Red Book question.

sparky64

Should I buy a new one every year?
I go about 2 - 3 years between getting a new one.
How often do you update?

DieClash

1977, 1980, 2000, 2008. On average about once every 6 years.

StrikeOutXXX

I don't intentionally buy one every year, but if fathers day rolls around every year without me upgrading, it seems to be a chosen present from the kids... much better than another tie.

If I had a choice, I would only get one every other year or so.

I use mine mostly to gauge competition at small local auctions, as that is what 95% of others are using, and nice to know where they think the bargain ends.

There is a new section this year on Puerto Rico coins, so will probably upgrade myself anyhow.

doh

To me, a Redbook is something you give a new collector because it covers everything. Not really deep coverage, but very wide. I don't think a more knowledgeable collector really needs to ever update the very first one they got. But that's just MHO.

garsmith

I just have one, a 2000, I used to go to it alot now rarely; maybe I will get a new one in 2010.

MidLifeCrisis

I tend to update every year just so I can have the most recent one within reach when I need to look up something quickly.

1794half1839

Its good to have up dated retail prices on colonials, territorials, and the like that is not listed in the CDN or Coin World Values.

TomB

The last three that I have purchased have been dated 1980, 1994 and 2008 so I guess I'm set until about 2022.

tahoe98

i like getting them yearly. it's fun to search for mistakes...................

BillJones

I buy a hard cover Red Book every year because I have a complete set of them from the first edition. I don't collect the leather bound ones or any of that fancy stuff. I only be the basic books.

For those who have not bought a Red Book for many years, you should buy a new one. There are some really good color pictures in them and other new information. For a while the book was really falling into disrepair. They needed to fix it, or it was going to cease to be published.

sumnom

I like to have the most up-to-date version but I don't feel too put out if i don't have it. I currently have the 2007 edition but I confess to feeling like I want the 2008. I go for the spiral bound version since the hard cover isn't bound all that well. Mine always fell apart rather quickly with frequent use.

BillJones

<< <i>Mine always fell apart rather quickly with frequent use >>



I haven't had that problem with any Red Books since the ones that were issued in the mid 1970s. Those books did fall apart with the slightest provocation. When I bought a group of Red Books years ago, the books in the set included a group of those dates that were in tact. To this day I’m almost afraid to open them.

As for the latest editions falling apart, you must use them a lot.

sparky64

My most recent ones were 2000, 2002 & 2008.
2002-2008 was too large a gap for me.
Spiral bound is the only to go IMHO.
The photos are getting much better.
I use mine mostly for a quick look at the mintage figures.

sumnom

The last hardbound edition I bought was 2000. That fell apart as soon as I looked at it. I haven't bought one since.

crispy

I buy a new one every four to five years or so. There have been much larger gaps though. I think that it is a great little book that I will pick up on occasion to page through in additon to using it for mintage reference, etc... Coin magazines bought off the shelf cost 3-4 bucks apiece for what little you get in them so I see the Redbook as a decent resource for the price. I am, however, not pleased at how they seem to be releasing them earlier and earlier every year. In retrospect any give edition will be almost one year removed from it's purported cover date. Kind of silly if not greedy.

Swampboy

Yearly.

I keep leaving them at the grandkids.

Barndog

used to buy one a year, now maybe just every 3-4?

bigmarty58

I know this is sad but there isn't a better book to check out in the throne room! I get one each year.

Robert.

percyb

i buy last years book at the half price book store, so i'm always a year behind. i.e. i recently bot the 2007 edition...back in january.

Shamika

1976, 1985, 1998, 2006 for me.

TavernTreasures

1963, 1968, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1988. I am still using the 1988 issue, but not for values.

ColonialCoinUnion

I always buy a new one every year. It's sort of a numismatic rite of passage.

Tyler1924S

I have 1980 & 1981 (which I bought as a YN when they came out) 1986, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008. The 2005 is missing, because I "loaned" it to my cousin. I think it's time to skip a few more years.

Mercury10c

I never buy them. Usually my brother gives me his old ones. They might be out of date by a year or two, but who cares,
I don't use them for pricing.

LindeDad

<< <i> always buy a new one every year. It's sort of a numismatic right pf passage. >>



and I will add that I normally have given my older ones away to get somebody on the hunt I hope.

thisnamztaken

1978, 1980, 1981, and then bought a used 2003 last year for $3.50 just to see what had changed and to have the mintages for the more modern cr*p. I was pleasantly surprised to discover they've added color photos now! Guess I'll be ready for a newer version around 2012 or so, so I'll have the mintages of the new Lincoln cent designs from 2009-?

CaptHenway

<< <i>I buy a hard cover Red Book every year because I have a complete set of them from the first edition. I don't collect the leather bound ones or any of that fancy stuff. I only be the basic books.

For those who have not bought a Red Book for many years, you should buy a new one. There are some really good color pictures in them and other new information. For a while the book was really falling into disrepair. They needed to fix it, or it was going to cease to be published. >>



What he sayys.
Lots of new stuff in recent years. Buy it.
TD

zeus135

I buy one every year........ and I keep an older one in my car........ and I keep one in my desk at work..... and I've given away a few to people who were interested in coins.

zeus135

Should be about time for the 2010's to come out by the way

Longacre

Every three years or so.

lope208

<< <i>I just have one, a 2000, I used to go to it alot now rarely; maybe I will get a new one in 2010. >>



Same here, only the 2000 for me too! Funny you mention it, I was thinking I'd wait til the 2010 issue too.

Edited to add: I find it quite useful as a quick reference for grading. I like how they give you the major details to look for for a variety of grades.
I definitely reference this when I go to buy a type of coin I haven't dealt with much before.

Baley

mine are from 1981, 1999, and 2005.

I foresee buying another in maybe 2012

mrpotatoheadd

1961, 1970, 1981, 2000.

I guess I'm not keeping up with most of the people here...

richbeat

I get one every year (hard cover, if possible). I have every one from 1979 with the exception of 1989. For those who have not purchased one in several years, I say get the 2009 edition when it comes out. There have been a number of changes made that would make it worthwhile, IMO.