5 comments about 2010 Standard Catalog of World Coins - 1901-2000.

1. Krause Standard Catalog 1901-2000 is simply the world standard of coin catalogs for the period. Unless your collection is highly specialized within a very small region or you collect coins which Krause does not list as such (such as German notgeld or tokens) this is a catalog you must have in your private library. 2010 edition includes also CD version so you don't have to carry around this rather bulky volume if you travel with your laptop.
   The countries are organized in alphabetical order and within countries coins are listed by denominations with most coins presented in black and white pictures. Every coins is priced in at least three grades (except for parts of the US listing where commemorative coins are apparently worthless below AU grade while other coins are priced in eleven grades) with prices basically reflecting current market trends.
   In short - if you collect world coins and you don't have a copy, you simply should stop reading at this point and order one immediately. However, if you do have a fairly recent copy you should think twice before doing anything. The prices have been updated here and there. Russia, Belarus and Ukraine (if you collect Eastern Europe except Poland, you are in for a nice surprise!) were, Germany and France not necessarily while some markets have changed greatly over last few years. Let's then take a look at Poland which has not been seriously updated for a decade. The key issue for post-1990 coins #306 King Sigismundus (still listed at $10 for Unc) will actually cost you at least $200 (unless you know a dealer who can't use ebay). Any 2 zlote commemorative coin from 1995 will cost at least $30 - Krause offers $3,50 for most. Prices of silver coins are a bit closer to reality but only some were actually changed: #314 Lidzbark castle is still listed at $50 while market price is closer to $400.
   It is fairly understandable that updating all the prices of the whole catalog is a major task but it seems that the editors are a bit too certain that at least one part of their job is done - that their catalog includes all coins issued within the period. Well, it doesn't... I found at least two omissions. There are four 1 pound coins from Cyprus missing - one from 1999 and three from 2000. Copper 1999 3000 bolivares from Venezuela commemorating the new Mint is missing although silver 6000 bolivares coin issued on the same occasion is included. You will probably find some more missing pieces.
   My conclusion - if you have a fairly new edition already (especially the 2009 one which also has the CD) you can stick to it for a while. The editors simply did not update this issue to such a degree that would justify the costs of your updating your library.



2. I bought this catalog for my cousin and he is very pleased with it. He owns a large collection of coins and is very excited to check his coins with the book.



3. This book is an indispensible reference for World Coin collectors. This book contains tens of thousands of pictures of coins for reference and has information on the size and composition of all the coins referenced. The book is organized by country and then by denomination of the coins with furthur breakdown by periods of rule if necessary. There is a good section in the front dealing with all of the various numeral systems in use throughout the world.
   
   You might also want to buy the companion books for the 1800's and 21st century. The catalog of the 19th century also has a great section with pictures of the various coats of arms to help quickly identify which country a coin is from.
   
   There is also a CD included with a PDF copy of the book. The digital has hyper-links to aid in searching.



4. The latest 37th edition of 2010 Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000 is a 'must' for any serious coin collector's library: it provides updated and comprehensive details on up to five grades of preservation, the latest market values, and detailed descriptions for nearly every world coin minted in the 20th century. With maps, small black and white coin images, and a searchable CD featuring the ability to magnify images to 400%, this is a 'must' for any serious coin collector.



5. Most complete world coin info.
   The included cd is helpful as an electronic version of the book. Much easier to lug around the cd.

5 comments about Coin Collecting For Dummies.

1. This book answered questions I didn't even know I needed to ask! Other books on the subject tend to leave you feeling like a "dummy" or that you shouldn't be a coin collector if you don't know what they're talking about. This was well written by two knowlegable authors who took the time to explain everything.



2. If you are not a coin collecting dummy before you read this book, you soon will be. This self debrication approach toward learning about a subject has reached an all time low. I think a better title for this book would be "How to Spend Hard Earnered Money on a Book about Coin Collecting for Dummies for Dummies". Better, more complete, better organized information can be found elsewhere. Just because one is a beginner with a subject, especially one which you would like to become your hobby doesn't mean it must be treated in a poor manner.
   
   I recognize that some of the "Dummies" series books have been very helpful to alot of people whom have made great strides in learning about something they new nothing about. Let us not forget, most of all, the writers and publishers whose making money publishing "dummies books" was a big success.
   
