Hi all, Just picked up my new Pro Edition Red Book and thought I'd pass write a review for you fine folks! Initial Impressions: When i first opened the package that held my new reference book i was shocked at just how massive the book was the! Think about the size of a heritage auction catalog just not as thick. The cover looks great and the pages are color coated. Initial Impression grade: A Page design: The pages in the book are bright and colorful, they contain more information then the standard Red Book but at a glance the price tables look the same however they have much more information included in them. Now included in the coin by coin break down is # certified, Average grade, % in Mint State and Auction record. The page design is well done and very easy to read Page design grade: A Content: The Pro edition prefaces each denomination with a brief history, advice for the collector/investor and recommended reading, this proves very helpful and provides interesting tidbits. Each series has a brief history and stats very similar the the regular Red Book. The proof issues are separate from the regular issue section making it much easier to read and comprehend. as stated before the Pro edition has the same info in the price table with some extras, i will use the 1795 Dollar as an example of what the tables contents include. Mintage: 1,758 AVG: 30.8 %MS 15 AU-55: $375,000 Auction Record $1,150,000 MS-64 Jun-05 The extra info is helpful but the starting grade in the table for a 1795 dollar in AU-55, now the average collector can not even dream of an AU-55 1795 dollar making the price tables a bit impractical as the tables carry out that way through the entire book. Also the colonial, Philippines, error and territorial pages have been omitted from the pro edition leaving only regular issue U.S. coins and commemorative coins. Also the commem. section does not include any pictures and only covers classic commems. However some of the lacking content is made up for with sections on counterfeiting and a nice proof picture gallery. The content leaves a little bit to be desired but at the same time enhances the readers knowledge on never before covered topics. Content Grade: B+ Ease of use: The pro edition is very easy to navigate with it's color coated pages and great index this book is truly simple to use. Ease of use grade: A Overall: The Pro edition is a great reference but it's not for everyone. if you want quick auction records and how many of a certain coin is certified and prices for coins in very high MS grades this book is for you, it's geared more towards dealers and industry professionals. Overall Grade: A-
Thanks for the review. Very nicely written. I've been wondering what was different about the Pro edition and now I know. :thumb:
Grade B-, high C+, and here's why, 1. When I got mine a couple of months ago I had not read or understood that some sections from the original would be left out, (coins before 1793 for instance). That left me a little cold about it but many things about the book were very nice. I know it would be a extra big book (it's big to begin with), with everthing the original had in but it leaves me needing 2 Red Books to have a general overview for new people and at shows for mintages etc. 2. The graded auction prices are only from NGC. Well that's okay but it could have been at least the big three or at least PCGS and NGC or some average of the three, (or two). I can't see why an avaerage would not have worked (for this bokk's purposes) just as well. 3. No lower grades for many series. This is a big problem as most coin are, less than mint state. 4. The book does indeed show some die varieties but who choose these and why? Many that should be included are left out, example why show a minor 1997-P doubled ear Lincoln and leave out the 1995-D DDO-003??? Why show a close up of 1958-P DDO-001 that few if any are ever going to see and not a close up of the 1955 DDO that many will see and own. Why show pitiful photos of the obverse of a 22-D and No "D" without the strong rev. Then that poor looking 1934-P DDO, no new person is even going to see that faint image below the date. It would have been easy enough to set aside a full page or two for the die varieties of each series with larger photos and not use the tops of headings or middle of pages for such. That's why I lean towards a C+ grade because this first edition begs for a more complete version down the road.
Ben: Hey, it was a first edition, so, why not give them a chance. I understand that lot more Barber varieties will be added. As for only NGC, where did you hear/read that?
If you are a serious coin collector you really need to own both the Standard and Professional editions. They make a nice set.
Your right that is was a "first edition" but others also need to know that it leaves out much of the standard edition's info. - it just does, know getting around that. I will of course "give them a chance" but for the reasons I cited before it could, and I believe should have, been put together a little better. The author's and publisher's put out the book - they should be happy to hear or recieve a C+ so they can learn how to make thier book better. The NGC information regarding where the cerified population data comes from is page 13 middle of the page.
I collect the standard, hard cover versions of the Red Book. Have all of them from the first to present. Almost none have ever been opened. All on a shelf in a bookcase. I do use a copy of the ringed versions for reference. So for me any of the other numerous varieties of the Red Book would also just sit on a shelf. Presently have to many coin books now. Might be really a great book, but I'd rather spend the money on a coin.
Hey, Carl: I didn't know that you were a closet collector! you have the 1947? Which printing? :thumb:
