Red Book Accuracy
carl
Posts: 2,054 ✭
Not sure if anyone else has noticed the numerous errors in the 2006, 59th Edition of the Red Book so I jotted down a few and sent the list to Whitman. Probably never hear about the results though. Here is what I sent
December, 2005 AD
Whitman Publishing, LLC
To Whom It May Concern:
Although by now numerous individuals have notified you of all the problems with the 59th Edition, 2006, of the Red Book, I thought I’d just add my two cents worth. Possibly even three cents worth. I have all the previous editions from 8 to present and find this is the worst for accuracy due to all the problems. I only found the following discrepancies when looking at coins I am collecting so possibly the problems I found are just as prevalent in other sections of this edition. If you graded your proof readers they would be only a AG-3 or G-4 at best.
To start with I would like to suggest if you are going to have a Glossary, page 404, 405 and 406 you should add: Alterations, Auction, Authenticity, Bronze, bicentennial, Coin Composition, Colonial, Collectors, Counterfeit, Commemorative, Contract Issues, Gold, Grade, Key Dates or Coins, Misstrikes, Memorial, Modified, Mills, Numismatics, Replicas,
Rarity, Silver, Shield Type, Wide Border.
Suggest putting all the Adds, such as page 33, at the end of the book
Note that on page 392, 393 for the Red Book prices there is a heading labeled NEW. The book is not really NEW once purchased. Suggest change the heading to something more in line with Numismatics like: UU for Unused, NW for No Wear, MS for Mint State. The VG, F, VF appear to be in line with the books intent.
Through out this edition the back and forth usage of PF-63 or PF-65 is confusing. To close to have this slight difference. Use one of them.
Pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 33, 259, 415 and 416 are all missing page numbers. Some are for adds but so is page 389 and that page has a page number. Not consistent.
Page 114 needs column for proof prices.
Page 115 needs column for proof prices.
Page 114 shows 1917 Matte Proof but no quantity and no price.
Page 116 for 1943 has an * for included in number above. Nothing above.
Page 116 Lincoln Cents at top of page has MS-63. Should be PF-??
Page 129 for 1935DD has no price for MS-60, MS-63
Page 129 for 1936D 3 ½ legs has no price for AU-50, Ms-60, MS-63
Page 130 appears to indicate proofs were made for 1938, 1938D, 1938S.
Page 130 missing price for 1938S in AU-50
Page 130 proofs for 1938, 39, 40, 41, 42 all have the same price but a very different Amount of quantities minted.
Page 143 for 1836 & 1837 shows massive difference in quantities minted but same price for all coin conditions.
Page 153 for 1975 has higher mintage than 1975D but also a higher pricing.
Page 154 for 1990P higher quantity minted than 1990D and still a higher price.
Page 155 for twenty cent pieces 1877 & 78 has proof quantities but not regular quantities yet shows prices for VF-20, EF-10. No other prices?
Page 163 prices on 1896S is strange compared to other years with similar mintages.
Page 170 for Washington Quarters 1776-1976 has no listing for the D mints.
Page 170 prices on 1982P, 83P, 83D, 86P, 86D makes no sense compared to similar years
Page 193 Column for PF-65 but none made for years on that page.
Page 193 for 1921S prices start out lower than 21 or 21D in G-4 and ends up MUCH higher in MS-60 or MS-63.
Page 218 for 1776-1976 Silver Clad Variety has no quantity and no price.
Page 228 for 1856, 56C, 57, 58 shows price for PF-63 but no quantity minted.
Page 261 All prices compared to quantities minted appear to be odd. Note 1920S and 1921 have larger quantities minted than many other on this page yet massively higher prices.
If I am in error in any of my assessments of the above it is because I’m only a coin collector and not an editor, proof reader, publisher making money distributing such literature.
Thanks to anyone for at least reading this if any one actually did.
December, 2005 AD
Whitman Publishing, LLC
To Whom It May Concern:
Although by now numerous individuals have notified you of all the problems with the 59th Edition, 2006, of the Red Book, I thought I’d just add my two cents worth. Possibly even three cents worth. I have all the previous editions from 8 to present and find this is the worst for accuracy due to all the problems. I only found the following discrepancies when looking at coins I am collecting so possibly the problems I found are just as prevalent in other sections of this edition. If you graded your proof readers they would be only a AG-3 or G-4 at best.
To start with I would like to suggest if you are going to have a Glossary, page 404, 405 and 406 you should add: Alterations, Auction, Authenticity, Bronze, bicentennial, Coin Composition, Colonial, Collectors, Counterfeit, Commemorative, Contract Issues, Gold, Grade, Key Dates or Coins, Misstrikes, Memorial, Modified, Mills, Numismatics, Replicas,
Rarity, Silver, Shield Type, Wide Border.
Suggest putting all the Adds, such as page 33, at the end of the book
Note that on page 392, 393 for the Red Book prices there is a heading labeled NEW. The book is not really NEW once purchased. Suggest change the heading to something more in line with Numismatics like: UU for Unused, NW for No Wear, MS for Mint State. The VG, F, VF appear to be in line with the books intent.
