Getting Started With Coins
	Getting Started With Coins Collecting World Coins Tips & Suggestions Price List - 1, 2, 3, 4,          5, 6, 7, 8. About Me Links Home Newsletters
				Once you have decided on the general area you want to collect, it's time to do some homework.  Your first lesson:  learn about the coins that interest you, acquire basic grading skills and an understanding of how the coin market works before you invest any money in coins.  I can't emphasize enough how important this is!  You MUST have these tools in order to be a successful collector or investor.  Remember that in the coin field KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!  Any large coin supplies dealer should carry the books shown below.  WORLD COINS BASIC LIBRARY Standard Catalog Of World Coins 1901-Present, (current edition) by Krause Publications (www.krause.com).  An approximately 2300 page guide covering world coins A-Z including about 60 pages of detailed introductory information.  Coins are priced in several circulated grades, Uncirculated and sometimes BU condition.  Krause also issues the SCWC for earlier coins (1801-1900, 1701-1800 and 1601-1700).  The first two catalogs covering 1801-date should be sufficient for 90% of world coin collectors. 1 year subscription to World Coin News, a monthly newspaper also issued by Krause Publications.  Great articles, detailed world coin price list ads by many large dealers plus a good classified section including buying ads. Many other specialized books covering ancient & medieval coins, world paper money, etc. are also available and can be added later as your interests expand. U.S. COINS BASIC LIBRARY Official ANA Grading Standards For U.S. Coins (current edition) by the American Numismatic Association.  This is basically for collectors of circulated coins (About Uncirculated or lower). The Official Guide to Coin Grading And Counterfiet Detection (current edition) by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) published by Random House.  Absolutely essential for collectors of mint US coins (MS60 and above). The Coin Collectors Survival Manual by Scott A. Travers (revised 4th Edition).  An invaluable guide that should be read COVER TO COVER before you buy any U.S. Coins! A Guide Book Of U.S. Coins (The "Red Book") by R.S. Yeoman, Golden Book Publishing Company.  Good historical information and mintage figures for all U.S. coins. 1 year subscription to Coin World, a weekly newspaper issued by Amos Press (www.coinworld.com).  Excellent articles, market news, very large classified section including many pages of dealer buying ads for virtually all U.S. coin types and key dates.  One great bonus:  a monthly glossy Coin Values magazine with current retail price trends for all U.S. series plus detailed grading information about one coin series each month.