Whitman Publishing Calls for Cherrypickers’ Guide Volunteers

Dentuck

(Atlanta, Georgia) — Whitman Publishing is calling for volunteers as it prepares the latest
Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins. The next book in the
series will be the sixth edition, volume I, covering half cents, large cents, Flying Eagle and
Indian Head cents, Lincoln cents, two- and three-cent pieces, Shield nickels, Liberty Head
nickels, Buffalo nickels, and Jefferson nickels.

The deadline for volunteered information is Friday, October 31, 2014.

The Cherrypickers’ Guide shows collectors how to “cherrypick”—that is, how to examine
a collection of seemingly normal coins, looking for unusual characteristics like doubled and
tripled dies, overdates, repunched mintmarks, and other uncommon features that make a
variety rare and valuable.

Die-variety specialist Mike Ellis is serving as general editor for the sixth edition, volume I.
Bill Fivaz (founder and coauthor, along with J.T. Stanton, of the Cherrypickers’ Guide) is
involved in an editorial capacity.

The book’s editors are looking for dealers, collectors, and other specialists with insight on new
varieties to add to the book; listings that are no longer viable and should be deleted; and updated
values, rarity rankings, and Interest and Liquidity factors. High-resolution photographs, current
knowledge of the buy-sell-trade markets, analysis of dies, new research, and other information
is welcomed. Volunteers will be acknowledged in the book’s credits.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Whitman Publishing by email at Cherrypicker@Whitman.com.
Emails sent to this address are distributed to Bill Fivaz, Mike Ellis, Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker,
and Whitman associate editor John McCurdy.

19Lyds

Any idea about when Volume II will be updated?

pitboss

They are trying to get it together and need volunteers to help.

koynekwest

Dennis-

I've already received, edited, and returned the copy of the CPG to Mike Ellis that was sent to me. I made some suggestions on pricing and the listing of a few new varieties.

pitboss

bump for the new day

seanq

Jeez, are you looking for volunteers to run the printers, binders, and box the things up, too? I understood the need for crowdsourcing back when J.T. and Bill published the thing themselves, but how many other Whitman titles are there with so much content provided free of charge?


Sean Reynolds

Dentuck

<< <i>Jeez, are you looking for volunteers to run the printers, binders, and box the things up, too? >>




"Now accepting donations of new or lightly used wire coil."

LochNESS

I know Bill Fivaz personally, and I can tell you that he would never take the lazy route. I suspect the only reason he is *inviting* contributions into his fantastic book is because he knows that crowd-sourcing data is necessary due to the very nature of errors. There are many raw errors out there and more being discovered each day than has been slabbed by TPGs. How else is he supposed to learn about them? Telepathy? It's not like all your regular coins, which leave the mint accompanied by a wealth of metrics. Crowd-sourcing is the best way to provide accurate data. How many times have we commented on the inaccuracy of Krause catalogs (perhaps more on the dark side boards, but you get my drift). Better to ask the community for input, than to release an outdated guide.

Another possible reason is that Whitman wishes to engage the community to help promote the book. Getting people excited about the book, talking about the book, etc. will help sell more copies.

EagleEye

Just sent my updates.

Dentuck

<< <i>Just sent my updates. >>




Got 'em --- thanks, Rick! Great material. We appreciate your insight.

EagleEye

No problem, I just got the "Beach Indian's" collection, the #1 PCGS registry set for "Indian Cents Complete Variety Set, Circulation Strikes (1859-1909)", so I'll have coins to update the images properly. Any chance of going color?

Indian Cents Complete Variety Set, Circulation Strikes (1859-1909)