Through out this edition the back and forth usage of PF-63 or PF-65 is confusing. To close to have this slight difference. Use one of them.
Pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 33, 259, 415 and 416 are all missing page numbers. Some are for adds but so is page 389 and that page has a page number. Not consistent.
Page 114 needs column for proof prices.
Page 115 needs column for proof prices.
Page 114 shows 1917 Matte Proof but no quantity and no price.
Page 116 for 1943 has an * for included in number above. Nothing above.
Page 116 Lincoln Cents at top of page has MS-63. Should be PF-??
Page 129 for 1935DD has no price for MS-60, MS-63
Page 129 for 1936D 3 ½ legs has no price for AU-50, Ms-60, MS-63
Page 130 appears to indicate proofs were made for 1938, 1938D, 1938S.
Page 130 missing price for 1938S in AU-50
Page 130 proofs for 1938, 39, 40, 41, 42 all have the same price but a very different Amount of quantities minted.
Page 143 for 1836 & 1837 shows massive difference in quantities minted but same price for all coin conditions.
Page 153 for 1975 has higher mintage than 1975D but also a higher pricing.
Page 154 for 1990P higher quantity minted than 1990D and still a higher price.
Page 155 for twenty cent pieces 1877 & 78 has proof quantities but not regular quantities yet shows prices for VF-20, EF-10. No other prices?
Page 163 prices on 1896S is strange compared to other years with similar mintages.
Page 170 for Washington Quarters 1776-1976 has no listing for the D mints.
Page 170 prices on 1982P, 83P, 83D, 86P, 86D makes no sense compared to similar years
Page 193 Column for PF-65 but none made for years on that page.
Page 193 for 1921S prices start out lower than 21 or 21D in G-4 and ends up MUCH higher in MS-60 or MS-63.
Page 218 for 1776-1976 Silver Clad Variety has no quantity and no price.
Page 228 for 1856, 56C, 57, 58 shows price for PF-63 but no quantity minted.
Page 261 All prices compared to quantities minted appear to be odd. Note 1920S and 1921 have larger quantities minted than many other on this page yet massively higher prices.
If I am in error in any of my assessments of the above it is because I’m only a coin collector and not an editor, proof reader, publisher making money distributing such literature.
Thanks to anyone for at least reading this if any one actually did.
Carl
0
Comments
You may get a thank you and a response. They are working to improve the information. Steve
My Complete PROOF Lincoln Cent with Major Varieties(1909-2015)Set Registry
You might be surprised to learn that these prices are actually in error; they are absurdly low.
This is especially true for the '83-P in MS-63. Lesser quality coins wholesale at $25 yet they list
it at only $7.
Page 114 shows 1917 Matte Proof but no quantity and no price
Because no one knows the mintage, or if they ever really were struck. No price because there's no records.
Page 115 needs column for proof prices.
A whole column to report the price of one coin? Would e better to push the 1936 over to the next page.
Page 129 for 1935DD has no price for MS-60, MS-63
Page 129 for 1936D 3 ½ legs has no price for AU-50, Ms-60, MS-63
Probably because there is no accurate data available.
Page 130 proofs for 1938, 39, 40, 41, 42 all have the same price but a very different Amount of quantities minted.
Quantities minted isn't important and may make no difference to the price. I don't follow the proofs but I could see them all having the same value.
Page 143 for 1836 & 1837 shows massive difference in quantities minted but same price for all coin conditions
This isn't unusual for these, the mintage doesn't affect the price of these that much.
Page 153 for 1975 has higher mintage than 1975D but also a higher pricing.
Page 154 for 1990P higher quantity minted than 1990D and still a higher price.
So?
Page 155 for twenty cent pieces 1877 & 78 has proof quantities but not regular quantities yet shows prices for VF-20, EF-10. No other prices?
1877 & 78 are proof only issues but some circulated pieces of each are known. So they gave some prices for the most commonly encountered circ grades for these coins.
Page 163 prices on 1896S is strange compared to other years with similar mintages.
Mintage figure is in error, it should be 188,039 not 1,888,039.
Page 170 for Washington Quarters 1776-1976 has no listing for the D mints.
The second listing should be 1776-1976D not S
Page 193 for 1921S prices start out lower than 21 or 21D in G-4 and ends up MUCH higher in MS-60 or MS-63.
This is correct. The 21-S is more available the P & D in the lower grades and much LESS available in the top grades.
Page 218 for 1776-1976 Silver Clad Variety has no quantity and no price (He means silver clad T2 dollars)
Because currently none are known to exist. All known silver clad bicentennials are Type I.
Page 228 for 1856, 56C, 57, 58 shows price for PF-63 but no quantity minted.
That's because there are no official mintage figures for proof coins before 1860. Coins exist but there are no accurate records on mintages.
Page 261 All prices compared to quantities minted appear to be odd. Note 1920S and 1921 have larger quantities minted than many other on this page yet massively higher prices.
Because many of the double eagles were still in the federal vaults when the gold recall took place the number surviving bears no relationship to the number coined. Prices are based on survivorship and how frequently they appear on the market. Mintages are irrelevent (Just as they are for Morgan dollars because of the Pitman act.)
I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
eBaystore