Traditional entry-level reference for the new coin collector. The 1966
Redbook was the welcome mat introducing me to a lifetime of numismatics.
Many of us "old-timers" have similar stories to tell, I'm sure. The
backbone of the Redbook is estimated value listings of American coins
across an array of conditions. Coinage from colonial times to the
present is covered, accompanied by a plethora of color photos. The Redbook is fine as a stimulant for budding
hobbyists, but is of more limited value to the advanced collector. As
an annual publication, it certainly cannot list the latest coin value
trends. After all these years, the
Redbook remains one of Amazon's top selling coin books, and is still
modestly priced at under $12.
"THE OFFICIAL RED BOOK® A Guide Book of United
States Coins enters its 62nd year with no sign of slowing down! Americans
nationwide look to this one-volume library to tell them how rare their coins
are and how much they re worth. Collectors rely on it for its full-color
photographs and detailed technical data. The Red Book covers the history and
values of colonial and early American coins, half cents through silver
dollars and gold, commemoratives, Proof and Mint sets, errors, Civil War
tokens, territorial gold, state quarters, Presidential dollars, and other
U.S. coins, with practical essays on grading, investing, auctions, and more.
Pricing for more than 6,000 individual coins More than 700 full color
photographs Updated values, mintages, and auction records Expanded coverage
of commemoratives, sets, and other coins New state quarters and Presidential
dollars. 429 pages."
The "Redbook", as this annual publication is affectionately termed, is a staple of numismatic
literature. Just as you can count on the sun rising in the East
tomorrow, the Redbook is similarly dependable. For decades, it has lured many collectors
deeper into the coin
hobby. It was the 1966 Redbook that got me hooked. I still own
the book today, and don't shy away from using it now and then.
The full spectrum of United States coins
is presented. The retail values are estimated in a variety of
conditions. Some observers claim Redbook values are somewhat
inaccurate.
My experience confirms this (they seem a little high for often than not).
But if the purpose of the book is to deliver ball park figures, and I
believe it is, then that objective is solidly met.
Obviously, since the Redbook is published only
once a year, the coin values presented are at great risk of being outdated
by the time you see them.
This is detrimental in a fast-paced market. Also, be aware
that the Redbook "Year" is a misnomer. Distribution for the 2009
edition began in mid-2008, meaning the values were compiled during the
first half of 2004. So really, the 2009 Redbook is a reflection of
market conditions in early 2008.
Hundreds of photos are inserted to depict
the coins listed. This is one of the Redbook's strongest content features.
You can see a picture of just about any kind of American coin.
You'll learn more about the quality of those pictures in the SPR Rating.
The topic of coin grading is superficially
introduced. For a beginner, its good to start out a little slow.
In addition to regularly minted US issues,
colonials, and private, state, and territorial coins are touched upon.
In many instances, the Redbook doesn't list
values for high quality coins (e.g. MS-65 or PR-65). This is a
serious setback for anyone in the market for these types of coins.
But then again, these upper end coin collectors really aren't the intended
audience for the Redbook.
Don't take the Redbook to coin shows or
anywhere else coins are being sold. A Redbook in hand is a give-away
clue that you're a neophyte, and an unscrupulous coin seller may use this
knowledge to short-change you. Instead, carry with you a copy
of
Coin World,Numismatic News, or the
Coin Dealer Newsletter.
The Redbook has really grown in thickness
over the years. The 1966 Redbook has 255 pages, compared to 429 in
the 2008 edition. Modern commemoratives, bullion coins,
advertisements, and 40 more years of coin listings have ballooned the
Redbook.
On one hand, the Redbook is blessed with hundreds of color coin photos
(not so long ago, they were all black and white). On the other hand,
the color is "off", and distorts how the coins actually appear. The
publisher had a good idea switching over to color, but still has work to
do.
Overall, the Redbook is packaged in a
reasonably attractive format, but certainly doesn't have a "gotcha"
appearance. A
spiral-bound version of the Redbook is available these days.
This is handy for readers who prefer to leave the book open, hands free,
at a certain page (use those hands for searching coin rolls
with magnifying lens in hand!).
No Table of Contents. This makes it difficult for readers not
familiar with the Redbook to appreciate the range of content inside.
The Index is fairly good, though. If a book doesn't have both a
strong Table of Contents and Index, the possibility of a Five-Star
SPR Rating goes out the window. A reference book ought to
effortlessly convey to the reader what is being referenced inside, and how
to find it.
As I compared my 1966 Redbook to the 2005 edition, I observed that,
amazingly, a large amount of the material hasn't changed a bit. Even
the typeface is the same. True enough, much of what appeared in the
Redbook 40 years ago (e.g. the section "The Beginning of United States
Coinage") remains adequate today. Perhaps the publisher doesn't want
to break from tradition, but I believe at least a partial facelift would
be helpful. A few images in the history section would be good for
starters. The monotonous look makes it too easy to skip over.
Above average publication, targeted for less experienced collectors seeking to
learn the basics of coin collecting and estimated values of most United
States coins. Printed only once a year, so don't count on catching the
latest coin value trends with this one. Chocked full of photos.
The book is very similar to other annuals on the market, but at least
Coin Digest does have a better section on U.S. minting varieties and
errors than most of its competitors. Priced at a little under
$12 at Amazon, this spiral-bound product makes a thoughtful gift to a
fledgling numismatist.
"Provides full-color coverage of all
circulating and non-circulating coins, from early American Token issues to
commemorative coins and issues of Hawaii and the Philippines. Perfect
whether you're a beginner or a seasoned collector or dealer, this handy
reference contains the most updated pricing - with values for up to 11
grades of preservation. Inside, you also will discover 1,600 impressive
auction house-quality photos, and listings for mint sets and proof sets, as
well as coins from the pioneer gold era, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Philippines.
288 pages"
The bulk of the book is dedicated to listing estimated values of U.S.
coins, 1793 to present. The value database comes from Krause
Publications, the publisher of the weekly
Numismatic News.
Coin Digest is a once a year snapshot of these figures. Most
of the evidence I've seen indicates the Numismatic News coin values are
closely in line with market realities. Remember, as with all annual
coin value guides, the price information is at risk of being outdated.
This is of limited value to active coin buyers.
Touches upon the basics of grading,
supported by photos, commensurate with the level at which the remainder of
the book is written.
There is a good little summary on the coin
manufacturing process. The authors avoid technical manufacturing
lingo, but a few more illustrations here would certainly have been helpful
to demonstrate the processes involved in the manufacture of coins.
Excellent description of U.S. minting
varieties and errors. The publisher trumpets this attribute, and
justly so. If you're the type of collector fascinated by this
particular numismatic niche, this section may be what tips the scales in
favor of purchasing Coin Digest.
In addition to regular U.S. coins, the
authors insert chapters on mint sets, bullion coins, commemoratives,
colonial coins, and territorial gold. Profusely illustrated
throughout.
There is a reasonably good section on U.S.
coin history.
At various places throughout the text, lengthy dissertations ramble on too
tediously. An improved presentation, somehow interspersing the good
information into more manageable bites, would be an improvement.
The coin photos, and there are lots of them,
are OK, but are no threat to push Coin Digest into the Four-Star SPR
range.
This is a spiral-bound book. I find spiral-bound books more
practical to use, but when resting on a bookshelf, they don't look so
cool. This may sound silly, but lots of us want not only an
informative personal numismatic library, we want it to look impressive.
Visitors who read the fancy-sounding titles are fooled into thinking we're
more intelligent than what we really are :o)
