nicholasz219 Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 Hello All: Does anyone have a good idea of where to pick up a recent Bitkin reference book? I have Uzdenikov and that is a good start, but I am finding that the more I learn about varieties and am looking to properly catalog my collection, I find that I am lacking the appropriate tools. ValeriyaValeriya on ebay is selling one for $250. That is simply way out of my price range. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I could pick up Bitkin at a more reasonable price? If that is just standard for the price then let me know that as well and I will just have to hold off to buy it. Thanks! Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKB Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 The author used to sell it for about $150. They sold it out some time ago, so, this price is not available anymore (as far as I know). Thus, you would be paying a premium over that. Then, add postage from Russia/Ukraine at about $40 for 2 kilos (and the books are heavier than that). I do not see how you would be able to get this catalog for much less than $250. I paid about that for mine, and that was a long time ago... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicholasz219 Posted December 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 BKB, Thanks, I appreciate the input. I have seen several copies on Ebay, which are scanned copies onto a DVD/computer disk but I am wary of the ability to read the information even though it is only $10.00 per copy. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKB Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 If you have no moral reservations, then, as far as I know, only images are a bit off... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one-kuna Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 this catalog used to be $120 from its author plus shipping (average 25-40) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKB Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 Possibly you are right, but that is over anyway. So, 120 or 150 does not really matter now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gxseries Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 Don't support those people who sell such ecatalog for 10 dollars. Those people are equally as bad as those who rip music CDs and sell them. It just leaves less money for the author and channel more money into the black market. That idea did cross my head but it's clear that the more money the black market gets, the worse piracy becomes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kopeikin Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 nicholasz219, to my opinion $250 is about a right price for 2 volume Bitkin today. Before going for this purchase though you should think well if you really need it. If you need a quick reference book in a very compressed pocket size format with decent coin pictures and with up-to-date prices you may want just buy a Wolmar 2010 3rd edition price book for about $25. I have both Bitkin and Wolmar and to tell you the truth I use Wolmar much more often when making decision on buying a coin. Also note the coin pictures in Bitkin are of a very poor quality and coins are listed in the order by the mint location so it is very hard to identify a coin you have unless you are already an expert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one-kuna Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 nicholasz219, to my opinion $250 is about a right price for 2 volume Bitkin today. Before going for this purchase though you should think well if you really need it. If you need a quick reference book in a very compressed pocket size format with decent coin pictures and with up-to-date prices you may want just buy a Wolmar 2010 3rd edition price book for about $25. I have both Bitkin and Wolmar and to tell you the truth I use Wolmar much more often when making decision on buying a coin. Also note the coin pictures in Bitkin are of a very poor quality and coins are listed in the order by the mint location so it is very hard to identify a coin you have unless you are already an expert. + Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicholasz219 Posted December 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Well, thanks for the advice! I will take a look at the Wolmar first then. I do not mind buying books. If the Wolmar helps me in the areas where I need it, great. If I still feel the need for the Bitkin, then at least I know I did try to be a little frugal first. The gf doesn't quite understand how I can spend so much money on coins, much less on a book about coins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexbq2 Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 nicholasz219, to my opinion $250 is about a right price for 2 volume Bitkin today. Before going for this purchase though you should think well if you really need it. If you need a quick reference book in a very compressed pocket size format with decent coin pictures and with up-to-date prices you may want just buy a Wolmar 2010 3rd edition price book for about $25. I have both Bitkin and Wolmar and to tell you the truth I use Wolmar much more often when making decision on buying a coin. Also note the coin pictures in Bitkin are of a very poor quality and coins are listed in the order by the mint location so it is very hard to identify a coin you have unless you are already an expert. Not so fast. Images in Bitkin are much better than in the tiny Wolmar, and there's probably a few thousand more of them. I use all available catalogs, and I can tell you that when Conros or Wolmar prints a one word description of a variant, you better grab your Bitkin, unless you already know what they are talking about (and for the most part they are referencing Bitkin). On the other hand, collecting is moving forward. Information and statistics are collected and evaluated, new discoveries are made. The information in Conros and Wolmar is more up to date, while the 2003 edition of Bitkin is a bit dated. IMHO using both is advisable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicholasz219 Posted December 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 I think that I will buy the Wolmar with my eyes set on the Bitkin for a next major purchase. I am still in the learning phases of collecting, even