Building a Numismatic Library
In the March 1966 issue of The Numismatist, numismatic dealer Aaron Feldman ran an advertisement for books. Many of the great numismatic works were listed for sale, along with several new pieces of numismatic literature. A total of 25 books were featured below the catchy headline, “Buy the Book Before the Coin.” Numismatists rapidly embraced this phrase.
The saying is commonly used and is still as accurate today as it was when it was introduced. This sentiment is important because without knowing the history of a coin, which can be learned from books, you don’t know the story behind the coin, and it’s just a hunk of metal with designs on it. Furthermore, it is often the small details that determine the difference between a rare and highly desired coin, and a common or less desirable coin. These identifying details are frequently discussed in books. Thus, it is important to buy the book before the coin so you can better enjoy and appreciate the coin, as well as gain the ability to discern its true value.
Since coin books are so important in this hobby, let’s look at how to obtain them since it frequently is not as straightforward an effort as one might think. Countless coin stores have vast displays of coins, bills, tokens, and exonumia but only a short shelf of numismatic literature. Indeed, you would likely see a larger shelf of books that they use for reference rather than offer for sale. And most bookstores have only a small selection of coin-related books that provide only surface-level exploration of this fascinating subject.
Coin Clubs
A great starting place for books is your local coin club. Many clubs have small libraries of books that can be borrowed, and fellow club members may have their own libraries that they might be willing to lend. The ANA also has an extensive library, and members can check out items either in person or by mail.
ANA Book Sale
A nice way (and my personal favorite way) to buy numismatic books is to visit the ANA’s annual numismatic book sale. It is held every year at the Association’s two-week Summer Seminar. The ANA deaccessions its duplicate books, and items are offered at discounted prices. Usually, many of the books for sale are out of print and are cheaper than purchasing them elsewhere. The only downside is you can only get the books if you are there in person during a Summer Seminar session. This year, the event will be held June 21-26 and June 28-July 3. (Visit money.org/summer-seminar for more information.)
Online Sellers
Another wonderful way to purchase books is through eBay or other online booksellers. Since eBay is a large site with many sellers, you can find many numismatic books. Most of the books listed are sold by numismatic dealers who are aware of what they have; however, sometimes you can find great deals. A nice feature of eBay is that if the specific book you are looking for is not available, you can create a watchlist to be notified when that book is listed. When it is listed, you will receive a notification with a link to the listing. I have found many books for my collection by adding them to my watchlist and waiting for them to become available at an affordable price.
Whitman Publishing
Whitman Publishing is a great place to buy new coin books. They are priced roughly at around publishing costs, and they sell many coin books on a wide variety of topics, including the Official Redbook Series and the 100 Greatest Coins series. These types of books are better for people fairly new to the hobby or who have not yet explored a particular aspect of coin collecting. Whitman also has a couple of books about the history of a specific segment of numismatics, such as Ken Bressett’s A Penny Saved: R.S. Yeoman and His Remarkable Red Book.
Book Dealers
Many people forget about numismatic book dealers. These dealers, such as Kolbe & Fanning and Charles Davis, sell many out-of-print, newly published, and specialized numismatic books. They are a great resource if you’re looking for a just-published book on a niche of the numismatic market or an old book (19th-century or earlier) that is generally not for sale on eBay or at the ANA’s Book Sale. While they may not be the great deals you are hoping for, remember that they might be newly published books selling near their publishing costs or antiquarian titles that are rare, hard to come by, and/or in high demand.
Conclusion
Overall, there are many places to find numismatic books to help grow your library. However, sometimes you need to have patience as not all numismatic books may be on the market when you need them. Books are essential to help you learn more about your collection and understand your coins more fully. “Buy the book before the coin” is the most popular catchphrase in numismatics for good reason.
Clark Davis is an enthusiastic young numismatist who loves learning about coins by reading books, studying coins, researching coins, writing articles, and anything else related to numismatics. In 2022 he discovered the Wilma Mankiller quarter with the huge, bi-level die break and retained cud; he subsequently was interviewed for several publications, including Coin World, The Numismatist, and Errorscope. He currently collects early American copper coins and numismatic literature.