Many coin collectors have heard the phrase “buy the book before the coin.” As you might surmise, that means you should study what you’re going to collect in numismatics before delving into that area of the hobby. Not only does this make you an informed consumer, it (perhaps more importantly) also makes you a knowledgeable collector. But how does a phrase like “buy the book before the coin” work in the digital era, when many people just type a few words into a search engine and expect to get the info they need with an AI-generated response?
Actually, buying the book before the coin is just as important now as ever before. The vetted and researched information contained within the pages of a seminal authority – like so many of the great numismatic books out there – holds incredible, trusted value. And collectors absolutely should spend money on building a personal library of physical numismatic books, journals, and other reference materials that cater to their specific ambitions in the hobby.
But there are also some outstanding digital resources that can help supplement “book learning.” And one of the most important websites coin collectors should visit is right under your nose: PCGS CoinFacts. It’s the largest, most comprehensive numismatic reference on United States coins anywhere on the internet. One of the best parts? It’s made available to the public for free as an educational asset for the whole world to learn from and enjoy. And, yes, there’s an app for that… Seriously. You can download the PCGS CoinFacts App right onto your smartphone.
Therefore, in a day and age where more and more people are turning to the internet for numismatic information, it makes sense to trust proven experts. Yes, continue buying the book before the coin. But you can turn to PCGS CoinFacts, too – it’s always just a click away and totally free!