The Official 2002 Blackbook Price Guide to U.S. Coins, 40th edition (Official Blackbook Price Guide of United States Coins),Books,Free Shipping,0676601731,

	The Official 2002 Blackbook Price Guide to U.S. Coins, 40th edition (Official Blackbook Price Guide of United States Coins) by Marc Hudgeons, Thomas E. Jr Hudgeons
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Product Details Binding Mass Market Paperback Dewey Decimal Number 737.4973 EAN 9780676601732 ISBN 0676601731 Manufacturer House of Collectibles Number Of Pages 608 Publication Date June 12, 2001 Publisher House of Collectibles Release Date June 12, 2001 Availability Usually ships in 1-2 business days Product Description Enjoy the oldest hobby in the world -- it's fun, it’s easy to master, and it's a great way to invest. The Official 2002 Blackbook Price Guide to United States Coins will turn you into a knowledgeable collector today. Covers EVERY U.S. Coin EVER Minted: Features colonial tokens, farthings, half cents, and gold pieces -- all evaluated, graded, and priced. Includes the RARE and SCARCE: In addition to general coins issued, find popular oddities, varieties, and error coins. Hundreds of PHOTOGRAPHS: Fully illustrated to make identification a snap. Easy to Use: A fast-find coin index lists every variation for quick, easy access. Listings reflect more than 16,500 prices covering different grades, as well as the latest trends and sales. Trust the experts' Professional advice: Important tips on grading, buying, selling, and even cleaning your coins -- plus an updated market review that traces current trends in collecting and investing. SPECIAL FEATURES: Includes the official American Numismatic Association Grading System and a section on how coins are graded to arrive at the most precise values. Enjoy the oldest hobby in the world -- it's fun, it’s easy to master, and it's a great way to invest. The Official 2002 Blackbook Price Guide to United States Coins will turn you into a knowledgeable collector today. Covers EVERY U.S. Coin EVER Minted: Features colonial tokens, farthings, half cents, and gold pieces -- all evaluated, graded, and priced. Includes the RARE and SCARCE: In addition to general coins issued, find popular oddities, varieties, and error coins. Hundreds of PHOTOGRAPHS: Fully illustrated to make identification a snap. Easy to Use: A fast-find coin index lists every variation for quick, easy access. Listings reflect more than 16,500 prices covering different grades, as well as the latest trends and sales. Trust the experts' Professional advice: Important tips on grading, buying, selling, and even cleaning your coins -- plus an updated market review that traces current trends in collecting and investing. SPECIAL FEATURES: Includes the official American Numismatic Association Grading System and a section on how coins are graded to arrive at the most precise values. Coin collectors will find updated prices and a new state of the market report. House of Collectibles is very proud of its coverage of numismatics, and both beginning collectors and those who are more advanced will find loads of information in this newest edition of the Blackbook on U.S. Coins. --Randy Ladenheim-Gil, Editor, House of Collectibles Enjoy the oldest hobby in the world -- it's fun, it?s easy to master, and it's a great way to invest. The Official 2002 Blackbook Price Guide to United States Coins will turn you into a knowledgeable collector today. Covers EVERY U.S. Coin EVER Minted: Features colonial tokens, farthings, half cents, and gold pieces -- all evaluated, graded, and priced. Includes the RARE and SCARCE: In addition to general coins issued, find popular oddities, varieties, and error coins. Hundreds of PHOTOGRAPHS: Fully illustrated to make identification a snap. Easy to Use: A fast-find coin index lists every variation for quick, easy access. Listings reflect more than 16,500 prices covering different grades, as well as the latest trends and sales. Trust the experts' Professional advice: Important tips on grading, buying, selling, and even cleaning your coins -- plus an updated market review that traces current trends in collecting and investing. SPECIAL FEATURES: Includes the official American Numismatic Association Grading System and a section on how coins are graded to arrive at the most precise values. By Tom Culhane STATE QUARTERS The enthusiasm over the state quarter program continued unbounded in 2000 as five new issues made their appearance. The Massachusetts quarter was the first piece in the series, exhibiting a gun held by a minuteman. Mintages on the quarters now regularly exceed one billion per issue, and 2001 was begun with the Statue of Liberty being depicted on the New York quarter. Interestingly, it is one of the very few U.S. coins to use the word Freedom, which seems to boldly reinforce the word Liberty on the other side. Can anyone who has ever seen the movie Braveheart not feel the word freedom has special meaning? While it had been possible for collectors and dealers to get ahold of original bags and search for errors, that phase of collecting seems