Whitman Guide Book of US Commemorative Coins

Among other things, I collect early US commemorative coins. I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Whitman's next installment of their "Official Red Book Guide Book" series - A Guide Book of United States Commemorative Coins. Everything I have seen said the book would be released in March.

This afternoon I dropped by the ANA headquarters and was surprised to find this new book on the shelf. I bought the first copy they sold.

So far I have only flipped through the book and read about one coin. Based on my very limited review it is exactly what I expected. It is written in somewhat the same manner as the earlier books in this series. While this book does not report news events and prices of common items during the time of each coin's release (like the other books) it does give a brief overview of each coin including population reports and values.

A brief description is given for the event being commemorated. The Key To Collecting paragraph outlines things to look for or avoid with each coin.The coin photos are lifesize with detailed photos of some coins.

This book, as its name states, is a guide book. It cannot replace a detailed reference book such as The Encyclopedia of United States Silver & Gold Commemorative Coins by Breen & Swiatek but it should be great for getting a basic overview of US commemorative coins. And it is small enough that it can be easily carried to a coin show.

From what I have seen so far I would give this book a thumbs up and I would recommend it to anyone interested in US commemorative coins.

By the way, this book includes modern commemoratives through 2007 (Jamestown and Little Rock).

 

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Here is a pic of the book.

 

I really like this series of books. I just bought the one on Lincoln Cents and read it cover to cover. The "Official Red Book Guide Book" series is concise, well written and just a handy refereance.

 

I don't believe that this book is available yet. Is it?

 

either it IS, or he is lieing

 

I bought a copy off the shelf at the ANA headquarters yesterday. I was surprised to find it already for sale because everything I have read said this book would be released in March. (Didn't I already say all this in my original post??)

When I plucked the book from the shelf and showed it to Kaye (the receptionist) saying that I was surprised they were already selling it she said nobody told her the book had been added to the shelf. She had already fielded a handful of calls asking about the book and she told them the book was not yet available. Ooops!

There was one copy left on the shelf after I got mine. Want me to buy it for you?

 

Hello everyone,

I have been thinking about buy the "Official Red Book Guide Book" series, as i do have a growing collecting of books on coins. However, and this maybe just me, I haven't because I want hard cover books. Are these available in hard cover? Also this is the first that i have read a review on them. Until now I didn't hold alot of merit in them, and figured Whitman was putting out basic information while coin collecting is hot. Sounds weird but I like hard cover over soft cover, even though it is the same information.

Regards,
S

 

I'm not sure what you are saying here..The Red Book or as it is also known as the official guide to U.S. Coins, does come in hard cover.

 

Ed,

We are talking about Whitman's "Official Guide" series here, not the Red Book.

 

HOBO, read the post above mine. He say's Red Book.

 

Sorry for the confusion. I was saying the "Whitman's Official Guide Series" does not come in hard cover, or does it? Sorry I had also mentioned I collect the Redbook (Offical Guide to U.S. Coins) in hard cover.

Let me know if that clears it up. Also let me know if the Whitman's Offical Guide Series is in Hard Cover.

Regards,
S

 

I'm on Whitmans Mailing list and recently got a message for the sales of many new books of theirs on coins. Although they many times state a date when they are to be released, I've seen such books appearing at coin shows what seams like prior to the release dates. I am not sure if legal or if some have propriatary sources that are approved or not. It does happen. Sort of like the movies I usually buy a few weeks prior to thier release. I collect the hard cover version of the Red Book. I usually get that one free from a dealer I do a lot of buisness with. I probably paid for it many times over though. At the next coin shows I'll probably get the ones you mentioned here. Sounds like a decent one. Just general information.

 

coinman1974 Thanks for clearing that up.

 

I don't think that the non-original Guide Books are in hard cover.
And, yes, I agree, I would prefer them that way (hard cover).

Otherwise, I would have gotten every one of them.

 

Dealers have the Commemorative book now.

 

Well, it's about time!!