Customer Reviews

The Coin Collector's Survival Manual: An Indispensable Guide for Collectors and Investors

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Travers does a great job of bringing balance to this book. It includes everything from what kind of magnafying glass to buy, to buying rare gold and all things in between. I felt the most helpful sections were the detailed write-ups on grading (different services, methods, and evolution of) and how to spot artificial toning, counterfitting, and doctoring/cleaning. It also explains how not to get ripped off at coin shows and by con-artist dealers. I would recommend this for beginners, as well as intermediate coin collectors.

Scott Traver's has written a number of highly useful texts on coin collecting. His latest edition of the "Survival Manual" is no exception. It contains information on a variety of topics to help the collector make wise purchases and avoid being cheated. There is a heavy emphasis on grading and detecting counterfit coins and some extremely useful tips about ordering coins on the Internet and via mail order. This book gets a bit technical -- so truly beginning or novice collectors may find it a bit more complicated than they might be comfortable with. But anyone who does or is contemplating making any substantive investment in coins should read this text carefully. Overall, an excellent book and a fairly interesting read. A great gift for any serious coin collector !

I've decided to add my, ahem, two cents worth, on this book because I have just finished reading another book by the same author titled 'How to make money in coins right now.' I resisted buying the latter because I suspected, rightfully as it turns out, that there would not be much new information contained in it; Mr. Travers has a tendency to rehash a lot of his admittedly valuable and well-reasoned information advice. This book covers a lot of ground, per the reviews below, much of it essential. The single most valuable section, to my mind, is the in-depth discussion of coin grades as used by the professionals, and a discussion of recent changes made in grading standards. Also helpful is the section discussing ways to spot coins that may not be as good as the 'look,' and why (toning, doctoring, cleaning, etc.). I definitely can recommend this book as a stand alone purchase but would steer the interested buyer to another of Mr. Travers' books titled 'How to make money in coins right now.' I say this only because each book covers a lot of the same ground but the other contains information crucial to the 'value' question that every coin collector has at the back of his mind. Either will do, however, I just don't recommend purchasing both: One or the other and spend the money you don't spend on a nice collectible coin.

A very good book for all collectors, but especially less advanced collectors. An all around decent book on all aspects of collecting.

This book is really designed to help the collector become a better more focused buyer and seller of coins. The information on the coin rip-off scemes including TV sales, modern coins promoted as 'rare', etc. can be hugely valuable to those who think they are investing in coins but will never recover their outlay. The warnings about altered, over graded, ond over promoted coins can save an unsuspecting buyer a great percentage of their budget. The writing style is easy to follow and personal and never preachy. Do not invest serious money in a single coin until you read this book.

OK, so I'm biased. I've known Scott Travers since he was a teenager, and I've worked professionally with him on a number of projects over the years, including this book. But I'm also a former consumer affairs reporter, former American Numismatic Association Consumer Education Committee Chair and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau in Chicago. Yeah, I'm a big believer in consumer education and protection. That's exactly what Scott's new book provides: absolutely crucial information for anyone who wants to buy rare coins whether for future financial gain or just to make sure you're getting a good deal today.

At the February 2006 Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo I watched and listened as an unsuspecting "collector" who purchased several gold coins in an online auction was crushed to learn from several reputable dealers that his "MS68" Saint Gaudens was only MS64 at best and worth thousands less than the $8,000 he paid for it. If he'd read Scott's chapters about grading and online auctions he would have saved money --and grief.

Even if you don't buy five, six or seven-figure coins, this book will help save you or make you hundreds of dollars by knowing insiders' secrets about buying and selling even modestly priced coins. COINage Magazine's Senior Editor, Ed Reiter, called this new edition "...the gold standard for coin books on consumer protection and investment." I agree.

-donn-

Donn Pearlman

(Affiliations given for identification purposes only)

Recently I had inherited a coin collection. Honestly, I basically knew very little about coin collecting. I found this book to be very informative, and very helpful in learning about this hobby. I like that Scott Travers writes in a no-nonsense style. He is easy to read, and better yet, easy to understand. I think he goes well to describe many aspects of coin collecting.

