what ever happend to north american coin and prices book did they stop making the reference guide????
Maybe it was shut down? Krause has been having financial problems for some time now. Barring a Black Swan event, things looks mighty bleak for print publications.
Here is a concise, factual summary of what happened to Krause Publications—the long-standing publisher best known for coin catalogs and hobby magazines: 1. Origins and Growth Founded in 1952 by Chester L. “Chet” Krause in Wisconsin, originally publishing Numismatic News. Grew over decades into a major hobby media publisher with magazines, books, reference catalogs (including Standard Catalog of World Coins), and other products for coin, paper money, and collectibles enthusiasts. 2. Acquisition by F+W In 2002, Krause Publications was acquired by F+W (then F&W Publications). It continued as an imprint under F+W, retaining its focus on hobbyist content. 3. Parent Company Bankruptcy F+W Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2019 because of declining print revenues, high debt, and unsuccessful digital/e-commerce strategies. 4. Sale of Assets and Brand Splits When F+W’s assets were sold in 2019, the Krause business did not remain intact as a single independent company: Penguin Random House acquired F+W’s book publishing assets and the Krause brand, which covers many of the reference books. Magazines and community publications previously under Krause (e.g., Numismatic News, World Coin News, Coins magazine) were acquired by Active Interest Media and other purchasers. 5. Current Status Krause Publications now exists mainly as a Penguin Random House imprint focused on hobby book publishing. Many magazines and digital services originally under Krause are operated by other companies (e.g., Active Interest Media). Some products and periodic catalogs (particularly comprehensive coin price guides) have not continued on the same annual schedule as before, due in part to the transitions after the bankruptcy and asset sale. Summary Krause Publications did not “go out of business” in the sense of disappearing entirely. Instead, it was acquired by F+W in 2002, and when F+W collapsed in 2019, its assets—including Krause’s book and magazine operations—were sold to different buyers. The Krause brand survives under Penguin Random House for book publishing, but the original integrated company structure no longer exists as it once did.
Here’s what has happened (and not happened) with North American Coins & Prices — the comprehensive coin-price guide covering United States, Canadian, and Mexican coins: 1. The Book Was Published by Krause Publications The North American Coins & Prices: A Guide to U.S., Canadian and Mexican Coins series was produced for decades by Krause Publications with editions as late as 2020. It contained tens of thousands of listings and grade-based pricing for coins of all three countries. 2. Krause Publications’ Numismatic Output Has Declined Krause Publications — the long-time publisher of this and many other coin reference books — was part of F+W Media, which declared bankruptcy in 2019. After that: Penguin Random House acquired Krause’s book publishing assets, but many of the traditional numismatic catalogs did not continue on their previous annual schedule. As a result, North American Coins & Prices does not appear to have had a regularly updated edition published since 2020. Collector discussions and listings online show that people look for 2019 and 2020 editions, but later editions are essentially absent. 3. No New Official Updates Since 2020 Unlike price guides such as Whitman’s Red Book (A Guide Book of United States Coins), which continues to be published annually, North American Coins & Prices has not had an official new edition after 2020. The likely reasons include: Editorial and publishing disruption after the bankruptcy and restructuring of Krause’s parent company F+W Media. Unclear succession or takeover of the project; unlike some other Krause titles, this comprehensive North American guide was not clearly taken up by another publisher. Collectors frequently reference the 2020 edition as the newest, and there is no visible record of a continuing annual series past that point. 4. Alternative Resources Have Filled the Gap Because North American Coins & Prices is not being actively updated: Many collectors rely on Whitman’s specialized guides (e.g., U.S. Red Book for American coins) or separate Canadian and Mexican references. Digital and dealer pricing services (e.g., Greysheet, PCGS/NGC online guides, and sold-listing aggregators) provide more up-to-date values. Community forums and collector sites often share pricing trends. Summary North American Coins & Prices was a respected single-volume reference published by Krause. After the 2020 edition, no regular new editions have been released, likely due to Krause’s corporate upheaval in 2019 and the lack of a clear publishing successor. Collectors looking for current pricing now use other annual guides and online pricing tools.
I want to know if there will ever be another "Standard Catalogue of World Coins"? There was nothing like that book, and nothing has really replaced it. The last editions were published 2018-2019.
