SUGGESTED READING (Copyright NumisNet[sm] 1989) If you're only spending $5/year on coins or exonumia, an unwise purchase probably will not bankrupt you or sour you on our hobby. But if your tab runs into the hundreds or thousands of dollars a year, you will likely want to make the wisest purchase possible. No one spends lotsa bucks on anything without doing a little research. Is this, for example, the "going rate" for this item in this condition? What difference does it make that this item was made in Oz instead of in Kansas? Does the color of this item make that big a difference in its price? What constitutes a "complete" set of this item? The sagest piece of advice in all of numismatics is "buy the book before the coin." What follows is a modest list of the books you should consider buying (or borrowing), dependent upon your area of numismatic interest. Due to space considerations, we've listed below only a few of the 1000's of titles available. And since most of these volumes are sub-titled, we've listed main titles only. Most of these titles should be readily available from larger coin dealers. Many are also available at larger libraries. Membership in the AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! The ANA has the largest library of free, circulating numismatic material in the world. For the cost of postage both ways, you can "rent and read" virtually anything that's ever been published in numismatics! If you are an advanced collector, membership in the AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY would be even more advantageous! The ANS is devoted solely to advanced numismatic studies--e.g., die linkages in particular coin series; the socio-economic and cultural background which produced certain types of coinage; metallurgical studies of coinage; etc. Their library--which is the most complete numismatic library in the WORLD--is staffed by seven full- time curators, each of whom is a specialist in a particular type of coinage (Roman, Islamic, etc.). The ANS has the most extensive and well-researched series of publications of any numismatic organization in the world, among which is included the highly-respected semi-annual abstract journal, NUMISMATIC LITERATURE. The address for the ANS is: 155th Street at Broadway; New York, NY 10032-9964. Now, back to the list at hand.... If you think we've omitted an important title anywhere, it's probably because the title has been included in one of NumisNet's more specialized reading lists--such as MEDALSREF.ZIP or PAPERREF.ZIP. See the appropriate File Area for these lists. And if the title is still missing, let us know. We would like to share your enthusiasm for the work with your fellow collectors! Enjoy!! ************************* NOVICE/GENERAL INTEREST * ************************* Periodicals: COIN WORLD Weekly; although devoted primarily to U.S. P. O. Box 150 numismatics, touches briefly on ALL areas; 911 Vandermark Road largest number of mail-order dealers of any Sidney, OH 45365 publication with which we're familiar THE NUMISMATIST Monthly; official publication of the ANA; American Numismatic Assoc. devoted primarily to U.S. numismatics, 818 N. Cascade Ave. though all aspects of numismatics are Colorado Springs, CO 80903 covered Books: Hendin, David. COLLECTING COINS. Any one of these books would Hobson, Burton. COIN COLLECTING AS serve as an excellent primer; A HOBBY. (also make excellent "stocking Russell, Margo. START COLLECTING COINS. stuffers") Schwarz, Ted. BEGINNERS GUIDE TO COIN COLLECTING. ANA. LIBRARY CATALOGUE OF THE AMERICAN The ANA's entire collection-- NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION (WITH which covers virtually SUPPLEMENT). everything ever written in numismatics--yours to "rent & read" for the cost of postage both ways; THE SINGLE BEST DEAL IN NUMISMATICS! COIN WORLD ALMANAC. By the publishers of COIN WORLD; Covers the basics of virtually every facet of numismatics. Frey, Albert. DICTIONARY OF Probably the single best NUMISMATIC NAMES numismatic glossary (WITH ADDENDA) available. Hoberman, Gerald. THE ART OF COINS A celebration of the AND THEIR aesthetics of coinage. PHOTOGRAPHY. Exquisite photographs. Price, Martin. COINS: AN ILLUSTRATED Best one-volume "history of SURVEY coins" available. STANDARD CATALOG OF WORLD COINS. By the publishers of WORLD COIN NEWS; If you buy only one book, BUY THIS!