17 MOST IMPORTANT US PAPER MONEY BOOKS

PMG uses many of the books from this list for note identification and authentication purposes.

“Buy the book before you buy the note.” There is a high likelihood that you’ve heard that expression before. The reason behind it is an easy one – the more knowledge you have, the better chance you will make a good purchase. Knowledge is key. The more time you spend with a particular type of note, the more knowledge you will want to seek out. Below is a list of 17 books that should be in every collector's library. These books will help expand your knowledge of paper money and (hopefully) prevent you from purchasing a bad note. Many times, the price of one book is far cheaper then the majority of notes on the market.

This list demonstrates a fairly comprehensive US paper money library. It covers the basic to the more specific. There are plenty of other books that didn’t make the list that PMG has reviewed (Heath's Counterfeit Detector or Ball's Confederate Bond Book) or that folks have talked about in our forums. Are you interested in a more niche area? Find others who collect the same things as you do and compete for the best set over at the PMG Registry, or talk to other collectors about the more technical aspects of a given area via the PMG Chat Boards. There are always more books that come to the market every month (or so it seems). If you are interested in joining a group who likes to talk books then the Numismatic Bibliomania Society may be for you.

Below is a quick list of the titles that should be in your numismatic library in alphabetical order by author’s surname. The most recent edition’s ISBN number has been included.

Paper Money of the United States
If you were to buy one book from this list, this is the book. It has been in full color since the 19th edition and covers over 260 years of American paper money – from Colonial notes to Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs), to Confederates. The book even covers encased postage stamps and postage envelopes. The official abbreviation for this book is Fr. It is the holy grail in terms of US government issued money. The Friedberg brings so much to the hobby. It has great historical insight as well as a complete catalog of all US issued paper money with evaluations. The 20th edition comes in hardback and e-book.

Standard Guide to Small-Size US Paper Money
The go-to for the US small size collector. In its 10th edition, this book has been around for a long time. Over the course of the life of this book, over 260 people have contributed to make it the most sought after and recognizable book for the small size enthusiast. The book has information starting with series 1928 going through series 2006A, along with indispensable knowledge on light versus dark seals and mules. There is even information regarding high denominations: $500 to $10,000. See all the scans in full color throughout this book

United States Paper Money Errors
Bart does a great job by combining how the error was printed and what the error looks like with black and white scans. It’s easy to find and identify what error you are looking for. PMG uses the terms in this book when describing an error on our labels. This book by Bart and the companion book that follows (by Sullivan) are the best in the business. They each cover something a little different. Each adds to the existing literature on the subject of US errors.

To read the complete article, see:
The 17 Most Important US Paper Money Books That Should Be In Your Library (https://www.pmgnotes.com/news/article/6070/The-17-Most-Important-US-Paper-Money-Books-That-Should-Be-In-Your-Library/)

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