Unexpectedly high demand leads the Guide Book of United States Coins back to press

(Pelham, Alabama) — In a sign of the strength of the coin-collecting hobby, dramatically higher than usual demand has caused Whitman Publishing to go back to press with the spiralbound version of the Guide Book of United States Coins, 73rd edition.

The Guide Book, published since 1946 and popularly known as the “Red Book,” is the best-selling annual price guide for the coin-collecting hobby. More than 24 million copies have been sold since the first edition.

“We plan our print runs very carefully, benchmarking against previous years’ sales,” said Whitman president Mary Burleson. “With years of data to analyze, we can control our inventory by printing to anticipated collector demand. This year’s demand has unexpectedly been much stronger than normal. Not since 2006 have we had to go back to press to meet higher than expected demand.”

From casual hobbyists to longtime collectors and professional numismatists, Whitman estimates that coin collectors number in the millions nationwide. The American Numismatic Association, the country’s largest hobbyist organization, has 25,000 active members.

“The Red Book is distributed nationally in bookstores and other retail locations, and online,” said Burleson. “The increased demand suggests to us that many new collectors and potential collectors have entered the market over the past year. This is a positive sign for the hobby.”

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Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker said that many hobbyists acquire the Red Book as a collectible itself, seeking one of every edition. To help them identify books in their collections, Tucker noted, “The new press run of the spiralbound format has SECOND PRINTING on its copyright page.”

Collectors can check their local bookstore or hobby shop, or call Whitman’s Customer Service number at 1-800-546-2995, to order a copy of the spiralbound Red Book for $15.95. Copies of the first printing will be shipped as long as it’s in stock, and the second printing will be added to Whitman’s inventory distribution when available.

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. 24 million copies have been printed since 1946, making it one of the best-selling nonfiction titles in the history of U.S. publishing.

For the 73rd edition, more than 100 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 73rd edition of the Red Book is available online and at bookstores and hobby shops nationwide. Whitman Publishing offers a Large Print Edition and several formats of the regular edition (hardcover; spiralbound softcover; and spiralbound hardcover). For more information and to order, visit the website of Whitman Publishing.

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 great collections. 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 Red 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.