I like that the book takes it time in telling you about the grading of coins, where to purchase coins, and better yet the pitfalls and traps inexperienced people may fall into. I like the many pictures throughout the book and found them instrumental in understanding about grading, and how to look at coins for any possible defects.

I would recommend this book to the novice, as well as the more experienced coin collector. I think this book covers many aspects of coin collecting that everyone can gain knowledge from. This is definately the ideal book to pick up for someone who is interested in collecting coins.

Hundreds of books about coin collecting are published every year, and most of them are just rehashes of the same old things. What sets this book apart is the actionable information about how to make money in coins right now.

The author, Scott A. Travers, is a leading consumer advocate in the numismatic (coin collecting) marketplace. He has long held a well-earned reputation for telling it like it is, and taking no prisoners along the way. In the "Coin Collector's Survival Manual", he reveals the secrets that million-dollar coin dealers use to make money, and he does it in a step-by-step manner that is easy to follow and interesting to read.

For example, a lot of people make good money by breaking the coins out of PCGS and NGC grading service holders, and sending them back in for a higher grade. Travers provides lists on page 154-55 and 160 of the coins most likely to get an upgrade. And if you're not sure how to crack open the holders without making a mess and damaging the coins, check out the instructions on pages 151-2.

Counterfeit and doctored (altered) coins and holders are becoming an increasingly severe problem as technology advances and the fraudsters improve their fakes. This book has saved me from making costly mistakes, as it includes multiple sections and chapters that address deceptive coins. It was the first media anywhere to defy PCGS' public stance and publish photos of the fake PCGS slabs, plus Travers has the full diagnostics for detecting the fake NGC slabs, all in large, full-color photos.

I could go on and on about the benefits of this book, but neither of us have the time to write (or read) them all. Suffice to say that the "Coin Collector's Survival Manual" has everything you need to learn about the coin market today, and coin collecting in general. Whether you're a brand new collector or an accomplished expert, you need this book! I am making money buying and selling coins in ways I never could have known without Travers' teaching. I love this guy's stuff!

(Note regarding previous editions of this title: Travers has significantly updated and enhanced the best of his classic advice, cutting out much that was dated or no longer so useful, and adding a great deal of new material. This book is a major upgrade from the 5th edition.)

Bottom Line: A "must-have" book (unless you like paying too much for coins and/or buying doctored and counterfeit material.)

No gimmicks, Highly recommended!

Barring Q. David Bowers The Expert's Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins: Secrets Of Success, Scott A. Travers The Coin Collector's Survival Manual, is one of the best and most important numismatic books ever.

An extensive and detailed guide with relevant and up-to-date information, a great manual for novice, expert numismatists, and investors.

You will appreciate how Scott A. Travers skillfully leads the reader like a good conductor page by page in a symphony of numismatic enlightenment, the coin collector knowledge evolves

All pictures are in B&W (except 16 pages of glossy high quality color photos)

Though geared for the US Coin Collectors market most of the subjects discussed in it will be useful worldwide. This numismatic manual is masterfully written, simple to use, very well organized, easy to read and understand.

see also:

The Expert's Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins: Secrets Of Success

A California Gold Rush history: Featuring the treasure from the S.S. Central America : a source book for the Gold Rush historian and numismatist

The History of United States Coinage

United States Gold Coins: An Illustrated History

Early U.s. Gold Coin Varieties: A Study of Die States, 1795-1834

The History of United States Coinage: As Illustrated by the Garrett Collection

Commemorative Coins of the United States: A Complete Encyclopedia

The Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection Edition, Edition #2 (Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection)

Photograde: Official Photographic Grading Guide for United States Coins, 19th Edition

The Official American Numismati Association Grading Standards For United States Coins (Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards for United States Coins)

High Profit from Rare Coin Investments

A functional enough guidebook to collecting; the trouble is the tone: coin-collecting can be an exuberant hobby, but absolutely no fun is in evidence here. The vignettes that open several chapters are indeed laugh-provoking cautionary tales of duped novice collectors; the trouble is, they are not supposed to be.