as old currency for ranges up to Unc-63. It provides all the necessary information (such as signatures, series, quantity printed) for almost all bills and has a nice informative section as well. It gives price points that help you place a bid on valuable bills. This helps all collectors, experienced or not. I highly recommend this book.



4. This is good book about our money and is very educational.
   Well worth the price.



5. This book provides comprehensive and useful information. The valuations cover different seals, mints, signatures, and star notes. The book also includes some information about the history of each note. It is easy to find information and lookup valuations. The only negative is the black & white photos make it a little harder to distinguish between different seal colors when looking up info.

5 comments about Coin Collecting For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies)).

1. I'm still consulting it, but it's a great book. It say what your dealers don't want, or takes you a lot of time to investigate. I'm from Mexico, and mexican coins amateur collector, i have catalogs but this book has been to useful.



2. I landed the job of cataloging my Father-in-law's coin collection. I didn't know a thing about coins. I got this book to help point me in the right direction. It is extremely helpful in giving me the terms used and explaining the DO's and Dont's (DO NOT CLEAN THE COINS) of collecting coins.



3. Hello , Covers all the basics quite nicely , easy to read and understand. I would strongly suggest you read this book and at least one other on your specific interest before you spend a dime on coins.



4. Good information for someone like myself who is just getting started in coin collecting. Would be too general for someone who is a bit more experienced. No buyer's remorse here!



5. This is a great book if you want to learn the ins and outs of a big time coin dealer/collector...mostly buying and selling.. I'm more into Collecting and learning about diffrent error coins.
   
   
   "TR"

5 comments about Numismatic Photography.

1. Mark Goodman has created a wonderful book on coin photography. Concise and easy enough for an amateur like myself to learn from.
   
   If you sell coins on the internet, or just want amazing pics of your prized coins and medals, it is a no-brainer to buy this book!



2. I'm very new to numismatic photography, but I'm very interested in creating the best quality images of my collection possible.
   
   This book presents a good overview of the tools (camera, copystand, lights, post-editing software) and techniques for doing this.
   
   It is a short and easy read for the novice, and more advanced photographers should appreciate the extra sections written to go a level deeper into each topic.
   
   Imaging coins of various compositions (copper, proof silver, gold, etc) are discussed in detail. Raw and slabbed coins are also addressed throughout, and the many sample photos thoughtfully include the camera, aperture, and shutter settings.
   
   Thanks to the advice presented here, you don't need to spend a fortune on creating good images. But with some small tool upgrates and some hints and tricks as presented by Mark Goodman, virtually anyone can make great photos!



3. The author, Mark Goodman, has put together a nice systematic presentation of the material. For example, Mark has broken down high, medium and low contrast coins into chapters. In each of the chapters, Mark selected representative examples of coins that fall into the relevant contrast category. Photos of each coin are presented with changes in lighting. The photos are compared and contrasted.
   
   I have bought multiple copies of this book (as gifts) and have recommended this book to collectors of material other than numismatics as the principles in this book are universal.
   
   Excellent book. Quick read. Immediate results. Nice reference material.



4. I've known Mark Goodman for a couple of years through an online forum for coins. His tips along the years have made my coin photography much better. He graciously provided PDF documents that were quite helpful along the way. I am counting on this book to really put me over the top and into a different class of coin imaging.
   
   The book is well laid out and covers everything you need to become a top-notch coin photographer. It has beginner sections right along advanced sections, so this book is for anyone who owns a camera and wants to image coins.
   
   I have yet to make it through the whole book... There is a lot of information to absorb. But my images are already improving and my skills were adequate before. Soon, they will be much more than adequate due to Mr. Goodman's instruction.
   
   Thanks, Mark!



5. OUTSTANDING. Beyond doubt, this book is an indespensible addition to numismatic literature. In the Internet Age, coin photography is more important than ever. The body of work, hobby wide, will improve dramatically as hobbyists improve their skills - thanks to this book.

1 comments about Lincoln Cents Folder #1, 1909-1940.

1. The nice, lock-in feature prevents your coins from falling out of the folder, while holding them in a nice layout. The only drawback is you cannot see the reverse of the coins when they're in the folder.

1 comments about Washington Quarters : Collection 1988-2000, Number Four.

1. The Whitman brand name has been a icon in coin collecting for years. When I started collecting in the early 90s, I used their folders, including this one. So what's the problem with this folder? The folder goes up to the year 2000. In 1999, a 10 year series of quarters was started to honor each state. That means as of 1998, there will be no eagle reverse Washington quarters until the year 2009, if at all. In other words, If you want to keep your Washington quarter current, you WILL NEED one of Whitman's statehood quarter folders. If you want to wait until 2009 for an eagle reverse Washington quarter, then stick with this folder.

2 comments about Washington Quarter Folder 1965-1987 (Official Whitman Coin Folder).

1. A great way to keep your collection of change in a handy thin book.Your coins stay in place, and are not easily lost. Most have dates and mint marks, that way you can see what you have or still need. Some books even give a little information on the coins you have. Great for the beginner or exp. person.



2. WOW! this hold all your quarters. Its great. I bought it today and its so fun to save your quarters and display them. Its a good investment! §§§Thanks§§§

5 comments about The Expert's Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins: Secrets Of Success.

1. I could have done without this book. Its design is flawed, and the binding is stiff and brittle. I prefer the Redbook or Bluebook.



2. This book is EXTREMELY thorough. However, as a newcomer to the field, it was a tough one for me, as it seems the author already presupposes a fair amount of knowledge of coin-collecting jargon on the part of the reader (to be fair, perhaps it's my fault for not taking the "EXPERT'S" part of the title literally.)
   
