The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins 2009 (Guide Book of United States Coins (Spiral)) (Guide Book of United States Coins (Spiral))

This book was just what I was looking for. I have a coin collection that I want to sell and needed to find out the current market value. Easy to read, nice spiral binding.

This price guide covers a lot of coins that aren't covered in coin price magazines. It provides more detail about each coin series in general. It is also a numismatic reference with a wealth of background knowledge and details on many die varieties. Here is some of what you'll find inside:

- High-quality color photos of all coins
- Background info on each coin series
- Prices by grade (although prices aren't shown for the scarcer grades)
- Mintage figures
- Metal composition for each coin variety
- Closeup photos of many major die varieties, especially bust halves

Included are photos, background data, and prices for many coins you won't likely find in other price guides, including:

- Colonial issues
- Post-colonial issues
- Pattern coins
- Commemoratives
- Proof and mint sets
- Bullion coins
- Private and territorial gold
- Private tokens (including Civil War and Hard Times tokens)
- Confederate coins
- Hawaiian coins and tokens
- Philippine issues
- Alaskan tokens
- Mis-strikes and error coins

In addition to the coin listings, there is a wealth of information in the front of the book, including:

- Description of coin grades (no grading photos, though)
- Introduction to, and history of United States Coins
- Checking coins for authenticity
- Famous coin hoards
- Sunken coin treasures

Some of the negatives are as follows:

- Prices for uncommon but certainly not rare coin grades are not included (example: AU and mint state draped bust large cents)
- Intermediate coin grades (example; AU-58, MS-66) are not shown (Coin Values magazine shows these, but Coin Prices magazine does not)
- The coverage of Hard Times tokens, a popular series, is very inadequate

My husband has bought this book for years. He particularly likes the ring binder. Your service was excellent.

#1 Best Selling Price Guide is a MUST:

The official RED BOOK a guide book to United States Coins R.S.Yeoman ed. Kenneth Bressett, 61th edition, Whitman, 2009.

Best in organization, easy of use, pictures, illustrations, & data, also the most popular. Whitman's RED BOOK is an essential guide, indispensable requisite and required handbook with up-to-date numismatic information.

Best of the best in the area of numismatics have contributed to this volume, the most notable, respected, knowledgeable and distinguished numismatist were consulted for the 61th edition.

165 plus prominent coin collectors auctioneers, and museums contributed directly to the 2009 Red Book Guide, Bressett, Jeff Garrett, Tom Hallenbeck, Steve Contursi, Ira & Larry Goldberg, Bill Fivaz, David Akers, Silvano DiGenova, the Smithsonian Institution, Heritage Galleries, the ANA money museum, Stack's Rare Coins, Superior Galleries, the United States Mint, and several dozens more.

The guide has some problems, notable some errors occurred and as I mentioned earlier "All" prices guides without exception are outdated by the time is printed, mainly due to market conditions, collector interest, commodities volatility, speculators, currency value, supply & demand, among others.

Numismatics is a hobby as any other do not expect a handsome return on your investment, at least not a monetary one. Have fun. Good luck.

I was having a hard time getting this book till I came here. my husband gets the new one every year will come here next year. thanks so much. !!!!