to be drawing to a close as the mint switches from bags to huge nylon containers for shipment to Federal Reserve Banks. This may dampen the spirits of the more advanced collectors, but it is unlikely to influence the new hordes of people eagerly following the ten-week issue of new designs. Kentucky will be next in line with a rustic farm scene, followed by the Tar Heel State's entry. No, it won't be Michael Jordan flying through the air, but a depiction of the 1903 first flight at Kitty Hawk by the Wright Brothers. Rhode Island came up with an attractive-looking motif, a sailing vessel framed in the background by a Narragansett bridge. Vermont will close out the 2001 quarters with a woodsy scene of a man checking maple sap buckets. Vermont also chose to inscribe 'Freedom and Unity' on their issue, a worthy addition. Y2K The stroke of midnight leading to the start of 2000 saw none of the computer problems associated with Y2K fears. Throughout the year people who had stored bullion items continued to sell back their holdings, keeping premiums down. For most of the year, buyers were able to purchase $1,000 bags of 90 percent silver for just under melt value, as the sellers outnumbered those looking to purchase bags. Generally speaking, the Y2kers' experience with the coin market proved to be as successful as they had thought in terms of insurance value in the event of a disaster. Many took an acceptable loss and moved on to other financial areas, leaving the coin market relatively unscathed. THE INTERNET Coin dealers seemed to have taken to the Internet as few other professionals. While major money was invested to Dot-Com firms, few were able to do what coin dealers seemed to get right -- that is make a profit on the Web. The future looks bright in terms of the Internet for coin dealers, a number of whom are presently thriving in cyberspace. There is no doubt that the coin market is expanding with Web surfers viewing coin auctions, dealer sites (http//www. rarecoin.com), numismatic chat rooms, and having access to world mints and coin research. There are some areas of wide-open pricing on relatively common ancient coins, Civil War tokens, etc., but is this any different than you would expect from the world's largest flea market, bourse floor, and auction room, all available at your fingertips? SS CENTRAL AMERICA Making national news once again, the treasures from SS Central America have started to be marketed in several novel ways through auction and coin firm sales departments. People will look back at 2001 as a rare opportunity to acquire these most important historic relics of unparalled beauty. CENTS Large cents remained relatively stable in 2000, with the primary reason being a lack of supply to spur the market on. Key date issues in all series, including the 1856 Flying Eagle cent, continued to excite advanced collectors and lead the way with major price advances. Lincoln cent boards, though they pale in comparison to state quarter maps, continue to be a steady seller in most coin shops. Perhaps one of the major developments in increasing activity in all the copper series will be the introduction of a new commercial holder Intercept Shield, which will dramatically improve the storage of copper coins. NICKELS The Buffalo nickel series still remains the focus of most collectors of the denomination, as it fascinates specialists with its striking differences, particularly on the branch mint issues from the 1920s. Beginners and the general public always seem to hold this series in a special light, due to the dramatic design. With wholesale buyers willing to snap them up at close to 40 cents (eight times face value) each if they have a date, as opposed to silver dimes, quarters, and halves of the 1930s, which are purchased at three to four times face value, is it any wonder that the Buffalo nickel is appreciated by so many people? The Jefferson nickel series continues its production run begun in 1938, making it a bulky proposition to assemble a complete set. This is one of the modern series that remains somewhat in the doldrums. The Shield and Liberty nickels have been relegated to a type coin by most collectors, with date collectors becoming a dying breed. DIMES Roosevelt dimes have started an uptick in prices, as they appear finally ready to move a bit. Though not around quite as long as the Jefferson nickel, the smaller size allows for easier storage. A 1946-to-date set, while affordable, remains a space issue. A design change would certainly stir things up and is well past due. Mercury dime specialists had the opportunity to vie for incredible specimens from the N.J. State Senator Bassano collection at the ANA show in Philadelphia. A more exciting group of Mercuries cannot be readily recalled. Certainly the Bassano set was one of the numismatic highlights of the year, bringing well over a half million dollars! QUARTERS While early type and Seated quarters advanced little throughout 2000, the Washington quarter series was one of the hottest movers for the second year in a row. With many dealers hunting down rolls of early silver issues