1793 Wreath cent, S-NC-3 Strawberry Leaf, VG10BN, Parmelle Collection. Images by Professional Coin Grading Service
Category Archives: Guide Book of United States Coins
New special-edition Red Book celebrating the 1920–2020 centennial of the Manila Mint is sold out!
The front cover, back cover, and spine of the 1920–2020 Manila Mint special edition distinguish it from the regular-edition Red Book. 260 copies were printed; 48 were damaged in transit, leaving 212 for sale to collectors
New Edition of ‘Red Book’ Released
The 74th edition of the annual Guide Book of United States Coins, popularly known as the “Red Book,” is set to debut from Whitman Publishing April 7. The new volume includes updated pricing and auction data reflecting the current market for collectible U.S
Bowers on collecting: Collecting Liberty Seated quarters
Collecting United States coins by mintmark varieties did not become popular until the publication in 1893 of Augustus G. Heaton’s Treatise on Mint Marks
Bowers on collecting: Collecting Liberty Seated quarters
By Q. David Bowers
Collecting United States coins by mintmark varieties did not become popular until the publication in 1893 of Augustus G
Bowers on collecting: Just do it!
By Q. David Bowers
“Just do it,” as the popular saying (on T-shirts, etc
Who do you thank in a numismatic book?
“It takes a village to raise a child,” the old saying goes, and the same could be said about creating a good numismatic book. This brings to mind the most prolific numismatic writer of all time, Q
Who do you thank in a numismatic book?
“It takes a village to raise a child,” the old saying goes, and the same could be said about creating a good numismatic book. This brings to mind the most prolific numismatic writer of all time, Q
Bowers on collecting: Consider collecting colonial coins
Consider collecting colonial coins—four C’s in a row. This is an ideal way to introduce you to C4, the Colonial Coin Collectors Club
Bowers on collecting: Consider collecting colonial coins
By Q. David Bowers
Consider collecting colonial coins—four C’s in a row
Bowers on collecting: Consider collecting colonial coins
By Q. David Bowers
Consider collecting colonial coins—four C’s in a row
Bowers on collecting: Consider collecting colonial coins
Consider collecting colonial coins—four C’s in a row. This is an ideal way to introduce you to C4, the Colonial Coin Collectors Club
NGC highlights in Stack’s Bowers’ August coin auctions in Chicago
An extremely rare Morgan dollar is among the prestigious offerings in the Rarities Night sale.
A key date Morgan dollar and an always-popular gold rarity, both certified by NGC, are among the highlights being offered as part of the Stack’s Bowers Rarities Night sale on August 15 in Chicago
Numismatic issues to ponder on Independence Day
1976 Eisenhower dollar (Type II). Photo by AKS
Numismatic issues to ponder on Independence Day
1976 Eisenhower dollar (Type II). Photo by AKS
Numismatic issues to ponder on Independence Day
When it comes to Independence Day, there is no shortage of coin or medallic issues that could potentially be discussed. However, for the sake of timeliness, I will focus my discussion on some of the bicentennial issues that came out in the mid-1970s
Numismatic issues to ponder on Independence Day
When it comes to Independence Day, there is no shortage of coin or medallic issues that could potentially be discussed. However, for the sake of timeliness, I will focus my discussion on some of the bicentennial issues that came out in the mid-1970s
Bowers on collecting: How to spot a potential candidate for coin collecting
By Q. David Bowers
Last week I was at the Whitman Coin Expo in Baltimore, and in this blog I shared some thoughts about the new quarter eagle book I am now compiling
Bowers on collecting: How to spot a potential candidate for coin collecting
By Q. David Bowers
Last week I was at the Whitman Coin Expo in Baltimore, and in this blog I shared some thoughts about the new quarter eagle book I am now compiling
Bowers on collecting: How to spot a potential candidate for coin collecting
Last week I was at the Whitman Coin Expo in Baltimore, and in this blog I shared some thoughts about the new quarter eagle book I am now compiling. This week I return to answering questions sent by readers
Bowers on collecting: Which media delivers the message best?
By Q. David Bowers
The following comes from an article that I wrote for Coin World a few years ago:
“The pen is mightier than the sword,” it has been said
Bowers on collecting: Which media delivers the message best?
