how does the red book know how many of a certain coin is still out there???? Does the mint release melting numbers or something?
The mint doesn't release much of anything in regard to information. What is known was researched by numismatist going through the archives and then published, usually in a specialty book.
I thought you didn't have a Red Book... Anyways, R. S. Yeoman's Red Book usually publishes mintage numbers three years after the mintage numbers are known. For instance, the 2005 Red Book has mintage numbers up to 2002 for Lincolns. You need to get one. It will answer all of your basic questions and give you a general idea what your coins are worth. It is available in any book store. It looks like this: Knowledge is good. Learn it and live it.