   I highly recommend this book if you already have some basic knowledge in the field. However, for genuine neophytes like myself, it would be better to get the basics from a source geared to beginners first (maybe COIN COLLECTING FOR DUMMIES.) I think this book would then be much more understandable and enjoyable.



3. --
   "The Expert's Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins" is definitely worth reading. It is autobiographical and contains the secrets of his 60 years of success as collector, investor, numismatist, grader, dealer, auctioneer, ANA board member, and author.
   
   Cramming six decades of numismatic life experiences into a single book is tough, requiring mental and spiritual strength. Doing this in a comprehensive, coherent and organized manner is unquestionably a laborious, taxing, onerous, and difficult task. Such a demanding project could only be achieved by the formidable Q. David Bower.
   
   Mr. Bower is one of the most prolific numismatic writers of all time, he has written over 30 books and numerous articles and columns.This is by far the most important of his works and possibly the best ever, the quality of information & wide-ranging content makes it the cream of the crop, flower of the flock, pick of the bunch --whatever you want to call it.
   
   It is full of valuable expertise, candid story telling, dealer & auctioneer trade secrets, smart buying and selling techniques and recommendations, and detailed descriptions of every US coin by type, complete with a close focus on: Rarity, Grading, Quality, and Value of coins. It also includes his recommendations and insights on Conferences, Life & Internet Auctions, Library, Protection and Conservation of Coins, Tokens, Medals, and Paper Money.
   
   Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I Recommend this Book.
   
   See my other reviews.
   
   
   
   Official A.N.A. Grading Standards for United States Coins
   High Profits from Rare Coin Investment
   A California Gold Rush history: Featuring the treasure from the S.S. Central America : a source book for the Gold Rush historian and numismatist
   A Guide Book Of Us Morgan Silver Dollars: A Complete History and Price Guide (Official Red Book) (Official Red Book)
   The History of United States Coinage
   The United States Gold Coin Collection
   Silver Dollars and Trade Dollars of the United States: A Complete Encyclopedia
   The Numismatist's Bedside Companion (The Numismatist's Companion Series)
   A Guide Book of Modern United States Proof Coin Sets: A Complete History and Price Guide (Official Red Book)
   The Inside Story Of The State Quarters (Official Whitman Guidebook)
   A Guide Book of U.S. Commemorative Coins (The Official Red Book)
   Coin Dealer Newsletter: A Study in Rare Coin Price Performances
   American Coin Treasures & Hoards
   Recollections of a Mint Director



4. I read "Gold Rush: How to Collect, Invest & Profit With Gold Coins" by Mitch Battino and Arlyn Sieber (see my review of that book) prior to reading this book by Q. David Bowers. I'm glad I did because while the Gold Rush book was a very big disappointment, it made me realize just how truly good Mr. Bowers book is.
   
   I have to be honest, coin books are generally NOT books that you read from beginning to end and find that you can't put down. This book is an exception - I couldn't put it down and I read the entire book from beginning to end.
   
   Although I've been collecting for years, one thing I enjoyed about this book was that some of those obscure numismatic terms that other authors assume you know, Mr. Bowers will stop and take a sentence or two to explain the term. I really appreciated that.
   
   Plus, where the Gold Rush book failed in the "How to Collect, Invest, and Profit," this book did an excellent job of showing how to do just that. It is not a price guide with outdated prices. It is an excellent reference guide with information that will never get old. This book will still be great 10 years from now.
   
   This book has excellent chapters with hands-on advise and great stories to help explain coin market cycles, determining coin prices and value (not a list of coin prices like other books but goes into things like grading, rarity, and demand), history of the coin market and predicting the rare coin market, techniques for buying and selling, and chapters on collecting advise for everything from gold coins, commemorative coins, to paper money and tokens and medals. The only thing I would point out as that this book sticks to the U.S. rare coin market and does not discuss World coins.
   
   I own more than a few coin books and this book has shot up to the top of my list as the "must have" book. Whether you are a new or experienced collector or investor (aren't we all really both), you will enjoy and profit from this book.
   
   In the future, when I'm asked by new collectors what is a good book to get, this will be the book I recommend.



5. Very informative, well written guide in investing in coins. The author possesses unquestionable authority on the subject and has a remarkably well-honed ability to write on an academic topic in an exciting manner. He is sharp-witted and enjoyable. The book is very complete and most importantly - relevant and timely. If you wish to invest and collect coins this is a must have guide.

4 comments about A Guide Book Of Us Morgan Silver A Complete History and Price Guide (Official Red Book) (Official Red Book).

1. Just getting started collecting Morgan Dollars and I can't begin to tell you what a treasure this book has been. Every year and every variation is given it's own separate page with all the info you need to know...things to look for, variances, etc. A GREAT book if you're just getting started.



2. This book offers year-by-year information of the mintage, auction, ms population information. Some useful information, but not that useful. You can find most of these info online. Just a collection of basic info.



3. If you think your a Morgan Silver Dollar collector and you don't have this book then your NOT a Morgan Silver Dollar collector. Much more than just a book on Morgans, this is a true reference piece that you will refer to again and again. A bible of Morgan Silver Dollars if you will. I find myself refering back to this book not only for new information but also to verify details I have found elsewhere.
   
   Very well written, very comprehensive, very well organized. A natural flow through to the book from the history of dollars to a detailed analysis of each date and mint. Highly recommended.



4. An excellent publication in terms of breadth of coverage from both a historical and a collector's standpoint. With the help of this book, one could almost become an instant expert in the field. As for myself, however, I'm content to have learned enough to establish reasonable goals (in terms of condition, availability and cost) for date & mint selections when acquiring companion pieces for my 1884-CC Morgon Silver Dollar.
   
   Roger S.