By Q. David Bowers
The following comes from an article that I wrote for Coin World a few years ago:
“The pen is mightier than the sword,” it has been said
2020 ‘Red Book’ reports dramatic changes
The newest edition of the coin hobby’s annual Guide Book of United States Coins (popularly known as the “Red Book”) debuted on April 9. The 73rd edition (with a cover date of 2020) features extensively updated pricing and auction data reflecting the current market for collectible coins, which has seen dramatic ups and downs in the past year.
According to senior editor Jeff Garrett, “The 2020 edition reflects many changes in pricing and discoveries in numismatic scholarship made over the past year
Red Book recollections: Jeff Ambio
Coin Update continues its series dedicated to reflecting on the long history of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins, also known as the Red Book. On April 9, the highly anticipated 73rd edition of the Red Book is scheduled to debut
Red Book recollections: Mary Sauvain
Coin Update continues its series dedicated to reflecting on the long history of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins, also known as the Red Book, now in its 72nd edition. “Red Book Recollections” features personal reflections written by Red Book contributors, collectors, and others with the aim of providing different perspectives on the long-lived reference work
Bowers on collecting: Some updates
This week’s
message is a bit on the personal side.
As editor of Mega Red, also known as the Deluxe Edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins, I with other Whitman staff members am putting the finishing touches on the 5th edition
Exploring Colorado’s rare forgotten silver
Lesher Referendum Dollars have been part of the Guide Book of United States Coins—the hobby’s perennially popular “Red Book”—since 1957. That year, in the 11th edition, the “dollars” (so called, but actually privately issued tokens, and not really legal tender) were described thus:
Coined by Joseph Lesher in 1900 and 1901 at Victor, Colorado
Exploring Colorado’s rare forgotten silver
Lesher Referendum Dollars have been part of the Guide Book of United States Coins—the hobby’s perennially popular “Red Book”—since 1957. That year, in the 11th edition, the “dollars” (so called, but actually privately issued tokens, and not really legal tender) were described thus:
Coined by Joseph Lesher in 1900 and 1901 at Victor, Colorado
Red Book recollections: Lawrence S. Goldberg
Coin Update continues its series dedicated to reflecting on the long history of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins, also known as the Red Book, now in its 72nd edition. “Red Book Recollections” features personal reflections written by Red Book contributors, collectors, and others with the aim of providing different perspectives on the long-lived reference work
Red Book recollections: Doug Winter
Coin Update continues its series dedicated to reflecting on the long history of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins, also known as the Red Book, now in its 72nd edition. “Red Book Recollections” features personal reflections written by Red Book contributors, collectors, and others with the aim of providing different perspectives on the long-lived reference work
Red Book recollections: Gene L. Henry
Coin Update continues its series dedicated to reflecting on the long history of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins, also known as the Red Book, now in its 72nd edition. “Red Book Recollections” features personal reflections written by Red Book contributors, collectors, and others with the aim of providing different perspectives on the long-lived reference work
Review of the 2019 Blue Book and Red Book
By Mike Thorne, Ph.D.
When I started collecting coins in the 1950s, the Handbook of United States Coins (the Blue Book) and the Guide Book of United States Coins (the Red Book) were widely used for pricing U
Red Book recollections: Gene L. Henry
Coin Update continues its series dedicated to reflecting on the long history of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins, also known as the Red Book, now in its 72nd edition. “Red Book Recollections” features personal reflections written by Red Book contributors, collectors, and others with the aim of providing different perspectives on the long-lived reference work
Red Book recollections: Ron Guth
Coin Update continues its series dedicated to reflecting on the long history of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins, also known as the Red Book, now in its 72nd edition. “Red Book Recollections” features personal reflections written by Red Book contributors, collectors, and others with the aim of providing different perspectives on the long-lived reference work
