BOOK REVIEW: GUIDE BOOK OF U.S. COINS, PROFESSIONAL EDITION, 2ND EDITION

The Official Red Book, Guide Book of United States Coins, Professional Edition, Second Edition, Author R. S. Yeoman, Senior Editor Kenneth Bressett, Valuation Editor, Jeff Garrett and Research Editor Q. David Bowers, 2011, Whitman Publishing Co., Inc, Reviewed by: John and Nancy Wilson

The Second Edition, A Guide Book of United States Coins, Professional Edition book has all the detailed information which would be helpful to professional coin dealers, intermediate and advanced collectors, researchers, auctioneers, libraries and investors. The world's best selling and most popular coin book is a Guide Book of United States Coins. It is published by Whitman on an annual basis, and they report that over 22 million copies of that book are in print. This professional edition allows you to have detailed information not available in the regular edition of the Red Book. The Professional Edition has 384 pages, is Spiralbound 8 1/2 x 11 inches and is done in full color.

Like the First Edition, this Second Edition covers all U. S. federal coin series from the 1/2 cent piece to the gold double eagles. U. S. commemoratives, along with mint and proof sets. Quoting Whitman in regards to this reference:

All of these added features and other resources provides a wealth of information on every coin type ever made by the U.S. Mint.

The editors mention that this isn't a replacement for the annual Guide Book of U. S. Coins (Red book). It doesn't cover: grading; values for lower graded coins; history of coins; coins from treasures and hoards; colonial & early American coins and tokens; private & territorial gold; hard times & civil war tokens; confederate, Hawaiian, Puerto Rican & Philippine coins; Alaskan tokens; misstrikes & errors; numismatic books and a few other topics.

The three editors, Mr. Bressett, Garrett and Bowers have come together once again to put together a reference that is easy to read and will help you obtain important information in a very fast manner. By having this reference at your fingertips, you will be able to intelligently purchase coins with detailed knowledge on the rarity and availability of coins by condition. Many times the reason for the rarity of coins in a certain condition is also given. Die varieties with close-up photographs and values are given. Sharpness and striking details by date are described.

For every date and mintmark of each denomination, the certified population is given in detail. We are particularly impressed that all this information is available in one place to give a heads-up to anyone who wants accurate, concise and valuable information on any and all U. S. coins which includes bullion. After reviewing this reference, we think that Whitman Publishing has another "best seller" and "must have" reference that will be raved about from one coast to the other.

The 2nd Edition, Guide Book of United States Coins, Professional Edition, retails for $29.95 and is available from book stores, hobby dealers or the publisher at: Whitman Publishing, LLC, 3103 Clairmont Road, Suite B, Atlanta, GA 30329, (800) 546-2995 or visit their web page at: www.whitmanbooks.com

Wayne Homren, Editor

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web