--covers virtually every coin minted anywhere in the world in the last 300+ years! Travers, Scott. THE COIN COLLECTORS Although devoted primarily to SURVIVAL MANUAL. U.S. coins, the "do's" and "don'ts" apply to virtually every facet of numismatics Welter, Gerhard. CLEANING AND Good overview of the pro's PRESERVATION OF and con's of this oft-debated COINS & MEDALS. subject, with ways to minimize the risks involved. ************************ ANCIENTS (Greek/Roman) * ************************ Periodicals: THE CELATOR Monthly; top-notch coverage of Ancient, P. O. Box 123 Byzantine, Judean and Medieval coinage. Lodi, WI 53555 WORLD COIN NEWS Every other week; covers non-U.S. coins; 700 East State Street consistently good coverage of Iola, WI 54490 Ancient/Byzantine/Medieval/Judean as well! SAN JOURNAL Quarterly; official publication of SAN; Society of Ancient a bit technical, but always enlightening Numismatics 10717 Louise Avenue Granada Hills, CA 91344 ANS MUSEUM NOTES If you are an advanced collector of ancient coins, NUMISMATIC NOTES/MONOGRAPHS you owe it to yourself to be a member of ANS; no NUMISMATIC STUDIES numismatic organization in the world does more ANCIENT COINS IN NORTH advanced research in ancient coinage that the ANS, AMERICAN COLLECTIONS as their publications indicate! American Numismatic Society 155th Street at Broadway New York, NY 10032-9964 ARCHAEOLOGY Monthly; written for layman; helps place P. O. Box 50260 your collection in context; highly Boulder, CO 80321-0260 recommended! Books: Anthony, John. COLLECTING GREEK Good overview for beginners. COINS. A CATALOGUE OF THE GREEK COINS IN The single most-utilized reference THE BRITISH MUSEUM (29 volumes). in the world for Ancient Greek coinage; a MUST for advanced collectors; out-of-print and very expensive IF YOU CAN FIND IT. Boardman, John, et al. THE OXFORD The definitive one-volume survey HISTORY OF THE of Graeco-Roman history and CLASSICAL WORLD. culture. Indispensable! Bowder, Diane (Ed.). WHO WAS WHO IN Concise biographies of some 1700 THE GREEK WORLD. important deities/rulers/assorted WHO WAS WHO IN THE others in the Classical world. ROMAN WORLD. COINS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN THE A standard reference for coinage BRITISH MUSEUM (6 volumes). from Augustus to Pupienus. Crawford, Michael. ROMAN REPUBLICAN Considered THE standard reference COINAGE (2 volumes). for Roman coinage prior to Augustus. A MUST! Finley, M. I. (Ed.). ATLAS OF Historical/cultural background on CLASSICAL ARCHAEOLOGY. every region of the Classical world. Excellent. Giacosa, Giorgio. WOMEN OF THE Good biographies of most of the CAESARS: THEIR LIVES women whose portraits appear on & PORTRAITS ON COINS. Roman coinage. Gibbon, Edward. THE DECLINE AND FALL "Purple prose" notwithstanding, OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. still the definitive study of the final years of the Roman Empire. Grant, Michael. ANCIENT HISTORY ATLAS. Indispensable maps! THE ROMAN EMPERORS. Good, succinct biographies of the rulers of the Roman Empire. Head, Barclay. HISTORIA NUMORUM: A The best single-volume reference MANUAL OF GREEK available for Ancient Greek NUMISMATICS. coinage. Icard, Severin. DICTIONARY OF GREEK Good primer if you flunked Greek; COIN INSCRIPTIONS. Especially useful for fragmentary inscriptions. Kent, J. P. C. ROMAN COINS. Roman coinage as art. Exquisite photography by Max Hirmer. Klawans, Zander. READING AND DATING Good primer if you flunked Latin; ROMAN IMPERIAL