TOP numismatic literature?

Cheers,

I have got inspired by some post aiming for a German version of Numista (which I support), that lead me back to my library and to the inquiry of which is your favorite coin book?

I spent some hours clearing some bookshelves behind me and I have come up with my TOP 3:

1) Günther Schön - Weltmünzkatalog 1976 (World coin catalogue in German) - It is not just because I have received this as a very precious gift from my father when I was 11 in 1976, but it is a great source of justifying that my hobby is valuable. Prices are in DM (Deutsche Mark, for those being too young)) and if  I make some calculations I have to say that prices have raised about 140-950% since 1976. - A good message to my wife, who questions my hobby investments - sometimes.

2) David Sear - Roman Coins and their values - and all the 5 volumes. A very educational lovely catalogue, which I use the most, recently. It is not only the coins, but the ROMA story behind, which is described very consicely, which I enjoy!

3) Tadeusz Kalkowski - Tysiac lat Monety Polskiej - is a huge 3,5 kilograms of a book in Polish about "the 1000 years of coinage of Poland". What I really love about this book - and I know that Phil will appreciate this! - is that the content does not disturb me too much, does not distract me at all, and leaves me always in peaceful contemplation, as it is all in Polish, of which I don't understand a word, ... but the pictures are lovely, and I enjoy them a lot... hence the book is a great tool for meditation...

Which are your favorite literature?

Hello - most of my numismatic literature is relatively new. I have the Krause standard catalog of world coins only the recent editions: 1600-1700, 1700-1800, 1800-1900 and the German catalog Weltmünzkatalog again the most recent one for coins of 1900 to today. Then I have a French book on Celtic coins and one on Medieval coins, not a great variety of coins in these two - it's mostly on Gold coins and sorry I can't remember the name of the two books. At last I have two books about British tokens British tokens and their values and the token book both of which I find dissapointing with not enough images and information.

The Guidebook and catalogue of British commonwealth coins

My bible hands down !

The next book that I'll probably buy is an Italian book Gigante 2013 monete italiane dal 700 al Euro. A friend recommended it to me and said that it's a must for every Italian states collector. Does anyone have the book - is it any good ?

  I know a member of the Numista team who has this top book of British coins by Spink and loves it ...

http://www.spink.com/books-publications/book-description.aspx?id=1

Quote: apukingThe next book that I'll probably buy is an Italian book Gigante 2013 monete italiane dal 700 al Euro. A friend recommended it to me and said that it's a must for every Italian states collector. Does anyone have the book - is it any good ?

I have been swapping with people here, who are really basing their valuation on it and I have the impression that it overvaluates the coins VS the Krause, however, no personal experience. Let us know if you have some experience.