and the state 25¢ buzz in full swing, Washingtons are moving upward strongly. The beauty of the Standing Liberty quarter cannot be overlooked, and quite a number of mint state pieces with less than full heads are currently available at attractive prices, leading to an excellent buying opportunity. HALVES The Bust series attracts a number of astute followers searching out those better Overton numbers, while keeping quite a few collectors busy assembling VF and XF pieces for less than $100-money well spent, to say the least. There were some price fluctuations in the higher end uncirculated examples of the Seated and Barber series, but by and large the majority of extant pieces in used condition remained relatively stable. Walkers in GEM MS 65 condition drifted lower, with more common dates now available for less than $100. Pre-1934 pieces are less than readily available from most dealers, and it seems buyers are ready to pick up any exceptional examples that turn up. The Franklin halves were a bit weaker in general, and suddenly a fully struck 1935-S coin is brought to auction where it breaks all previous records for the series, bringing more than $50,000! The 35-coin set is both readily available in quantity and reasonably priced in the $350 to $450 range. Kennedy halves were one of the more active areas of the market, with many young collectors concentrating on this series. In the past, I have suggested that Theodore Roosevelt eventually should replace Kennedy on the half, and if that were to occur in the next few years, this series could really take off. DOLLARS Circulated Morgans remain strong despite a weak silver market ($5.11 Dec. 10, 1999 vs. $4.66 Dec, 11, 2000). Semikey choice unc coins saw strong demand throughout the year. Some GSA packaged CC dollars, such as the 1890 and 91 issues, saw premiums well above certified examples, as promoters moved a great many coins. Peace dollars in general were out of the limelight unless you were fortunate enough to have a few of the lofty MS 66 coins for sale; in which case you likely did quite well. Ike dollars were definitely a big mover during 2000, with the 1973-S Proof silver issue leading the way. Last year I stated these coins present little downside risk, and their heft can impress a young collector. Be sure to notice the upsurge in prices the Ikes have made. The 2000 Sacagawea coin proved to be of little commercial value while managing to create a bit of a stir among collectors. Issued initially in cereal boxes followed by a release through a chain store, the coin was in demand for a few weeks as people clamored for a look at the new 'golden' dollar. With over a billion pieces minted thus far, it appears to be rivaling the SBA for practical use. GOLD Some of the heady prices for proof gold may have softened a bit, as quite a few specimens entered the market in the last couple of years. The interest cost to hold coins of this magnitude may have led to some price reductions. A number of the generic bullion-related issues drifted lower, as much of the year saw gold spot at under $275. Much of 2000 witnessed less brisk activity in the gold buying and selling at coin shows, leading to a slower overall market. SILVER EAGLES Started in 1986, the series has been a tremendous success with ready buyers enamored with the Walking Liberty design. Demand has increased with a number of firms selling colorized versions of the coin to the public. Literally hundreds of thousands have been altered and sold as attractive novelty items. Millions more are stored away by collectors and investors. It won't be too far into the future when the 100th million Silver Eagle is produced. Who knows how much a common BU Morgan or Peace dollar would have been worth if the U.S. Mint had not entered the market with this one-ounce coin? All of those predictions by numismatic sages back in the 1980s had little indication of the resounding success of the Silver Eagles. Tom Culhane, a coin dealer since 1979, operates his coin store, The Elusive Spondulix, at 954... Customer Reviews for: The Official 2002 Blackbook Price Guide to U.S. Coins, 40th edition (Official Blackbook Price Guide of United States Coins) Rating - Comprehensive, but not very fine This is a comprehensive book on the subject of coin grading, and much of the information I am looking for is here. But they don't list all the conditions you would expect to find. A typical coin might have good, fine and extra fine, but lack very good and very fine. So what is a very fine coin worth, halfway between fine and extra fine? Darned if I know. Rating - Great Book for the Beginner or Advanced Collector! I read an outdated 1992 version of this book when I first began collecting coins. It was invaluable in my search for decent well-priced, honest-graded coins. I think that anyone who wants to find the value of their coins, ar just learn a little about the hobby, shod read this book. See all books by author Marc Hudgeons, Thomas E. Jr Hudgeons

Books : The Official 2002 Blackbook Price Guide to U.S. Coins, 40th edition (Official Blackbook Price Guide of United States Coins)