   Think of all the great possibilities yet unexplored: How to get DWI's for Dummies; "Building Shelves for Electric Radios Over Your Bathtub for Dummies"; Barbequeing with Charcoal Briquettes during the winter Months in your Tightly closed-up Kitchen for Dummies"; The Great American Diet of Fatty foods and high sugar beverages for Dummies".
   
   To get back to seriousness. Amazon has several great books on coin collection for beginners to provide you with guidance to last for years. Also, you might try a couple of used books before settling on a couple of new ones for your library.



3. Great facts in layman terms, explains all you need to know with a great twist of humor, not too much though, just enough. You will love it if you are new to numismatics or experienced.



4. Excellent introduction to coin collecting for the inexperienced collector, and a very good resource for the experienced coin collector. Easy to read, and well organized.



5. Excellent reference book for novice and experienced folks. Written with knowlege and a bit of humor, it is definately a "page turner".

2 comments about The Official Blackbook Price Guide to United States Paper Money 2010, 42nd Edition.

1. This book is a must for anyone who collects paper money. It has some nice background information and is organized in a way you can quickly look up values. I recommend the book.



2. This is an excellent guide for both the beginner and intermediate collector.Content with photos makes it easier to comprehend.

4 comments about Lincoln Cents Folder #2, 1941-1974.

1. holds the coins in nice and snug. kids love this. best advise get a magnifying glass to read the coinsand mint marks



2. My son (7) loved collecting the state quarters so now we're expanding into collecting other coins. This Penny folder was the perfect next step! He also got Dime and Nickel books from his uncle and he and his father sit around with his piggy bank going through the change to fill these books up! And they are so inexpensive, we will be getting more.



3. I reall like my book. It's great. It's a little hard to put some of the pennys in but besides that I love it!



4. Picked this up and several other coin folders from Whitman and I am very happy with them. This penny coin folder holds the coins well and the coins sit just right that you can insert them with your finger and feel secure that it wont pop off. Recommended!
   
   Stay away from the 1959-1998 folder, I have gotten 2 and the holes are extremely tight.

5 comments about Lincoln Cents Folder Starting 1975 (Official Whitman Coin Folder).

1. This folder is an excellent starting point for any new coin collector. The folder has a nice lock-in feature preventing the coins from falling out. The recent dates ensure that the folder can be filled without too much difficulty from simply rooting through pocket change regularly. Highly recommended for young people who wish to start a coin collection.



2. I was given this book by my dad when I was little...it got me interested in coin collecting and is inexpensive! I would recommend it as a gift for kids or adults...it makes a fun hobby!



3. As a child, my Grandfather collected pennies for each of his Grandchildren. As an adult, I am still collecting. The Whitman folders were good enough then, and they are certainly good enough now. Easy to insert coins, yet tight enough to hold them for many years.



4. Picked this up and several other coin folders from Whitman and I am very happy with them. This penny coin folder holds the coins well and the coins sit just right that you can insert them with your finger and feel secure that it wont pop off. Recommended!
   
   Stay away from the 1959-1998 folder, I have gotten 2 and the holes are extremely tight.



5. This review contrasts the standard blue Whitman folder, and Whitman's H. E. Harris folder. Since both folders cover similar collections and both are published by Whitman Books, one question naturally arises, are there any significant reasons to favor one folder over the other? I believe the answer is yes, and that for me the differences favor the Harris folders. However, I can understand how others may favor Whitmans's standard blue style folders, and I do have to concede that I have used the standard Whitman folders for so long, that they just seem 'right' when seen or held.
   
   The standard Whitman folders have exteriors made of paper and the back of these exterior paper covers also provide the back for the coins inserted in the interior. On the-other-hand the front covers of Whitman's Harris & Co, folder as well as the inside back covering for the coin slots of their "Lincoln Cents Starting 1975" folder is heavily plasticized. This folder has three pages, each page providing 30 coin slots. There is a total of eighty-two designated (identified) slots, in my folder purchased in 2010, that have printed slot descriptions from "Memorial Reverse" and 1975 through 2009-D with slots for all eight versions of the 2009 cent. Eight additional slots are also provided but not designated.
   
