Mega Red vs Little Red Book
yspsales
Posts: 2,515 ✭✭✭✭✭
I am an ebay scrounging variety coin nut, always on the prowl for value.
Nothing is beyond my interest.
Have not owned a red book in many years.
I read somewhere (maybe heard it from a podcast) where a coin series in MEGA RED has expanded contributions from specialists etc...
Is that across the board in every series? Different series in every edition? Did I imagine this? Hope that made sense.
The above aside... Just wondering which that you prefer?
Leaning Mega because it will mainly be a desk reference book.
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Google was my friend. Going with the Mega.
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
Mega is great, unless you're lugging it around at a show.
the Second edition in 2017 expanded on the One Cent, The 3rd edition expanded on the Nickel Series, Etc. Great expanded information on the series written in the book it is a shelf book not one to carry around.
Mega red is the way to go.
Nice topic @yspsales
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For Posterity... date of publication and expanded focus
Mega Red Book 1st Edition (printed 2015) expanded focus on Half Cents and Large Cents
Mega Red Book 2nd Edition (printed 2016) expanded focus on Flying, Indian, Lincoln Cents
Mega Red Book 3rd Edition (printed 2017 ) expanded focus on Shield, Liberty, Buffalo, Jefferson Nickels
Mega Red Book 4th Edition (printed 2018) expanded focus on Dimes
Mega Red Book 5th Edition (printed 2019) expanded focus on Quarters
Mega Red Book 6th Edition (printed 2020) expanded focus on Half Dollars
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5'th is Quarters, 6'th is Halves. Mega is the best reference with sooo much information.
I agree. But is SO MASSIVE-feels like it weighs five pounds.
It has more detailed information, which is useful on occasion. For example, I needed to look up the weight and gold content of a 1915 PanPac $1 gold, and the “little” Red Book didn’t have those specifics. I mustered the strength to lift the MEGA off the bottom bookshelf, and was pleased to find it contained the full specifications.
For those interested, the $1 PanPac is 1.672 grams, net weight 0.04837 oz gold [about $88 worth at current spot], diameter is 15mm, the same size as Type 2 and Type 3 circulating gold dollars.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
How about the Mammoth Red Book? Someone should put these books on a scale!!
If you have the die variety books, Mega Red is unnecessary. The book does have a lot of information on rolling areas of topics from one coin series to another. Those who want a lot of information in one place will find it useful.
The down side is the thing is very heavy for its size and unpleasant to hold and use. It is definitely not the reference book to take to a show.
I have one edition of it and have not bought another. I bought that one because it had variety information on Seated Half Dollars.
I have the First Edition Mega Red. Does the Sixth Edition contain the expanded focus of all the earlier editions?? I have been thinking about updating, but would like all the information if possible. Cheers, RickO
I think it's specific to each series by edition. I was a contributor to the one covering nickels.
@koynekwest is correct, the expanded sections vary by edition. You could of course buy one of each MEGA, but I’d check the structural integrity of your home to make sure it could support the weight first.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Yes-VERY heavy duty bookshelves are required. I think they could have emulated the Scott Specialized stamp catalogs and used much lighter weight paper. Those are massive but manageable.
This thread has inspired me to get the 6th edition. Given the weight of the book, I just hope the binding holds up.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Well.. I will likely get the 6th edition... What is the expanded section to be on for the 7th edition? Dollars?? Will have to get that one as well. Cheers, RickO
Does Mega Red have the ASE data scrubbed from the Redbook?
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
ricko:
each edition specializes in a different denomination,
Mega Red Book 1st Edition (printed 2015) expanded focus on Half Cents and Large Cents
Mega Red Book 2nd Edition (printed 2016) expanded focus on Flying, Indian, Lincoln Cents
Mega Red Book 3rd Edition (printed 2017 ) expanded focus on Shield, Liberty, Buffalo, Jefferson Nickels
Mega Red Book 4th Edition (printed 2018) expanded focus on Dimes
Mega Red Book 5th Edition (printed 2019) expanded focus on Quarters
Mega Red Book 6th Edition (printed 2020) expanded focus on Half Dollars
copied from yspsales above. thanks for the listing, I was too lazy to do it myself
BHNC #203
@Treashunt .... Thanks...Since my bookshelves (which cover a wall, from top to bottom, and 20 feet long) are already packed with some double rows, I will have to be selective, rather than just getting them all. Cheers, RickO
Rick:
You can always do what I did
buy more book cases!
Frank
BHNC #203
They’re not that expensive, especially used. I think I started with the 3rd Edition, have bought each one since then new as they came out, and then searched Amazon and eBay for used ones of the older editions. Yes, they’re heavy, but they make for a great reference. Looking forward to the 7th edition in a few months!
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
Donate books you don't need anymore to a library.
@Barberian .... What are these "...books you don't need anymore..." that you speak of???
For me, parting with a book is like losing a family member. Cheers, RickO
That's what I was thinking...it has to be Dollars! But then what? The series ends?? Or do they do an issue with commemoratives? Hmmmmmm
Probably not. They've skipped many series, like all of the "odd" denominations - Two Cents, Three Cent Silver, Three Cent Nickels, and Twenty Cent Pieces. They have also not yet done any gold at all!
But yes, it'll be nice when they do an expanded section on Commems. People tend to pick on them as the "bad sheep" of our family, but if you look closely, for the past five years their prices have held relatively steady as a whole. Compare that to Morgan dollars over that same five year period. VERY similar pricing patterns. Plenty of exceptions, yes, but very similar.
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
Picked up the 6th edition from my local BAM.
Next target is a World Coin book.
Been going thru storage trying to organize everything.
Found my Snow IHC variety books. One on Ikes. Several other Red Book on tokens, gold, etc...
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Must be rough on moving your "family" on moving day.
I thought about getting one just for type like I did for a Large Print.
I cut my mega into quarters. Much easier to deal with.
I have to agree.
Don't need?
Someday you will need them
BHNC #203
@Barberian... It is ... and expensive.... But have not moved now in quite a while.... and do not intend to. Cheers, RickO
Get the all ON KINDLE. They don't weigh much there at all!
I should talk. I have about a thousand books but most of them are in my field (pollution ecology). I did toss out all of my Genetics texts from the 1970's, though. They're too out of date to be of much use to anyone. Meanwhile, I have Redbooks that are up 60 years old that pose a threat to my family's inheritance.
Holy smokes! I recently bought a mega red and just tonight really sat down with it. There’s no comparison. The mega is big,awkward, and such. That said, there’s an amazing amount of information. I just love it. It’s a 2nd edition 2017 but still a wonderful addition for $10 shipped 🤠
🎶 shout shout, let it all out 🎶
7th Edition--2022 New Mega Red Book Guide United States Coins US Official Whitman Price List covers Dollar coins 1794 to date.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain