New 2019 OFFICIAL BLUE BOOK™ expanded with full-color sections

(Pelham, AL) — The newest edition of the Handbook of United States Coins debuts in late May 2018. Known to collectors as the Blue Book, it is the best-selling annual guide to wholesale prices paid by U.S. coin dealers. The 304-page 76th edition, with a 2019 cover date, has been fully updated and expanded with a 16-page color section. It can be ordered online in two formats—hardcover at $14.95 and softcover at $12.95—and will also be available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide.

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The Blue Book was introduced in 1942 as a resource for coin collectors to learn how much dealers were paying, on average, for U.S. coins. Whitman Publishing’s R.S. Yeoman, who was in charge of promoting the company’s line of coin boards and folders in the 1930s. He realized that coin collectors needed other resources and supplies for their hobby, and he began gathering mintage data and market values. Yeoman’s coin-by-coin, grade-by-grade research grew into the Blue Book. It has been published every year since 1942 (except for 1944 and 1950), with millions of copies purchased by collectors and dealers.

Today’s Blue Book has more than 25,000 wholesale valuations in up to nine grades per coin type. It covers U.S. coins from copper half cents through gold double eagles, plus commemoratives; Proof and Mint sets; silver, gold, and platinum bullion coins; private and territorial gold pieces; private tokens; and 1903–1945 Philippine coins struck under U.S. sovereignty.

This year longtime editor Kenneth Bressett is retiring to the position of Editor Emeritus, with Valuations Editor Jeff Garrett taking the role of Senior Editor and Q. David Bowers continuing as the Blue Book’s Research Editor.

The new 16-page section in full color features an illustrated tribute to Bressett; a section on collecting U.S. Mint gold and silver medals, including American Arts gold medallions; and a photo-illustrated guide to grading Lincoln cents, Buffalo nickels, Mercury dimes, Barber and Liberty Seated silver coins, Standing Liberty quarters, Liberty Walking half dollars, and Morgan dollars. With enlarged grade-by-grade images of these popular coin types, this section is designed to educate new coin collectors, as well as non-collectors who have inherited or otherwise acquired old coins.

“We’ve heard from many coin dealers who wanted a feature like this,” said Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker. “Non-collectors who call coin shops often have no knowledge of grading, and they typically overestimate the condition of their coins. Grading is challenging to explain over the phone. The 2019 Blue Book guides the reader visually, with compare-and-contrast photos of Good, Very Fine, and Mint State examples for more than a half dozen of the most commonly seen old coins.”

The “Quarter Dollars,” “Commemoratives,” “Proof and Mint Sets,” and “Platinum and Palladium Bullion” sections have all been expanded.

In addition to these new and expanded features, the 76th-edition Blue Book includes a helpful glossary of coin-collecting jargon and a bibliography of books recommended for further hobby education.

The cover of the softbound 76th edition shows three beautiful and historic American coins: a 1918 Illinois Centennial commemorative half dollar (with a clean-shaven portrait of Abraham Lincoln based on the statue by Andrew O’Connor in Springfield, Illinois); the reverse of the classic Morgan silver dollar; and the new 2018 “Preamble to the Constitution” American Platinum Eagle, with the design of “Life.”

Beth Deisher, author of Cash In Your Coins: Selling the Rare Coins You’ve Inherited, has said, “The Blue Book is the only price guide available to the public that brings reality to selling rare and collectible coins. Based on prices dealers are likely to offer, it provides you the necessary tools to accurately identify your coins and value your collection.”

About the Handbook of United States Coins

The Handbook of United States Coins is the world’s most popular annual wholesale (“buy price”) guide for U.S. coins, tokens, and other numismatic items. Millions of copies have been purchased since 1942, making it one of the best-selling titles in the history of numismatic publishing, second only to the annual Guide Book of United States Coins (the retail-pricing “Red Book”).

For the 76th edition, more than 140 professional coin dealers, scholars, and other numismatic experts contributed their knowledge under the direction of Senior Editor Jeff Garrett, Research Editor Q. David Bowers, and Editor Emeritus Kenneth Bressett.

The 76th edition of the Blue Book is available online and at bookstores and hobby shops nationwide.

About Whitman Publishing

Whitman Publishing is the world’s leading producer of numismatic reference books, supplies, and products to display and store coins and paper money. The company’s high-quality books educate readers in the rich, colorful history of American and world coinage and currency, and teach how to build a great collection. Archival-quality Whitman folders, albums, cases, and other holders keep collectibles safe and allow them to be shown off to friends and family.

Whitman Publishing is the Official Supplier of the American Numismatic Association. As a benefit of membership in the ANA, members can borrow the Blue Book (and other Whitman books) for free from the Association’s Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library, and also receive 10% off all Whitman purchases. Details are at the website of the ANA.

Handbook of United States Coins, 76th edition

304 pages

By R.S. Yeoman; edited by Jeff Garrett, Q. David Bowers, and Kenneth Bressett

$14.95 hardcover (ISBN 0794846505)

$12.95 softcover (ISBN 0794846491)

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BEFORE YOU COMMENT:

  1. Mint News Blog is not a retail website. If you wish to buy a coin or banknote, you should contact a reputable dealer. One of our sponsors (see ads at left and top of page) may also have what you’re looking for, so be sure to check out their websites.
  2. Per policy, we do not advise on the value, authenticity, or rarity of readers’ coins and banknotes. For this kind of assistance, you should contact a reputable dealer, preferably one who’s certified by the American Numismatic Association and/or the Professional Numismatists Guild.
  3. Vulgar and/or abusive comments will not be tolerated. Nor will trolls.
  4. Allegations of fraudulent or criminal activity against a named party, when said activity has not been proven in a court of law, will be removed.

Comments

  1. VA Bob says

    The Blue Book… aka the cold, hard slap of reality with a true valuation, after that HSN or even current US Mint purchase. Thankfully there is eBay to unload to the uniformed.

  2. MarkInFlorida says

    The last few posts have 2, 3, 6, 7 comments. Sad, we used to have hundreds of comments. But now posts are just press releases and book ads. Very little “mint News.” Is there another coin blog that everyone has gone to, or have they just dropped out of the hobby?

  3. Jerry Diekmann says

    I remember Michael, and then Diana, and they informative articles, but they are unfortunately gone from the scene. I’m afraid the coin hobby, at lest for collectors of modest means, is moribund. The weekly Coin World and the monthly Coinage are just mostly about coins only the fabulously wealthy could ever afford. I find the news of little interest for me – I couldn’t care less about the 1804 dollar, the 1913 Liberty nickel, or the 1933 double eagle and the astronomical,prices they generate as millionaires fight over how much they are willing to pay. I can’t even relate to why someone would ever want to spend that kind of money on something of so little utility. Many of these coins have shady stories about how they came to be – at least, they weren’t regular Mint issues. Most people, older and younger, can’t really afford to buy all the coins that are manufactured nowadays, and many of them or ill-conceived and marketed gimmicks that will never be worth what you pay for them today, unless PMs were to take off in price, which doesn’t seem likely.

    I have to agree with VA Bob, the Blue Book is a much better indicator of what your coins are actually worth. The Red Book gives you an idea of what the coins might cost if you wanted to buy them, but once you have acquired them, the Blue Book is the better book for telling you how much your coins may actually be worth. Even then, most dealers would probably not buy your coins at the Blue Book prices.

  4. Sturgeon says

    Does anyone know how many (1.5in) Code Talkers Bronze Medals there are ?

  5. Anthony says

    The CCAC is currently accepting applications for a member representing the interests of the general public to review future coin and medal designs.

    Details & qualifications can be found on CoinNews.net

  6. Barry says

    @ Mark- I don’t know the answer to your question but, maybe posters could make a few comments about their LCS. Mine for example sells a lot of Morgan dollars and 90 % pre 1964 US . No PM bullion at all. They are stocked full of clad coins/ sets that I don’t know who buys. I go there for Morgan’s sometimes as the prices are good. That’s about it.

  7. MarkInFlorida says

    Barry, I used to live a few blocks from a coin store and went there a lot for whatever gold coins they’d sell at close to melt, and 90% silver at 10% above their buy price. Then I moved to a more rural area so now I just go to coin shows a few times a year where the dealers from around the state set up. Sold them my junk gold and silver over the years and bought gold proof sets, and rolls of silver eagles.

  8. Mister Kairu says

    I use the blue book for valuing items I am looking at at local auctions. Definitely more realistic than the redbook. As for my LCS, I frequent there weekly buying some cull/foreign silver at spot price. Sometimes I find gems (1895 S Morgan dollar barely readable date/mm bought for spot about $13 at the time and sold it for $80) but love how they don’t care too much about foreign stuff either. A number of crown-sized coins for spot or just a few bucks over.

  9. cagcrisp says

    On April 4th, 2017, the 2017 Congratulations Set Sold Out at the Mint in 2 minutes @ $54.95/set…

    On April 19th, 2017 I posted the following comment:

    • cagcrisp says

    April 19, 2017 at 9:33 am

    This WILL be a Nightmare Before it Plays Out…

    17RF 2017 CONGRATULATIONS SET 74,497 74,497

    On a percentage basis for the Secondary Market pricing I don’t remember a modern Mint offering that was set up for a NIGHTMARE than the 2017 “S”. Nightmare Before it Plays Out. Bar None.

    On January 16th, 2018, Louis wrote an article “Top 10 Modern Coins of 2017”. In that article referring to the 2017 “S”:

    “Sales of this coin, as packaged in the 2017 Congratulations Set, have remained very stable throughout the year at around $130; while examples graded Proof-70 have continued to trade between $200 and $300, depending on labels.”

    What has happened to the 2017 “S” Congratulations Set since January 16th, 2018?

    This morning May 7th, 2018, an OGP 2017 “S” Sold for $99.99 with 1 bid
    On May 5th, 2018, a OGP 2017 “S” Sold for $100.00 with 23 bids

    Using the articles “very stable throughout the year at around $130” and a simple bay search analysis and see that there have been 21 Sold for $100.00 or LESS…

    On the Grade 70 Side the article stated:
    “Graded Proof-70 has continued to trade between $200 and $300, depending on labels.”

    What has happened to the 2017 “S” graded Proof 70 since January 16th, 2018?

    Well…Looking at sales results of the bay there have been 61 sales that were Lower than $200.00. That’s 30% of All Current sales with a simple search that is Lower than $200.00…

    With the Current Mint schedule showing “Summer of 2018” as the release of the 2018 “S” and IF the Mint adheres to the initial Totally Failed Strategy of a HHL of 1, you can count on Another Secondary Market NIGHTMARE continuing for the 2017 “S” and just Beginning for the 2018 “S”…

    …AND…People wonder WHY the hobby is Dying…

  10. cagcrisp says

    OT…

    Total Neumismatic sales for the US Mint in FY2017 Totaled $387.5 Million (will be Less in FY2018)

    Churchill Downs just reported Y/Y gambling wagers were Up 8% for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby for a Total of $225.7 Million. (And that does Not included International gambling that is NOT pari mutual nor does it include all Illegal wagers made)…

    …SO…All neumismatic sales for the entire year from the world’s #1 Mint Totaled $387.5 Million

    …AND…One day in Kentucky Totaled gambling wagers were $225.7 Million…

  11. JBK says

    I just popped in after being away from MNB for several months, and the first post I read was lamenting the absence of posters/activity here. I was sorry to hear that Diana has moved on – she was good, as was her predecessor.

    There is another coin form that I frequent – more lively by far but also a little harsh at times. Not sure why I stopped logging on to MNB, and not sure why others may have done the same. Maybe those who are still here have some insight on why things slowed down.

    In past years I got some great advice and advance notice about Mint products here on MNB, and I was able to get in on some hot issues such as special Silver Eagle sets and reverse proof Prez dollars.

    Heck, at one time, MNB was a source that was being quoted and referenced on other sites for news about hot mint issues.

    Sorry to see that things have apparently changed….

  12. John Q. Coinage says

    The Blue Book has what are estimated “buy” prices for your coins, your recovery will vary based upon your knowledge, the candor & honesty of any dealer($) you deal with… Red Book prioce$ are way up there, not quite Scott US Stamp but needs a downwards adjustment… Unfortunately & shoot it sux….

  13. earthling says

    In a few words , Bitcoin is the new speculative ” Itcoin”. Extremly easy to buy hold and sell? No worries about delivery , storage , condition , rarity, slabbing , grading , design…… nothing.

    Just buy, pray, sell. Easier than going to an Indian Casino.

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