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JudeA's Blog

01 Aug 2020

Book review - Coin Collecting for Dummies

Coins | JudeA

Coin Collecting for Dummies was written by Neil Berman and Ron Guth. It is probably meant as a reference to newer collectors, but it has some useful tips that I still remember and follow. I first read this book about 2 years ago, when I first started collecting. I checked it out again for some new reading material. It has 26 chapters, each about things from Understanding Numismatics to Coin Investments, Taxes, and the Law. The book starts out basic, with advice such as never clean your coins! Buy the book before the coin! They cover stuff like how to store your collection, how to carefully handle coins. I think this was from this book, but I remember a book saying, “Make sure to cover your nose/mouth when you sneeze, because sneezing on a coin does as much damage as gouging it with a knife! I don’t know anyone who would want to gouge a coin with a knife, so heed the advice of covering your mouth around coins! The book covers coins from ancient coins to commemorative coins, and has a chapter about “Oddball coins” as they call them. They have a chapter about counterfeit coins as well, and that section was where I first learned about artificially toning coins. The book also has a story that I still remember. One of the author's friends showed him a well struck, full details buffalo nickel, and asked him if he thought it was a proof or a circulation strike coin. He flipped the coin over and it slipped from his fingers and fell around 5 feet onto the stone hotel floor. The coin was suddenly a proof in his friend's eyes, and he was shamed into buying the coin for a lot more than it was worth with the dent in it! Moral of the story? Always be careful with coins! Keep them under a soft surface so if you accidentally drop them, no harm will befall them! In all, I enjoyed this book, and it definitely has advice to offer all collectors!

Comments

Longstrider

Level 6

These all are a great series of books. Never hurts to give it another look over. Fun reads. Thanks.

Golfer

Level 5

Will try to find a copy to read . Good idea to read every coin book you can, at least twice.

Stumpy

Level 5

Thank You, I was one of the unknowing ones. Received a little over 9000 coins from my grandfather way back in 1980. I continued collecting haphazardly over the years and I am now ready to become an active collector.. Have read everything I can get my hands on and read the blogs constantly. You guys give some good info. I am about to start submitting some coins to have them certified, wow, never thought doing that would scare me but it does. Because of Covid, I have not been able to go to a meeting or a local store so my knowledge is only what I can read or access on this blog. Thank you all for your comments. I am sure that I am not the only person to read and not participate. Keep up the great info.

Oobie

Level 4

Thank you for bringing up this book; I didn’t know it existed and might need to invest in it!

Mike

Level 7

There are no dumb questions. This I know because I asked them all! Good for a reminder. Thanks

I. R. Bama

Level 5

I've found that the Dummies books I've sought out have been extremely helpful. I don't think a beginner could go wrong with it and will get a jump start on the hobby. Watch that coughing on coins! We don't want them to get covid! Lol!

It's Mokie

Level 6

Great basic advice that even advanced collectors fail to heed. Never hurts to have reminders, thanks J/A

I recommend a jewelers cloth, or just a clean bath towel to lay under your coins. Even if I happen to drop a simple LWC, I hold my breath.

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