Old coins
Q: I wrote to you several months ago about old coins. I have some from before the 1960s and ‘70s, and I wonder how long it takes for you to answer questions from your readers. — Janeen, Salem, Mo.
A: I get more letters and e-mails about coins than almost any other category of collectibles. Since many of the letters ask basically the same question — namely how to determine values — one answer generally fits all and steers most people in the right direction. If I answered each question individually, I would be addressing the same question over and over.
Questions that are concise and of general interest with a return address are a priority. Communications with phony e-mail addresses are discarded and not answered. Often I need to contact a reader for clarification, and when this is impossible, it goes into my circular file.
Since you may have missed my earlier answer, let me repeat it for you. Two of my favorite guides that might be helpful are the 2008 Standard Catalogue of World Coins: 1901-2000 edited by Colin R. Bruce II (Krause Publications, $55), which has more than 1 million price listings covering virtually every coin minted during the past century; and the 2008 U.S. Coin Digest: The Complete Guide to Current Market Values edited by David C. Harper (Krause Publications, $14.99).
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Q: I grew up during the 1950s and amassed quite a comic book collection. I have several hundred issues, including mint copies of such rarities as The Avengers, Nyoka the Jungle Girl, Uncanny Tales and Wyatt Earp. How can I determine values? — Steve, Tyler, Texas
A: There are several excellent price guides that I think are both helpful and easy to use. Comic Values by Alex G. Mallow, and The Standard Guide to Golden Age Comics by Alex G. Mallow and Stuart W. Wells (Krause Publications) are updated frequently and reflect current market prices. Also good is the Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide by Robert M. Overstreet (House of Collectibles), which references thousands of comics along with trends, grading, restoration tips and advice for collectors.
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