Coin reference books are too rare at public libraries

This week marks the annual observance of National Library Week.It is a time when each of these indispensable public institutionsopens its doors and says, "Welcome, look what we have."

Unfortunately, what most public libraries don't have is abalanced selection of coin books, the ones that are most useful asreferences for those who have coins or paper currency they wantattributed and appraised.

Ninety-eight percent of the average inquiries received can beanswered by referring to one of the following books: A Guide Book of United States Coins, by R. S. Yeoman. 43rd edition,1990. Western Publishing Co., Racine, WI 53404. While publishedvalues may not reflect the current market, historical data suppliedmakes this a true encyclopedia of American and Colonial issues.Library of Congress No. 47-22284. The Standard Catalog of Modern World Coins, by Chester L. Krause andClifford Mishler. 1990 edition. Krause Publications, Iola, WI 54990.Over 43,000 photographs and an easy-to-use coin finder allows one toreadily identify most coins issued from 1801 through 1989. Libraryof Congress No. 79-640940. The Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money, by Chester L.Krause and Robert F. Lemke. 8th edition, 1990. Krause Publications,Iola, WI 54990. Includes the fractional and postage stamp currencyof the Civil War and the increasingly popular printing errors onpaper money. Library of Congress No. 81-81876. The Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, by Albert Pick. KrausePublications, Iola, WI 54990. This two-volume set, the mostcomprehensive work of its kind, covers specialized and general issuelegal tender. Library of Congress No. 83-083100 and 80-81510. Official A.N.A. Grading Standards for United States Coins, by KenBressett and Abe Kosoff. Third edition. American NumismaticAssociation. Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Wear on the face of a coinis like mileage to a used car. Values can vary by hundreds ofdollars over a single grade point difference. ISBN 0-307-19873-1. Coin World Almanac, by the editors of Coin World. Fifth edition.Amos Press, Sidney, Ohio 45365. The title is self-explanatory. Init are the answers to just about any conceivable question concerningU.S. coins, government mints, coinage and currency laws. Library ofCongress No. 75 649406. Coin Prices Magazine, Krause Publications, Iola, WI 54990. Thisbimonthly magazine should be on the periodical shelves and used as acomplement to the Guide Book of United States Coins. The Marchannual and May international editions are valuable references bythemselves.

Clip and present this column to your librarian now. Takeadvantage of the hospitality of National Library Week, and you willbe able to see most every coin reference book needed by just flashingyour library card.

Q. Enclosed is a list of silver dollars. Please let me know ifany is worth more than face value.

A. Here is an instance where the proper books in your publiclibrary would serve you better than I. Condition is as important asmint mark and date. You fail to note either mint mark or condition,thus leaving me to say that a particular coin, like your 1889 dollar,could be worth from $9 to $5,000 and anywhere in between.

You would be lucky to get $9 for a worn Philadelphia Mint, butwould have no problem receiving up to $5,000 for the same dollar, inuncirculated condition, if it had been made at the Carson City Mint.