2018 Red Book Honors David Rittenhouse, First Director of the United States Mint, and 225 Years of American Coinage

Apr 21, 2017 | Announcements

(Pelham, Alabama) — The classic hardcover version of the 71st-edition Guide Book of United States Coins (the hobby’s popular “Red Book”) celebrates the 225th anniversary of federal coinage in Philadelphia. On its back cover is a commemorative gold-foil portrait of David Rittenhouse, first director of the United States Mint, who was appointed by President George Washington in 1792. In addition to being the Mint’s first director, Rittenhouse was renowned as an astronomer, inventor, clockmaker, mathematician, surveyor, professor, public official, and crafter of scientific instruments. The first coinage under the Mint Act of 1792 consisted of half dismes (small five-cent coins made of silver), followed by copper half cents and large cents issued for circulation in 1793. Every copy of this year’s hardcover Red Book features the special portrait honoring David Rittenhouse and celebrating 225 years of U.S. Mint coinage.

Throughout this year, the United States Mint is celebrating the 225th anniversary of the 1792 congressional act, which also established the first Mint facility, in Philadelphia. Its social-media pages share factoids and human-interest stories (#MintMoments). Facebook and Twitter followers can search the hashtag #USMint225. The Mint’s YouTube page (youtube.com/user/USMINT) features videos of historical footage comparing old coin-production processes to those of the modern day.

Early in 2017 the Philadelphia Mint released Lincoln cents with a P mintmark—the first time a Philadelphia mintmark has ever been used for a one-cent coin—to celebrate the mint’s 225 years. In April the Mint released its 2017 high-relief .9999 fine gold American Liberty coin, with raised edge lettering (225th ANNIVERSARY) and the dual dates 1792 and 2017. Later in the year the Mint will offer silver medal versions of the same design in four different formats, one struck at each of three Mint facilities (Denver, San Francisco, and West Point) and two formats struck at Philadelphia.

The 71st-edition Red Book covers all of the Mint’s coins going back to 1792, including such popular issues as Indian Head cents, Wheat cents, Buffalo nickels, Mercury dimes, Liberty Walking half dollars, Morgan silver dollars, and gold coins up to the $20 double eagle. Its coverage of modern coinage includes the newest commemorative issues, and circulating coins from Lincoln cents to America the Beautiful quarters and Native American dollars.

Other sections explore in detail colonial and early American coins and tokens; Proof and Mint sets; die varieties; Civil War tokens; private and territorial gold; Puerto Rican, Philippine, and Hawaiian coins; error coins; silver, gold, and platinum bullion; and other series in American numismatics.

The 71st-edition Red Book debuted March 30 at the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Expo in Baltimore. It is now available online (including from www.Whitman.com) and from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide, in several formats. The commemorative hardcover version with David Rittenhouse’s portrait retails for $17.95.

Whitman Publishing Seeks Paper-Money Collectors and History Buffs

Apr 12, 2017 | Announcements

(Pelham, Alabama) — Whitman Publishing announces a call-to-action for collectors, dealers, and historians of obsolete paper money and 19th-century American banking to pitch in and help build the best historical and market reference ever compiled in this field: the multiple-volume Whitman Encyclopedia of Obsolete Paper Money. Collectors, researchers, dealers, students, and others in the hobby community are encouraged to get involved with this important project. Images, historical research, market analysis, and general insight are welcome for the Mid-Atlantic states, the Midwest, and territories.

In particular, volunteer state editors for the upcoming states of New York, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio are sought. Each state editor will work closely with author Q. David Bowers, Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker, and Whitman associate editor Shane Smith to track down facts, answer questions, scrutinize the historical record, gather and examine images, and otherwise act as each state’s expert. Editors have a chance to take a “co-starring role,” as C. John Ferreri did with the states in New England and others have with the Southern states. They will join contributors the likes of the American Bank Note Co., the American Numismatic Society, and the Smithsonian Institution, all of whom (among other museums and private collectors) have shared images. Dealers and collectors active in the market of buying, selling, or trading, can volunteer to analyze valuations and rarity ratings. Historians with knowledge of a particular state or region can review state, town, and bank histories—fascinating narratives that tell the hometown stories of America!

The Whitman Encyclopedia of Obsolete Paper Money debuted to enthusiasm and acclaim at the Memphis International Paper Money Show in 2014. Three years later, it continues full-steam-ahead with eight volumes published as of early 2017, weighing in at 400 to 800 pages each, and an estimated six more to round out the series. Within each volume is author Bowers’s knowledge of obsolete paper money—its history, how to collect it, and observations on the general market, including rarities, supply and demand, and pricing. Volume 1 is an introduction for collectors and historians. Volume 2 studies in detail the states of Connecticut, Maine, and New Hampshire. The two-part Massachusetts volumes, numbering 3 and 4, were released in 2014, and the last volume in the New England region arrived in spring of 2015, comprising Rhode Island and Vermont. Moving south and west, the monumental study on obsolete currency continued to unfold with volumes 6 through 8, covering the South Atlantic states.

Obsolete notes are paper currency issued from 1782 to 1866, before the modern era of National Banks and the Federal Reserve. Over the course of these decades more than 3,000 state-chartered banks released their own paper money for day-to-day commerce, in thousands of colorful and ornate varieties. In the Whitman Encyclopedia of Obsolete Paper Money, each note listed is studied in detail, and thousands are pictured in full color, with information on grading, rarity, values in multiple grades, significant auction results, advice for collectors, and other valuable guidance.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Whitman Publishing at obsoletes@whitman.com. Volunteers will be credited in the books’ acknowledgments.