though I have been collecting since I was a young child...let's just call it twenty years and forget about it, ha. I accumulated a lot of coins throughout my life and have only recently gotten serious about scholarship and focusing my collecting on a few areas. I had the great fortune to have a local coin dealer with a pretty sizable small collection (50+ coins) of Russian Imperial from late Alexander III and Nicholas II. She let me have it for a song and my love of Russian coinage began. I wish I would have had the foresight to purchase as much Russian Imperial as I could have throughout the 90's because compared to today's prices, Russian Imperial pieces were ridiculously cheap. I am afraid that Russian Imperial is heading the way of early and mid US material....right through the roof. I am trying to complete a set of Paul I copper and then hopefully move on to the silver coinage. I also slowly add to a Russian minor collection of mostly copper and the smaller silver pieces (polupoltinniks and lesser). I am also finally far enough away from the accumulating phase to start selling off duplicates to purchase additional pieces. I appreciate this forum because without it, I would not even know of the reference books, the fakes, altered coins and underhanded sellers out there. The sad part about collecting is that specialists in your area may not live anywhere near you and you have to be wary of mentioning your collection to anyone outside of the community for fear of being robbed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKB Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 I am trying to complete a set of Paul I copper and then hopefully move on to the silver coinage. When you say that, do you mean a type set, or a date set? I have been trying to complete the date set since I began collecting imperial Russia. Those minors of 1799 -- 1801 are impossible. I think I will die, and it will still be incomplete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennysky Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 When you say that, do you mean a type set, or a date set? I have been trying to complete the date set since I began collecting imperial Russia. Those minors of 1799 -- 1801 are impossible. I think I will die, and it will still be incomplete. I certainly hope you get to live for a long time and combined with the recent luck you've been having, who knows? You dont have that much further to go on minors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicholasz219 Posted December 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Um, Well, that is not very encouraging.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennysky Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Whatever you do, don't give up on your search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexbq2 Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Um, Well, that is not very encouraging.... IMHO, It's the challenge that makes it fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one-kuna Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Hello All: Does anyone have a good idea of where to pick up a recent Bitkin reference book? I have Uzdenikov and that is a good start, but I am finding that the more I learn about varieties and am looking to properly catalog my collection, I find that I am lacking the appropriate tools. ValeriyaValeriya on ebay is selling one for $250. That is simply way out of my price range. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I could pick up Bitkin at a more reasonable price? If that is just standard for the price then let me know that as well and I will just have to hold off to buy it. Thanks! Nick Did you check Bitkin's website he might have one left Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKB Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Um, Well, that is not very encouraging.... Sorry, I call it like I see it. It took forever to get 1801 denga. Denga of 1800 em, is crazy rare. Polushkas of 1799em and 1800 em are crazy rare. These are harder to find than most silver of Paul. Good news, km minors are not that rare if you do not care about condition. A ton of that was dug up recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hussulo Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Not Bitkin but I came across this on-line by the Russian Numismatic Society: http://www.russiannumismaticsociety.org/JRNS73.html and thought it may be of use to some Russian collectors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hussulo Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 http://cgi.ebay.com/V-BITKIN-BEST-CATALOG-RUSSIAN-COINS-1699-1917-/250720389468?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6019895c http://cgi.ebay.com/V-BITKIN-RUSSIAN-MEDALS-1478-1917-YEARS-2-VOLUME-/250658130738?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a5c638b32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexbq2 Posted December 23, 2010 Report Share Posted December 23, 2010 I don't have a spare Bitkin, but I have a spare Brekke. Anyone interested? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicholasz219 Posted December 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2010 Where would you all recommend buying a Wolmar and/or a Conros? There do not seem to be too many people who have these books in stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexbq2 Posted January 10, 2011 Report Share Posted January 10, 2011 Where would you all recommend buying a Wolmar and/or a Conros? There do not seem to be too many people who have these books in stock. I got mine on eBay. I think you might find them on Amazon as well. Just make sure that you get the 2010 editions, or even better the 2011 (not sure when they will come out). And as always beware of fakes. I once ended up buying a cheap bootleg reprint - very poor quality and no color. And lets not forget about Brekke! (which I still have for sale) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porcupine Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Where would you all recommend buying a Wolmar and/or a Conros? There do not seem to be too many people who have these books in stock. For Conros you may want to go directly to the source: http://shopconros.ru/item/966740/10370 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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