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Rating: 
Summary: A great resource for North American coins
Review: This guide seems to be geared to the beginning to intermediate collector who is primarily interested in US coins, but who might also be interested in branching out and collecting Mexican and Canadian coins as well. If that's the intent, it succeeds brilliantly. I'm just such a collector -- and I'm a repeat customer -- I bought the 2003 edition before getting the 2004. Most likely, I will be buying the 2005 edition as well. This book is priced economically enough that one can buy a new edition each year. After all, one can easily blow far more than the book's purchase price on an uninformed coin purchase.The 2004 edition begins with a series of 13 chapters which will be primarily of interest to the collector who is just getting started or someone who is returning to the coin hobby after some time away. It then gives a very well-presented price guide to US, Canadian and Mexican coins. Virtually every coin listed has a black-and-white photograph showing the coin in actual size. The US and Canadian coin photos are quite good, while the Mexican coin photos, except for the most recent ones, leave something to be desired. While no annual book can keep up with volatility of today's coin market, I've found the prices to be a good rough guide from which to start. It also serves as a great "idea" book for those looking to see what is available in their interest and price-range. The only thing that stops me from giving this a five-star rating is that it is a little too US-coin-centric. For example, Chapter 12 offers a chapter on "Hot Buys for 2004" but not one Canadian or Mexican coin is listed! Don't get me wrong -- there is some very valuable information here on Canadian and Mexican coin collecting -- I'd just like more of it. The book's back cover claims that it "Provides all the info you need in one handy reference," and most collectors will probably agree. Highly recommended.
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