U.S. medals and tokens featured in new MEGA RED, 4th Edition
(Pelham, Alabama) — Collectors of exonumia (tokens, medals, and similar coin-like objects) will enjoy more than 50 pages devoted to their interests in the fourth edition of MEGA RED (the Deluxe Edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins). Eight of the book’s twenty-five appendices feature American exonumia ranging from dime-sized tokens to dollar-sized and larger medals
U.S. medals and tokens featured in new MEGA RED, 4th Edition
(Pelham, Alabama) — Collectors of exonumia (tokens, medals, and similar coin-like objects) will enjoy more than 50 pages devoted to their interests in the fourth edition of MEGA RED (the Deluxe Edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins). Eight of the book’s twenty-five appendices feature American exonumia ranging from dime-sized tokens to dollar-sized and larger medals
Ken Bressett — my friend and mentor
In 1974 I had the great fortune of being awarded a scholarship to attend the American Numismatic Association’s Summer Seminar. It was the first time I had flown on an airplane, and to say I was excited would be a huge understatement
New 2019 OFFICIAL BLUE BOOK™ expanded with full-color sections
(Pelham, AL) — The newest edition of the Handbook of United States Coins debuts in late May 2018. Known to collectors as the Blue Book, it is the best-selling annual guide to wholesale prices paid by U
New 2019 OFFICIAL BLUE BOOK™ expanded with full-color sections
(Pelham, AL) — The newest edition of the Handbook of United States Coins debuts in late May 2018. Known to collectors as the Blue Book, it is the best-selling annual guide to wholesale prices paid by U
Red Book recollections: Jeff Garrett
Coin Update continues its series dedicated to reflecting on the long history of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins, also known as the Red Book, now in its 72nd edition. “Red Book Recollections” features personal reflections written by Red Book contributors, collectors, and others with the aim of providing different perspectives on the long-lived reference work
MEGA RED, 4th Edition, showcases United States dimes
(Pelham, Alabama)— The fourth edition of MEGA RED (the Deluxe Edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins) features an expanded coin-by-coin study of U.S
Bowers on collecting: Keeping up with new coin issues
By Q. David Bowers
It was about 15 years ago when, with Whitman Publishing, I set about arranging a display of all of the coins issued during the administration of Ronald Reagan
Comparing and contrasting coin collecting with Pokémon card collecting
After hearing time and time again that my old Pokémon cards from the ’90s might be worth some money these days, I decided to go through my collection. Despite holding several first-edition cards, I was immediately presented with a problem that is wholly absent from the hobby of coin collecting
Bowers on collecting: Among my favorites — Sacagawea “golden dollars” part three
By Q. David Bowers
This week I continue and conclude my discussion of Sacagawea dollars
Red Book recollections: Neil Shafer
Coin Update continues its series dedicated to reflecting on the long history of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins, also known as the Red Book, now in its 72nd edition. “Red Book Recollections” features personal reflections written by Red Book contributors, collectors, and others with the aim of providing different perspectives on the long-lived reference work
The Dentuck Balto blog: Thursday, March 22, 2018
Early Thursday morning I stopped by the United States Mint display (booth 705) to talk coins with the always friendly and helpful sales staff. These guys know their stuff, so when you visit, I encourage you to pick their brains and offer your opinions
“Tried, tested, and true”—Rick Tomaska is the perfect author for a book on Franklin and Kennedy half dollars
I first met Rick Tomaska (virtually, through email and phone conversations) in the early weeks of 2005, not long after I came aboard as publisher at Whitman Publishing. Editorial work was underway on the 59th edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins (the hobby’s popular “Red Book”), and Rick shared his knowledge of Special Mint Sets, cameo designations, and coin pricing
Numismatic ambassadorship: Inspiration to keep serving the hobby
Last week I received (in absentia) a wonderful honor—a Numismatic Ambassador Award.
