Which Coin Book Should I buy?

Hi Folks,
OK, which book is better to get (and why?):

"Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins"
or
"The Official Red Book"

or, is there an ever better book that I did not see?


I'm not sure which one to get.



Happy Holidays!
Thanks!

 

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Get both if you can. The red book will give you everything about US Coins and the CPG will give you most of the popular varieties.

 

I would hold off on purchasing The Cherrypicker's Guide until they run another printing (hopefully). It is running on the expensive side at the moment.

Every coin collector should own a copy of The Red Book. I have 3: 1986, 2012, 2018.

 

The Red Book is the staple for U.S. coins. I think you really have to have a basic understanding of U.S. coinage before you start trying to find rare or error coins. Too many people post on this forum seeking advice about errors or varieties without the basic info about U.S coinage and the minting process. Start with the basics before trying to identify the oddities.

 

Depends on your experience level. If you're a beginner, always the Red Book first. Get familiar with it, digest it and move on from there if you plan on continuing with the hobby.

 

Red book... Hands down if you don't hsve a 'recent' (5 years or less) copy

 

Buy yourself a belated Christmas gift starter set, something like this.

 

Whitman publishing offers several "series specific" (dimes, quarters, etc) books that offer a good foundation to specific denominations as well. Most of the content may be old hat to experienced collectors but these books offer good background information into several coin series each in a different book. Sometimes I just pick one up and give myself a refresher course! If you collect washington quarters like me search: A guide book of Washington and State quarters by Q David Bowers ... or A guide Book of Lincoln Cents.. A guide book of Franklin and Kennedy Half Dollars... If you have a specific series in mind these are pretty decent reference books..... These include mintages and such to supplement the Red Book... I have several of them... Caution: Coin collecting is addictive... haha...

 

SUPER Helpful info....bless you all, thanks!!!

 

Red book

 

If you can afford $50.00, I would go for the 5th edition (2019-2020) for Whitman's Mega Red. It is for beginners as well as advanced students. You'll be glad you did. It excels on quarters. Color images, many graded options. 1,501 pages!!! Can be found also on EBAY, get the 5th.
Gary in Washington

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself: what is your level of experience in the hobby, and what are your goals?

If there is only one book that every collector should own, it would be the Red Book.

Depending on your experience, we might have other suggestions for your second book - but I'd absolutely not recommend buying the Cherry Picker's Guide until you have more experience.

 

The Mega Red is awesome

 

Shop at Whitman Publishing.

Start with the Red Book-- and then read it!

 

Another Redbook. The Redbook is invaluable for new collectors and those of us that have collected for fifty years. It is forever useful.

 

Save some money, Wizard Coin Supply has them for $28.

 

Both. You can get them for around $10 a piece at budget book outlets online. Can never have too many coin books.

 

Casting another vote for the Red Book. Read it cover to cover for a good general introduction on pretty much everything US (plus colonials and territories). But definitely don't stop there.

 

I buy the Red Book every year to keep up with detail. My question is: I bought the Blue Book a couple of years ago and I didn't see anything significant different.