THE COIN COLLECTOR - World eBook Library

THE COLLECTOR SERIES
started at a maturer period of life, and with experience
gained from others—he cannot do better than study
attentively the best authorities. These are—(1) numis-
matic books of the latest date, whether monographs or
general treatises ; (2) sale catalogues, with the prices.
Personal experience has satisfied the writer that com-
mercially, as well as numismatically, a thorough ac-
quaintance with the best catalogues is of the utmost
value ; and, besides those of the collections already
named, the hunter for continental coins must bring
himself into touch with the principal works of reference
ready to his hand, as it were, in the shape of descriptive
accounts of those magnificent cabinets which have been
formed and dispersed in various parts of Europe. We
may particularise the names of the Prince de Ligny,
Meyer, Montenuovo, Reimmann, Robert, Rossi, as
affording through their respective catalogues the most
precious insight into the material which exists, and the
probable and best means of accomplishing a new numis-
matic project.
Monographs have, of course, their clear use ;
but for
general purposes they are apt to be too minute and
elaborate, and they are calculated, perhaps, for the
literary inquirer rather than for the amateur. At
the same time, every one ought to be aware that of
recent years a very large and important body of works
has accumulated, dealing with the monetary annals
of the smaller foreign States, on a scale which would be
impossible on any other principle ; and, on the other
hand, those who desire to become conversant with the
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