Product Description

Standard Catalog of® World Coins offers extensive details to meet your needs whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting out in the hobby. This one-of-a-kind coin book, with electronic pages of the book featured on the bonus DVD, delivers nearly 1 million up-to-date values, plus key elements including mintage figures, metallic composition, size, mint and privy marks, and historic background to help you to identify and assess 20th century coins from around the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #66149 in Books
• Published on: 2009-06-19
• Original language: German
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 2256 pages

Features

• 2010 Standard Catalog of World Coins

About the Author
Colin Bruce II, one of the original creators of the Standard Catalog series, with more than 40 years with Krause Publications, has been significant in the expansion of the series to the renowned resource it's become. Thomas Michael has performed in-depth price analysis for Krause Publications numismatic line for over 21 years. His analysis takes him across the world in an effort to create the most accurate pricing database available.

Customer Reviews

What a deal - 2 for the price of 1 - worth every penny!
If you collect world coins, you need to purchase the Standard Catalog series from Krause Publications. The 20th Century book that I purchased came with a DVD. I kinda look at this as a "2 for 1" deal as the DVD has the same contents as the book. I noticed that the prices on some coins went up while others went down. With the DVD, I can look up countries almost as fast as the book (there will be some of you who will experience either fast finds or slow ones depending on your computer processing speed). Overall, I only hope that Krause will include DVD's in future editions.

Good as Usual but Don't Rush In Before Reading This
Krause Standard Catalog 1901-2000 is simply the world standard of coin catalogs for the period. Unless your collection is highly specialized within a very small region or you collect coins which Krause does not list as such (such as German notgeld or tokens) this is a catalog you must have in your private library. 2010 edition includes also CD version so you don't have to carry around this rather bulky volume if you travel with your laptop.
The countries are organized in alphabetical order and within countries coins are listed by denominations with most coins presented in black and white pictures. Every coins is priced in at least three grades (except for parts of the US listing where commemorative coins are apparently worthless below AU grade while other coins are priced in eleven grades) with prices basically reflecting current market trends.
In short - if you collect world coins and you don't have a copy, you simply should stop reading at this point and order one immediately. However, if you do have a fairly recent copy you should think twice before doing anything. The prices have been updated here and there. Russia, Belarus and Ukraine (if you collect Eastern Europe except Poland, you are in for a nice surprise!) were, Germany and France not necessarily while some markets have changed greatly over last few years. Let's then take a look at Poland which has not been seriously updated for a decade. The key issue for post-1990 coins #306 King Sigismundus (still listed at $10 for Unc) will actually cost you at least $200 (unless you know a dealer who can't use ebay). Any 2 zlote commemorative coin from 1995 will cost at least $30 - Krause offers $3,50 for most. Prices of silver coins are a bit closer to reality but only some were actually changed: #314 Lidzbark castle is still listed at $50 while market price is closer to $400.
It is fairly understandable that updating all the prices of the whole catalog is a major task but it seems that the editors are a bit too certain that at least one part of their job is done - that their catalog includes all coins issued within the period. Well, it doesn't... I found at least two omissions. There are four 1 pound coins from Cyprus missing - one from 1999 and three from 2000. Copper 1999 3000 bolivares from Venezuela commemorating the new Mint is missing although silver 6000 bolivares coin issued on the same occasion is included. You will probably find some more missing pieces.
My conclusion - if you have a fairly new edition already (especially the 2009 one which also has the CD) you can stick to it for a while. The editors simply did not update this issue to such a degree that would justify the costs of your updating your library.

Another Year, Another Trustworthy Volume
This is a book a coin collector simply cannot live without. Over 2000 pages packed with information on coins. Obviously, there are better catalogues for specific periods or territories but none so comprehensive. At some point your collection will reach the level when other catalogues are necessary but when you decide to go beyond your local coinage there is no better start. If you really concentrate on some period or country, you will soon outgrow it. If you begin to broaden your numismatic horizons, this is your guide and you may need no other.
This is a book like an old friend. You know his shortcomings (not all were corrected from previous editions, some chapters were made even worse - if you collect Belgian coins don't buy this issue - some coins are missing!), you know he is not really up-to-date (whatever he may claim), you know that he gets more and more forgetful every year, you know he can be terribly obstinate and stick to his mistakes for years. But you reach for him in need because, well, you haven't got a better friend.