COINS. especially useful for fragmentary inscriptions. Kraay, Colin. GREEK COINS. Another Max Hirmer photographic tour-de-force; generally held to be the most beautiful book on numismatics ever published! Pomeroy, Sarah. GODDESSES, WHORES, A critical study, by a noted WIVES AND SLAVES: feminist, of "woman's place" in WOMEN IN CLASSICAL Ancient Greece and Rome ANTIQUITY ROMAN IMPERIAL COINAGE (9 volumes). The single most-utilized reference in the world for this coinage; a MUST for advanced collectors! Sear, David. GREEK COINS & THEIR VALUES. Good, basic info. Should be on GREEK IMPERIAL COINS AND every collector's bookshelf! THEIR VALUES. If you can only afford a few ROMAN COINS & THEIR VALUES. books, these 10 volumes should ROMAN SILVER COINS. be your FIRST purchases!! THE EMPERORS OF ROME AND BYZANTIUM: Chronological & Genealogical Tables for History Students & Coin Collectors *************************** BYZANTINE/JUDEAN/MEDIEVAL * *************************** Periodicals (see ANCIENTS) Books: Bellinger, Alfred. CATALOGUE OF THE The single most-utilized BYZANTINE COINS IN reference in the world for this THE DUMBARTON OAKS coinage; a MUST for advanced COLLECTION. collectors. Brin, Howard. CATALOG OF JUDAEA CAPTA The definitive study of this COINAGE. important coinage. Frey, Albert. THE DATED EUROPEAN Excellent catalog of most COINAGE PRIOR TO 1501. Christian-dated coins up to this date. Grierson, Philip. BYZANTINE COINS. Best single-volume reference available for this coinage. MEDIEVAL EUROPEAN A good overview of coinage COINAGE. which, to this date, remains relatively obscure. Hendin, David. GUIDE TO ANCIENT JEWISH Succint coverage of mints, types, COINS. rulers, and values. Mildenberg, Leo. THE COINAGE OF THE Definitive study of this major BAR KOKHBA WAR. Jewish coinage. Superbly illustrated. Ostrogorsky, G. HISTORY OF THE The single most important book BYZANTINE STATE. ever written about Byzantium. A MUST for advanced collectors! Sear, David. BYZANTINE COINS AND Solid, basic info. Should be THEIR VALUES. the FIRST book on this coinage a collector buys! Walker, Ralph. READING MEDIEVAL Essential guide to deciphering EUROPEAN COINS. inscriptions. ******** ERRORS * ******** Periodicals: ERRORSCOPE Official publication of the Combined P. O. Box 915 Numismatic Error Collectors of America Palo Alto, CA 94302 ERROR TRENDS COIN MAGAZINE The only major publication in this field P. O. Box 158 Oceanside, NY 11572 Books: Bausher, Jess. IT'S ONLY MONEY. Good overview of non-U.S. coinage errors (also tokens & U.S.) Herbert, Alan. OFFICIAL PRICE GUIDE Definitive survey of all types of TO MINT ERRORS AND U.S. coin errors. VARIETIES. Margolis, Arnold. HOW ERROR COINS Essential to identifying errors ARE MADE AT THE correctly! U.S. MINTS. Wexler, John. THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF Definitive info regarding this DOUBLED DIES (2 vols.) error on U.S. coins. ******************** FOREIGN (Non-U.S.) * ******************** Periodicals: WORLD COIN NEWS (See ANCIENTS) Weekly; the BEST publication available in this field CANADIAN COIN NEWS Although devoted primarily to 10 Tempo Avenue Canadian numismatics, covers North York, Ontario other countries as well Canada M2H 2N8 THE MAP COLLECTOR Need ORIGINAL maps of 16th CENTURY 48 High Street BAVARIA for your display of talers?! Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5BH this fascinating quarterly is the England place to track 'em down! HISTORY BOOK CLUB If coins and medals truly are Camp Hill, PA 17012-8805 "history in your hands," this is the place to get the supporting reference material. Books: NOTE--WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DAVENPORT'S EXCELLENT SERIES ON TALERS, MOST DETAILED WORKS ON NON-U.S. COINAGE ARE IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE COUNTRY COVERED. CONSULT THE ANA LIBRARY CATALOGUE FOR APPROPRIATE TITLES. Friedberg, Robert. GOLD COINS OF Classic reference