Numismatic catalogues: Krause, RIC, Kopicki, Parchimowicz and more
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A catalogue number is a coin’s identity card: it lets you tell varieties apart, compare prices and find an exact description. There are many catalogues and each covers a different slice of numismatics. Below is a short guide to the most important ones, starting with the references used for world coins, and tips on how to record references in your collection.
Why a catalogue number matters
A description such as “denar, silver, 12th century” usually fits many varieties. A catalogue number points to a specific one: with the right denomination, date, die variety or mint. It also makes it easier to find a coin at auctions, compare prices and spot forgeries or copies.
The same specimen is often described in several catalogues at once, under different numbers. It is worth recording every reference you know, because sellers and buyers often use different ones.
Catalogues of world coins and ancient coins
| Catalogue | What it covers (in brief) |
|---|---|
| Krause (KM#) | The Standard Catalog of World Coins: coins of the world from 1601 onward, arranged by country; numbers are written as KM# |
| RIC | Roman Imperial Coinage: the multi-volume catalogue of the coinage of the Roman Empire |
| RRC (Crawford) | Roman Republican Coinage: the standard catalogue of the coinage of the Roman Republic |
| Davenport (Dav.) | Catalogues of large European silver coins, including thalers and crowns |
| Numista | A free online database of world coins; convenient, but the data comes from the community, so for important specimens confirm it in a printed catalogue |
Catalogues of Polish coins
If you collect Polish coins, you will meet several national catalogues. Dealers and auction houses in Poland often quote them alongside Krause numbers.
| Catalogue | What it covers (in brief) |
|---|---|
| Kopicki | A multi-volume catalogue of Polish coins and banknotes, arranged by period; often cited in auction descriptions |
| Parchimowicz | A catalogue of Polish coins of the 20th and 21st centuries; widely used by shops and auction houses |
| Hutten-Czapski | A classic catalogue of a collection of Polish coins and medals (turn of the 19th and 20th centuries); the origin of the rarity scale used in Poland |
| Gumowski | The works of Marian Gumowski on medieval and early modern coins of old Poland |
The descriptions are brief and meant for orientation. Check the exact scope, numbering and edition in the catalogue itself.
How to find your coin in a catalogue
- Establish the country, period and denomination. You choose a catalogue according to what you hold: a different one for a Piast denar, a different one for a 1930s Polish coin.
- Read the date, inscriptions and mint mark, then compare the design of the obverse and reverse with the illustrations of the types in the catalogue.
- Check the weight, diameter and metal. If they do not match the description, you may have a different variety, or occasionally a counterfeit.
- Record the number, the variety and the edition of the catalogue you took it from.
Common pitfalls
- Numbering changes between editions: the same number from a different edition can mean a different coin.
- Prices in catalogues are indicative and go out of date quickly. Treat them as a starting point, not a valuation.
- A catalogue describes types, not individual specimens. You judge condition and defects yourself (grading scales).
- Online databases created by communities can contain mistakes. For valuable coins confirm the data in a printed catalogue.
How to cite a catalogue
A reference consists of the name of the catalogue and a number, for example “KM# 56” or “Kopicki 1234”. If numbering differs between editions, add the year or edition number. For varieties, add the variety mark (a letter after the number, or a note).
- Write the name of a catalogue in one fixed form (always “Krause / KM”, never “KM” once and “Krause” another time) so that you can filter your collection later.
- Note the source you copy the number from: a catalogue, an auction description, a website.
- When a catalogue also gives rarity or a valuation, record it separately together with the name of the scale (rarity scales).
Catalogue references in NumiStack
You can add any number of catalogue references to a single coin: for each one you give the catalogue name, the number and an optional note (for example the variety). The coin’s card then shows all the numbers that sellers and collectors use, and you can find specimens quickly. When it identifies a coin, the AI scanner also suggests catalogue numbers, but always check them in the catalogue.
See also: How to catalogue a coin collection.