   Perhaps because of its plasticized covers the Harris folders are slightly thicker. In one case, with a standard Whitman blue folder I inadvertently placed too much pressure in removing a coin from the folder and the paper punctured. This would appear much more unlikely in the case of the plasticized exterior of a Harris folder. Additionally, the plasticized finish means that the exterior of these folders are much easier to keep clean. The Harris folders also have a light-toned interior background compared to the medium-blue background of the Whitman books. This makes the printed coin information easier to read in a Harris folder.
   
   Note that the newer versions of the standard blue-style Whitman folders and Whitman's Harris folder are the same height so that there's no height conflict issues when placed side by side on a bookshelf. However, the new Whitman folders are about 5mm taller than my earlier Whitman "Penny" and "Cent" collection folders purchased some years back. The newer Whitman folder also has spine labeling missing on my earlier Whitman folders. The spine labeling now makes it easier to find the collection sought more quickly when different folders are stacked side-by-side.
   
   Conclusion. The plasticized finish of the Harris folders makes them sturdier, and easier to clean. Their lighter background makes the printing easier to read. Their slightly thicker size and larger spine printing makes them easier to distinguish on a shelf.

5 comments about The Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards of United States Coins (Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards for United States Coins).

1. It was poor at best. It was all black and white, no color. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.



2. I have never used this book. I found the Red Book and Blue Book easier to follow, and organized more like my brain.



3. I bought this book because I needed a really superior helper in grading coins. I have two other books, which I love and from which I derive a good deal of help. But this guide goes way beyond them. This guide shows you the primary and secondary focal points -- the areas you need to really watch and check for hairlines and marks, spots, etc. It tells you how many contact marks and what type are acceptable in all areas of grades. It tells you what sort of hairlines and how many are allowed, the type of luster or lack of luster and the eye appeal needed within each grade.
   
   Moreover, it covers all grades, such as MS-70 thru MS-60 and all the AU and EF grades, etc.
   
   This is a hardback spiral bound book, which makes it very easy to reference as needed. If you collect coins or invest in coins, you need this book. That doesn't negate your need for other references. But this is the holy grail and I highly recommend it.
   
   I also recommend Grading Coins by Photographs, which will help you to quickly grade a coin, even if you're buying it online.
   
   - Susanna K. Hutcheson



4. I love this book. It has great pictures and very detailed information for all collectors. All collectors should have a copy of this book. I assure you that you will love it and find it very useful, easy to read and understand.



5. great visual guide for the coin collector who needs help with the grading their collection

5 comments about Fifty State (District of Columbia and Territorial) Commemorative Quarter Folder: Deluxe Edition (Official Whitman Coin Folder).

1. I bought this for my boys 11 and 12, who have recently taken on a State quarters collection. It is a great item, sturdy and very elegant. No more looking for lost coins, the coins stay snuggly in place, and they proudly show their folder when they get a new coin. Definitely worth it, and definitely recommendable!



2. I am happy with this, look so classy and I like it. I have no problem with it



3. I recommend Amazon as the place to buy stuff from. They just about always the best deals on their products. The quality is great and lots of items have free shipping after $25 which is really nice. I buy from here a lot and highly suggest this place.



4. This three star review would be five stars, except this coin book is made in China.
   It is sad we have to manufacture a US coin holder in China.



5. This is an ideal size for my 12 year old son to carry around. It's an elegant looking holder for his quarter collection, with the added challenge of collecting coins from both mints. The bonus for me is not too much of a dent in my wallet.

5 comments about The Official Blue Book Handbook of United States Coins 2010 (Handbook of United States Coins (Paper)).

1. Product was fine, but it took over a week longer to recieve than another book I had ordered the same time.



2. Like another reviewer, I wish this would come in a spiral bound edition. But more to the point, here's my opinion of the book itself. You pretty much have to own it if you buy and sell coins. But the prices in it are considerably lower than the true wholesale price of most coins. In other words, you'll lose money if you sell according to the book. I suggest you get The Greysheet and go by those figures --- that's what your dealer goes by. You then take 15% to 20% off the bid and you'll come close to what "most" dealers will pay. BUT -- much depends on the coin(s) and many other variables not included in any reference, including The Greysheet.
   
   To its credit, the book does start with G4 and not AU like the Greysheet. That is helpful for lower grades. It also gives grading descriptions for each coin. And, it gives the mintage.
   
   I use it mostly to take advantage of the very low prices in making my own online bids. If you go by the Blue Book, you'll never pay too much.
   