I remember first reading about these awards when I was a young collector back in the 1980s
Bowers on collecting: Collecting Morgan silver dollars part two
Continuing from my last column, I told about the release at the Philadelphia Mint in November 1962 of quantities of 1903-O dollars, hundreds of thousands of them. At the time the 1903-O cataloged in Mint State for $1,500 in the Guide Book of United States Coins, with no others priced higher
Bowers on collecting: Collecting Morgan silver dollars part two
By Q. David Bowers
Continuing from my last column, I told about the release at the Philadelphia Mint in November 1962 of quantities of 1903-O dollars, hundreds of thousands of them
Collecting silver Morgan dollars
Welcome to my new series of columns. Over a period of time, I will touch on various subjects — from the popular, as here, to the obscure
Bowers on collecting: Collecting silver Morgan dollars
By Q. David Bowers
Welcome to my new series of columns
Collecting silver Morgan dollars
In the Guide Book of United States Coins in 1962, the 1903-O dollar cataloged at $1,500. There was not a single Morgan dollar listed higher
Red Book recollections: Dennis Tucker
Coin Update continues its series dedicated to reflecting on the long history of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins, also known as the Red Book, now in its 70th edition. “Red Book Recollections” features personal reflections written by Red Book contributors, collectors, and others with the aim of providing different perspectives on the long-lived reference work
Red Book recollections: Ginger Rapsus
Coin Update continues its series dedicated to reflecting on the long history of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins, also known as the Red Book, now in its 70th edition. “Red Book Recollections” features personal reflections written by Red Book contributors, collectors, and others with the aim of providing different perspectives on the long-lived reference work
Whitman Publishing releases new Q. David Bowers book on the secrets of smart coin-buying
(Pelham, Alabama) — Whitman Publishing announces the release of the newest book by Q. David Bowers
Whitman Publishing releases new Q. David Bowers book on the secrets of smart coin-buying
(Pelham, Alabama) — Whitman Publishing announces the release of the newest book by Q. David Bowers
Red Book Recollections: David W. Lange
Coin Update continues its series dedicated to reflecting on the long history of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins, also known as the Red Book, now in its 71st edition. “Red Book Recollections” features personal reflections written by Red Book contributors, collectors, and others with the aim of providing different perspectives on the long-lived reference work
Red Book Recollections: David W. Lange
Coin Update continues its series dedicated to reflecting on the long history of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins, also known as the Red Book, now in its 71st edition. “Red Book Recollections” features personal reflections written by Red Book contributors, collectors, and others with the aim of providing different perspectives on the long-lived reference work
2018 Red Book honors David Rittenhouse, first director of the United States Mint, and 225 years of American coinage
(Pelham, Alabama)—The classic hardcover version of the 71st-edition Guide Book of United States Coins (the hobby’s popular “Red Book”) celebrates the 225th anniversary of federal coinage in Philadelphia. On its back cover is a commemorative gold-foil portrait of David Rittenhouse, first director of the United States Mint, who was appointed by President George Washington in 1792
2018 Red Book honors David Rittenhouse, first director of the United States Mint, and 225 years of American coinage
(Pelham, Alabama)—The classic hardcover version of the 71st-edition Guide Book of United States Coins (the hobby’s popular “Red Book”) celebrates the 225th anniversary of federal coinage in Philadelphia. On its back cover is a commemorative gold-foil portrait of David Rittenhouse, first director of the United States Mint, who was appointed by President George Washington in 1792
2018 Red Book honors David Rittenhouse, first director of the United States Mint, and 225 years of American coinage
The following is a cross-post from Mint News Blog’s sister site, Coin Update.
(Pelham, Alabama)—The classic hardcover version of the 71st-edition Guide Book of United States Coins (the hobby’s popular “Red Book”) celebrates the 225th anniversary of federal coinage in Philadelphia
New OFFICIAL RED BOOK Celebrates 225 Years of U.S. Coinage
Best-Selling Annual Guide Prices 7,900 Coins
(Pelham, Alabama)—The 71st edition of the hobby’s Guide Book of United States Coins (popularly known as the “Red Book”) will launch at the Whitman Baltimore Coin and Collectibles Expo on March 30, 2017. It features new and extensively updated content reflecting the current market for collectible coins
New OFFICIAL RED BOOK Celebrates 225 Years of U.S. Coinage
Best-Selling Annual Guide Prices 7,900 Coins
(Pelham, Alabama)—The 71st edition of the hobby’s Guide Book of United States Coins (popularly known as the “Red Book”) will launch at the Whitman Baltimore Coin and Collectibles Expo on March 30, 2017. It features new and extensively updated content reflecting the current market for collectible coins
A Guide Book of United States Coins: Part 3 of PCGS series coinciding with Red Book’s 70th anniversary
Since November of last year, Coin Update has been following an excellent blog series written by Mike Sherman for PCGS.com
A Guide Book of United States Coins: Part 3 of PCGS series coinciding with Red Book’s 70th anniversary
Since November of last year, Coin Update has been following an excellent blog series written by Mike Sherman for PCGS.com
A Guide Book of United States Coins: Part 2 of PCGS Series Coinciding with Red Book’s 70th Anniversary
On November 16, Coin Update posted about an interesting blog series undertaken by Mike Sherman on PCGS.com
A Guide Book of United States Coins: PCGS Posts Blog Series Coinciding with Red Book’s 70th Anniversary
Seventy years ago this month, the first edition of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins (popularly known as the Red Book) went to press. The cover date was 1947, which means 2017 is the official 70th anniversary of the longest-running annual retail coin-price guide