for world gold THE WORLD. from 600 A.D. to the present. Gurney, Gene. KINGDOMS OF EUROPE. Since coins and medals mostly KINGDOMS OF ASIA, THE portray the ruling classes, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA. you'll find these two heavily- illustrated volumes to be indispensable for background info on virtually anyone who's ever appeared on a coin or medal in the countries covered. Schon, Gunter. WORLD COINAGE CATALOG. If you can't get your hands on a copy of THE STANDARD CATALOG OF WORLD COINS, this volume is very good for 20th-century coins. Sherratt, Andrew. THE CAMBRIDGE A survey of every cultural region ENCYCLOPEDIA OF and historical period known to ARCHAEOLOGY. man. Indispensable for placing your collection in context! ************************************ MEDALS/TOKENS/ORDERS & DECORATIONS * ************************************ Periodicals: MEDALLIST Quarterly; covers "art & history P. O. Box 276 of the medal." Langlois, OR 97450 TAMS JOURNAL Bi-monthly; official publication P. O. Box 366 of the Token & Medal Society; Bryantown, MD 20617 highly recommended! Books: Brown, Laurence. BRITISH HISTORICAL Best reference available for MEDALS (2 volumes) British medals from 1760-1901. Coffee, John. ATWOOD-COFFEE CATALOG Standard reference in this field; OF U.S. & CANADIAN good complement to Smith's (see TRANSPORTATION TOKENS below). Eimer, Chris. BRITISH COMMEMORATIVE A MUST for advanced collectors MEDALS & THEIR VALUES in this field! Forrer, L. BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY The one ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL OF MEDALLISTS (8 vols.) guide to coin/medal engravers and their works; out-of-print and very expensive! Grove, Frank. MEDALS OF MEXICO Standard reference in this (3 volumes) field; Volume 3 covers orders & decorations! Hake, Theodore. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF Classic references on a POLITICAL BUTTONS most interesting bit of Americana. POLITICAL BUTTONS, BOOK II POLITICAL BUTTONS, BOOK III Julian, R. W. MEDALS OF THE UNITED Definitive reference; one of the STATES MINT: THE FIRST most beautiful books on medals CENTURY, 1792-1892 ever produced; TAMS' gift to the U.S. on the occasion of its Bicentennial. Rulau, Russell. EARLY AMERICAN TOKENS. The standard references for HARD TIMES TOKENS. token collectors; a MUST for U.S. MERCHANT TOKENS. every bookshelf! U.S. TRADE TOKENS. Smith, Kenneth. CATALOGUE OF WORLD This and the ATWOOD-COFFEE TRANSPORTATION TOKENS CATALOG cover 'em all! AND PASSES (Except North America) Vernon, Sydney. COLLECTORS' GUIDE TO This, and Werlich's (see below), ORDERS, MEDALS AND are the best single-volume DECORATIONS references available on this subject. Welch, Matt. THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF The definitive reference in this WOODEN MONEY. field. Werlich, Robert. ORDERS & DECORATIONS A MUST for advanced collectors! OF ALL NATIONS. *********************** NUMISMATIC LITERATURE * *********************** Periodicals: NUMISMATIC LITERATURE Semi-annual journal of abstracts American Numismatic Society covering some 2000+ newly-published 155th Street at Broadway numismatic works every year; VERY New York, NY 10032-9964 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, as are ALL ANS publications! THE ASYLUM Quarterly; official publication 4223 Iroquois Avenue of the Numismatic Bibliomania Lakewood, CA 90713 Society; highly recommended! GEORGE FREDERICK KOLBE If you have any interest at all P. O. Drawer 3100 in collecting numismatic Crestline, CA 92325 literature, you MUST be on the mailing list for the auctions & fixed-price lists of George Kolbe; he is the PREMIER dealer of numislit in the U.S.; his joint auction with Spink & Co. (London) every December is a numismatic bibliophile's idea of heaven! THE MONEY TREE "Coming on strong" with 1260 Smith Court increasingly diverse and Rocky River, OH 44116 appealing auctions of numislit