DENNIS HENGEVELD ON NUMISMATIC LITERATURE

When you first start collecting coins you will often hear the saying “buy the book before the coin.” This is said for a number of important reasons. Knowledge is an important part of numismatics and the hobby as a whole, and acquiring that knowledge can help collectors make informed decisions, which in the end can save money. A coin collector who does not invest some of his or her collecting budget in numismatic references is like a car buyer purchasing a car without a steering wheel.

Since references are so important in numismatics the references themselves also hold value, and can be collected as a separate specialty. Numismatic books are somewhat different from other collectable books, of which the highest-prized editions are often the first editions. For numismatic (and other nonfiction) books this is not always the case. First editions, while interesting, often contain outdated information and are no longer good as a reference work. Only the most highly regarded standard works will hold premium value as a first edition, and sometimes an updated second edition can be more desirable than the first edition. The quality of the (photographic) plates can also be a factor.

The Red Book “Tribute Edition,” at left, and Frank J. Colletti’s
“Guide Book of the Official Red Book of United States Coins.”

As early as the 18th century, auctions containing ancient coins and medals (and often a variety of other items) were held in the United States; the first American auction dedicated to coins was held in 1813. Early catalogs lack photographic plates, and annotated catalogs that include prices paid and who the buyers were are in particular demand for their historical value. The value of these catalogs depends on a number of different factors, including the seller, the items offered, the quality of the descriptions, and the quality of the photographs (if present). Some collectors try to acquire all catalogs of certain companies, while others focus on catalogs of important collections.

Also collectable (although to a lesser extent) are fixed price lists from noteworthy dealers. In the time before the Internet these were often an important source for collectors to acquire new coins, and the fixed price lists can give a good impression of the coin market at the time. Again, those containing special and/or advanced collections will be more in demand than others. Of course, numismatic reference works on particular subjects are important as well. One specialty that is very popular is books focusing on early American large cents; many of these are among the earliest specialized works on American numismatics. A dedicated collector of large cents could spend a small fortune on first editions of works related to their collecting field. To a lesser extent this also true of books on American colonial coins and other numismatic areas.

A collector interested in older works will have to cross the pond, where the earliest numismatic references were published hundreds of years before the Philadelphia Mint struck its first coin. Many of these works are related to ancient coins, a subject on which thousands upon thousands of books have been published over the centuries. Medieval coins follow, and some reference works published as early as the first part of the 18th century still count as the standard works in their particular fields of study. (Dutch historical medals come to mind, with the Van Loon reference published between 1723 and 1731 still being regarded as the best work and, as such, remaining in high demand).

With so many numismatic books and auction catalogs issued over the years it would be virtually impossible to list all the major works in this article. However, numerous reference works have been published that list major auctions, numismatic books, and other reference works that can prove to be an important starting point for the collector interested in building a library that goes beyond the basics. And for students of numismatics and numismatic literature, the Numismatic Bibliomania Society and its free e-newsletter, the E-Sylum, are crucial resources.

As always, condition is important if you’re seeking the book as a collectible object—but don’t forget that the books contain important information that might not be found elsewhere, especially if the person who wrote it was in attendance at a sale or was a well-known numismatist.

To read the complete article, see:
Numismatic Literature (http://news.coinupdate.com/numismatic-literature/)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web