NEW BOOK: THE 2013 GUIDE BOOK OF UNITED STATES COINS

The new 2013 (66th) edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins (known to collectors as the "Red Book") is 16 pages longer than the 2012 edition. At 448 pages, it includes many new features, plus more than 300 additional or updated color photographs. The new edition, debuting in four different formats March 22 at the Whitman Baltimore Coin & Collectibles Expo, is available for preorder online (including at Whitman.com) and will be in bookstores and hobby shops nationwide April 10.

The 2013 edition has 1,974 full-color images. It prices 7,045 entries in up to 9 grades each, with more than 32,000 total valuations. More pages have been added to the sections on pre-federal coinage, silver and related dollars, commemoratives, and Proof and Mint sets.

"Readers will scarcely recognize the 2013 Red Book when they see its extensive upgrades and additions," said longtime senior editor Kenneth Bressett. "It is not 'your father's old pricing catalog.' Changes have been made throughout to keep it up to date with the outpouring of new and innovative issues from the United States Mint. That alone is no small consideration for it includes an assortment of more than $23,000 worth of new Mint products. And, of course, the same amount of attention is given to the older coins that extend back to 1616."

Collectors will benefit from auction records provided for significant recent sales. "More than 160 auction results are included within the chart listings," said Valuations Editor Jeff Garrett. "These combine with the retail valuations to paint an accurate picture of the high-end rare-coin market. In addition, the appendix on the Top 250 Auction Prices for U.S. Coins has been fully updated. Since the last edition, three more coins have broken the $1 million mark, for a total of 45."

Research Editor Q. David Bowers, commenting on the book's continuing popularity (more than 22 million copies have been sold since 1946), noted that "Even in the Internet age, the Red Book remains solidly the collector's best and first choice for instant information."

Due to popular demand and strong interest in the bullion markets, a special appendix on the Mint's American Arts gold bullion medals (1980-1984) has been added.

Also new is an illustrated essay on "Coin Collecting Yesterday and Today," describing the coin market and hobby going back to the mid-1940s, when the Red Book debuted.

Commentary on today's rare-coin market has been expanded in the introduction, with sections on third-party grading and authentication.

Mintage figures for all circulating coins and commemoratives have been updated as currently as possible with official data from the U.S. Mint.

"Two exciting new features have been added to the pre-federal, or colonial, coin section," said Kenneth Bressett. "One is an expanded and carefully organized coverage of the copper coins of New Jersey, and the other is a more extensive listing of the enigmatic pieces commonly known as Machin's Mills coins." Appendix B, "Collectible Red and Blue Books," has also been expanded with more details. Coverage of recent collectible Red Books includes the 2012 American Numismatic Association special edition, currently valued at $100 in New condition.

In perhaps a good measure of the health of the hobby, the listings in the Red Book's numismatic bibliography include more than 20 standard references published in the past five years.

About the Guide Book of United States Coins

A Guide Book of United States Coins is the world's most popular annual retail price guide for U.S. coins, tokens, and other numismatic items. More than 22 million copies have been purchased since 1946, making it one of the best-selling nonfiction titles in the history of U.S. publishing.

For the 66th edition, more than 140 professional coin dealers, scholars, and other numismatic experts contributed their knowledge under the direction of Editor Kenneth Bressett, Valuations Editor Jeff Garrett, and Research Editor Q. David Bowers.

The 66th edition of the Red Book is available in April 2012, online and at bookstores and hobby shops nationwide. In addition to offering a Large Print Edition and several formats of the regular edition, Whitman Publishing is also taking pre-orders for the leather-bound Limited Edition (1,000 copies autographed by Bressett). For more information and to order, the Whitman web site is www.Whitman.com. The publisher is offering free shipping on every order placed online that includes a 66th-edition Red Book, through April 17.

448 pages
Full color
By R.S. Yeoman; senior editor Kenneth Bressett; research editor Q. David Bowers; valuations editor Jeff Garrett
$14.95 spiralbound
$16.95 hardcover
$19.95 spiralbound hardcover
$29.95 Large Print Edition
$69.95 leather-bound Limited Edition (1,000 copies)

Wayne Homren, Editor

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web