BARNES & NOBLE For the hard-core bibliophile, 126 Fifth Avenue who just can't get enough, this New York, NY 10011 is THE LARGEST BOOKSTORE IN THE WORLD; especially good for hard-to-find historical and biographical works; has an especially good MAIL ORDER program! Books: Clain-Stefanelli, E. NUMISMATIC The one ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY. reference in this field; its 1800+ pages cover virtually every book ever written in numismatics IN ANY LANGUAGE! *********************** ODD/CURIOUS/PRIMITIVE * *********************** Periodicals: WORLD COIN NEWS (See ANCIENTS) Books: Einzig, Paul. PRIMITIVE MONEY A bit dry, but important to IN ITS ETHNOLOGICAL, understanding the beginnings HISTORICAL AND of monetary systems. ECONOMIC ASPECTS. Quiggin, Alison. A SURVEY OF PRIMITIVE Somewhat less dry than Einzig, MONEY. covering the same ground but in less detail. Reed, Mort. ODD & CURIOUS. A very readable survey of the entire spectrum of odd, curious and primitive money; especially good for beginners! Taxay, Don. MONEY OF THE AMERICAN Standard reference for INDIANS. primitive money in the Americas. ******************* PAPER MONEY/SCRIP * ******************* Periodicals: BANKNOTE REPORTER Monthly; only publication 700 East State Street devoted exclusively to scrip/ Iola, WI 54490 paper money from around the world THE CURRENCY DEALER NEWSLETTER The "Greensheet;" shows what P. O. Box 11099 DEALERS PAY DEALERS for U.S. Torrance, CA 90510 currency, banknotes, etc. Books: Criswell, Grover. CONFEDERATE AND The definitive reference for SOUTHERN STATES collectors of this specialty. CURRENCY. Friedberg, Robert. PAPER MONEY OF THE Indispensable! The standard UNITED STATES. reference for state and Federal government notes. Hickman, John. STANDARD CATALOG OF The primary reference for NATIONAL BANKNOTES. notes issued by BANKS instead of the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. Newman, Eric. THE EARLY PAPER A MUST for collectors of MONEY OF AMERICA. U.S. colonial scrip/notes. Pick, Albert. STANDARD CATALOG OF The FIRST book you should buy WORLD PAPER MONEY if collecting paper money/scrip; (2 volumes). covers virtually every type of paper money issued anywhere in the past 300+ years! ************ U.S. COINS * ************ Periodicals: COINAGE Monthly; geared to beginning 2660 East Main Street collectors; well-illustrated Ventura, CA 93003 COINS MAGAZINE Monthly; also geared to the 700 East State Street beginner; also well-illustrated Iola, WI 54945 NUMISMATIC NEWS Weekly; newspaper format; tends 700 East State Street to focus more on collector/ Iola, WI 54945 INVESTOR THE COIN DEALER NEWSLETTER The "Grey Sheet;" covers what P. O. Box 11099 DEALERS PAY DEALERS for U.S. Torrance, CA 90510 coins; especially important to INVESTORS in MINT-STATE coins! Books: Bowers, Q. David. THE HISTORY OF UNITED An excellent introduction to STATES COINAGE AS U.S. coins in general by one ILLUSTRATED BY THE of the finest numismatic GARRETT COLLECTION. authors in the world. Breen, Walter. COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA The best single-volume OF U.S. & COLONIAL reference on U.S. coinage COINS. ever written; a MUST for every bookshelf! Judd, et al. UNITED STATES PATTERN, The classic reference on EXPERIMENTAL AND TRIAL U.S. coin designs that never PIECES. made it into circulation (and for many collectors, a much more interesting collectable than "regular issues!") OFFICIAL AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION An absolute MUST! for any GRADING STANDARDS FOR U.S. COINS. collector of U.S. coins. Schilke, Oscar. AMERICA'S FOREIGN COINS. Fascinating overview of foreign coins which have had legal tender status in the U.S. (an excellent alternative to collecting often-overpriced U.S. coinage!) Yeoman, R. S. A GUIDE BOOK OF UNITED The "Red Book;" despite its STATES COINS. limitations, probably the single best INTRODUCTION to U.S. coins available.