How I Finally Found That Out-of-Print Coin Collecting Book (And How You Can Too)

The Frustrating Search for a Forgotten Coin Collecting Gem

You know that sinking feeling when a great book slips through your mental fingers? I spent weeks haunted by memories of this incredible coin collecting guide I’d read years ago. I could picture its yellowed pages, recall detailed strategies about buying at auctions, even remember how the author explained selling coins one by one. But the title? Gone. Poof. Just “that book with 100 coins” stuck in my head.

How I Cracked the Case (And You Can Too)

1. Turning Fuzzy Memories Into Concrete Clues

I started by dumping every detail onto paper – even the trivial ones:

• Exactly 100 coins featured (not 99, not 101)
• Author wrote like a grumpy but brilliant uncle
• Those brilliant dealer negotiation tips
• 1990s publication date
• Author had passed away – no new editions coming

2. When Google Fails: Advanced Book Hunting Tactics

Regular searches kept giving me modern clickbait listicles. So I dug deeper:

• Used Google Books’ “time machine” feature (1990-1999 filter)
• Posted in coin collector forums with my specific clues
• Haunted library catalogs using old-school terms like “numismatic strategies”

3. My “Eureka!” Moment

Three days into my obsession, a forum user messaged: “Sounds like Shippee’s Pleasure & Profit.” And there it was – “Pleasure & Profit: 100 Lessons for Building and Selling a Collection of Rare Coins” by Robert W. Shippee. Every detail matched perfectly, right down to the author having passed in 2000.

Where to Find This Rare Coin Collecting Bible Today

Digital Marketplaces That Deliver

Though out-of-print, I found copies at:

• eBay (watch for price-gouging sellers!)
• Used book havens like AbeBooks – got mine for $28
• Amazon third-party sellers (check seller ratings carefully)

Creative Ways to Access the Content

If you’re hitting dead ends:

• Befriend your local coin dealer – many keep reference copies
• WorldCat.org revealed 17 library copies nationwide for interlibrary loan
• Consider buying just the chapters you need from resellers

Why This Obscure Book Is a Collector’s Treasure

Now that I’ve got my worn copy? Worth every frustrating search hour. Shippee’s advice feels startlingly relevant today:

• How to spot undervalued coins before markets catch on
• Real-talk about auction house politics
• The psychology behind profitable sales timing

It’s like having a wise mentor whispering coin secrets across decades.

Your Turn: Hunting Other Rare Numismatic Books

Craft Your Search Like a Detective

When chasing forgotten books:

• Mix title fragments with author quirks (“book coin collection grumpy author”)
• Search exact phrases like “100 coin lessons” in quotes
• Add “-modern -new” to exclude recent knockoffs

Tap Into Collector Wisdom

Coin forums and local clubs are goldmines. Members often:

• Recognize books from vague descriptions
• Know which dealers quietly stock rare references
• Will photocopy chapters if their library has it

Don’t Give Up the Hunt

If you’re chasing Shippee’s “Pleasure & Profit” or another obscure numismatic book, take heart. My coffee-stained copy proves even vanished books can resurface. Stay persistent, use niche search tricks, and lean on fellow collectors. That thrill when you finally hold your white whale book? Absolutely priceless.

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