   Highly recommended.
   
   - Susanna K. Hutcheson



3. This Blue Book is nearly identical to the Red Book. Here's the main difference, if the coin value is 40 in the Red Book, it's listed as 20 in the Blue Book. That's it. Since I had a 2009 Red Book, it was a big waste of money to purchase a 2010 Blue Book. There is no additional information, the price values are merely cut by 50 percent. Very disappointing.
   
   In addition, the Red is sold with a very nice wired binding for easy page turning. The Red lays flat on your table. The Red has color photographs (Blue is B/W). Don't buy both books. Pick one and you are forever set.
   
   Pricing in the both guides are inaccurate. I watch PCGS and NGC graded coins on eBay. The grade of the coin is without question. I compare the selling price to the book and it is sometimes close, but often well off. Half of the graded coins sold on eBay are more then 40 percent off the Red Book price. So, what is the point of an up to date price guide, if it isn't up to date?
   
   Both PCGS and NGC give free value guides about their graded coins. Just go to their site and type in their serial number stamped on the slabbed coin case, you'll get a price guide. I have found this guide to be more accurate then the book.
   
   The important value of the book is the information and photographs of the coins. The Red Book color photographs are excellent. Great info too. But you only need one of these books because the info is duplicated between the two editions.
   
   I wish the Blue Book would have explained why some coins wholesale for slightly more, or slightly less, than purely 50 percent of retail. Are some classes of coin appreciating faster then others? The book gives no answers.



4. Just what I wanted. Will get a lot of good information from it. Top quality product!!!



5. Easy to use catalogue -- most informative
   Helped me get good prices for commemoratibe silver coins

5 comments about A Guide Book of United States Coins 2010: The Official Redbook (Guide Book of United States Coins (Spiral)).

1. The book is something I get yearly, and is always up to date. My review is mainly for Amazon. After I placed my order, the items were there in two days! Way to go, Amazon staff!



2. This was a christmas gift and was well received. Will get a lot of useful information from this book!!!



3. I had no prior experience determining the rareity of coins, so this guide was a real help. There are plenty of pictures and descriptions. I first tried using a different guide from the public library. This one is far superior.



4. This was a Xmas gift for my husband since he has just started coin collecting. He loves it and finds it very helpful.



5. I bought this book because of the low price. When I got it in the mail I could tell it wasn't made right. I emailed Amazon they sent me a new book at no charge. The return process was trouble free. Yes I would buy this book again, and yes I will shop at Amazon again.

5 comments about State Series Quarters Collector Map.

1. Very nice product, includes the special territories and just looks very cool. Is pretty big, watch the dimensions before you order!



2. I bought this for my Grand Daughter and it was great. It held the coins in very securely. I'm going to ordr another one today.



3. I started collecting the state quarters back in 1999 when they were first released. I picked up a WE Harris & Co. book to help me manage my collection and it was an exercise in frustration. The quarters fell out of the book and wouldn't stay in their little holes. I've almost finished my collection and wanted something better to manage it. After seeing the reviews on this book, I picked one up. It's amazing. It actually holds the quarters in. The map is a thin piece of foamboard which doesn't deform much after you put the quarter in. It holds quarters snug and it has a little indentation to help you get it out if you so choose. I am confident that taking the quarters out and putting them back in out won't ruin the book. It's very well constructed.



4. We purchased this for our 9 year old grandson and gave him a bowl of quarters - It made for a peaceful rainy afternoon!



5. I ordered this, the newer product from Whitman called 'Statehood Quarters Map (Hardcover)' as well as "The Official U.S. Mint 50 State Quarters: Complete 100 Hole Collector's Folder, Complete Collection 1999-2008 (Hardcover)". This was by far the best of the three. It includes space for the new DC and Territorial quarters. It looks good and is very easy to use (yes, even though you are merely storing coins, there is a distinct difference in 'ease' of use of the three products).If someone put a gun to my head and asked me to point out a problem with this product, I'd say its the size. But, that being said, it still fits on my book shelf, so if not a hassle at all. Love it, and will return my 'official US mint' copy to get another one of these (Thats for my dad, he collects these coins too). Here are links to the other products I referred to:
   Statehood Quarters Map
   The Official U.S. Mint 50 State Quarters: Complete 100 Hole Collector's Folder, Complete Collection 1999-2008