While some may begin coin collecting as a casual hobby, it is hard to resist the allure of the hunt. Whether you’re a beginning novice ready to take collecting more seriously or an avid numismatist looking to deepen your existing expertise, the right tools can improve collecting skills from any starting point.
From reading the right coin collecting books to leveraging the local numismatic club, discover the four must-have collecting resources to improve your grading skills, increase your personal network, and broaden your general coin knowledge.
1. Coin Collecting Books
One of the best ways for numismatists to deepen their knowledge is the good old-fashioned way: reading a coin collecting book. While that may sound straightforward enough, not all coin collection books are equally useful. Try one of the following to increase your overall skill level and collecting smarts.
A Guide Book of United States Coins – “The Red Book”
Perhaps the most valuable coin collecting book for US numismatists is A Guide Book of United States Coins, otherwise known as “The Red Book.” This resource is essential for collectors aiming to take their hobby more seriously as it provides fair market value for more than 8,000 coins, tokens, and more. In addition to auction and price records, this coin collecting book also contains full-color, high-resolution photographs of historic and modern coins. Beyond serving as a broad reference guide, this resource also contains information about spotting counterfeits, learning to grade, and mindful investing. With 475 pages, this is more than a casual coin collecting booklet. Its many articles, photographs, and mintage data can drastically increase collecting knowledge and skills.
The Official Handbook of United States Coins – “The Blue Book”
While The Red Book is a fantastic resource for collectors, a useful companion coin collection book to further increase knowledge is known as “The Blue Book.” This guide was first published in 1942 and intended for dealers to learn the average price fellow dealers were paying to acquire coins. However, collectors have found this to be a helpful resource as well and use it to measure the values of their collections. This slightly smaller coin collecting booklet contains pricing according to quality grades for coins dating back as early as the 1600s.
Coin World Almanac
While The Red Book and The Blue Book are two core guides every aspiring numismatist should own, those interested in global collecting should also consider adding the Coin World Almanac to their coin collection books. This book contains counterfeit identification tips, basic numismatist terminology, and thousands of facts about various global coin collections. This coin collecting book focuses less on pricing and value and more on historical facts and data.
2. Local Numismatic Clubs
One of the most often overlooked but valuable resources for collectors is finding and attending their local numismatic club. Advanced numismatists can share knowledge and even mentor novice hobbyists. There are several tips, tricks, and hacks experienced collectors can teach to others. Local clubs can also help connect collectors with specialized dealers. Often, these local clubs also extend to social media groups to build relationships and stay in touch in between in-person events.
3. Coin Collecting Apps
New technology has changed coin collecting in the modern age. While there are several apps available focused on collecting, these few in particular may be more useful in expanding skill sets.
PCGS Photograde
While a coin collecting booklet like the ones mentioned above are extremely useful to keep as thorough references, coin grading has also moved to the digital sphere. PCGS Photograde is an app available for free on the Apple store that can help collectors grade their own coins. This app contains a 12-grade scale with high-quality imagery for most popular collections. Each coin included on the app has images of both the obverse and reverse side, for easy identification and quality review.
Numista
For the organizer at heart, apps like Numista help numismatists manage and organize their current coin collections. This app even allows users to include notes and pictures for each addition to their collection. As an added bonus, they also provide an online community with active forums for collectors to pose questions and connect with fellow members.
4. American Numismatic Association (ANA)
No essential resource guide would be complete without discussing the American Numismatic Association (ANA). Founded in 1891, this non-profit organization offers a wide range of resources for collectors of all skill levels and experience. Any collector can join by purchasing a low-cost annual membership. This membership unlocks educational programs, virtual exhibits, 12 issues of their award-winning magazine, The Numismatist, and more. For self-paced learning, ANA has several additional resources that numismatists can access as they please.
Discover more about the values of joining the ANA here.
Continue the Search
Coin collecting is an enriching and fulfilling hobby to invest time in. For those looking to increase their skill set but don’t know where to start, begin with one of the four resources above. Try out one of our recommended coin collection books or begin conversations in person at a local numismatic club.
When seeking out new coins, remember to choose reliable, trusted vendors like ModernCoinMart.
References
- Books
- https://whitman.com/a-guide-book-of-united-states-coins-red-book-2025-spiral/
- https://whitman.com/the-official-blue-book-handbook-of-united-states-coins-2025/
- https://www.amosadvantage.com/product/coin-world-almanac-8th-edition
- Apps
- https://www.pcgs.com/news/pcgs-photograde-goes-mobile
- https://en.numista.com/
- ANA
- https://www.money.org/
- https://www.moderncoinmart.com/blog/introduction-ana-american-numismatic-association
