2010 Red Book

Proofs were minted in Philadelphia until 1964 and these coins had no mint mark.

No proofs were minted in 1965-1967.

Staring in 1968, proof mintage resumed for regular coinage (annual proof sets). All of these coins are from San Francisco and have an S mint mark (with the exception of a few errors).

Some special and commemorative proofs are still minted in Philadephia (with a P mint mark) and West Point (with a W mint mark).

As already noted the 2011 Red Book will be out soon. The way they issue a book almost a year in advance should really tell you how reliable the prices are. Probably a dream of one of the publishers or a list given to Whitman at a bar after a Christas party.
Remember that any price for anything in that book is made possibly a few years prior to publishing since it takes time to proof read, gather information on new items, acquire material for those books, then actually publishing them. Even distribution takes time so for all anyone knows the 2010 edition was started in 1948 right after the first edition.
To sum this all up remember that even dealers sell coins for much less or usually do anyway.
One more thing is I give about 10 copies of the ringed version away for Christmas presents each year along with a Uncirculated set from the Mint.
I've commented to the Publishers of Whitman about the silly dates on that book and was told by Dennis Tucker, Publisher of Whitman Books that since the first edition was made in 1946 and introduced as a 1947 Edition, that situation has just continued since then.
Possibly back then no one really knew if there would be a second edition anyway.
As usual the next edition for the 2011 version will probably be out in April, 2011.

If you are a serious collector, and need to "see' the details, on the different coins, I would locate, and but the "professional " RedBook". it shaws images in color, of all the know normal errors, and varietyies, (now 100%), and gives you much more info than the regular RedBook. I have both, and as a variety collector, it comes in very handy for linsoln, and IHC varieties, etc. I don't worry about prices. etc, so they don't HAVE to be current.
I might make a comment: If you are collecting RPM's, in particular, be aware that on the cents, at least, the MM is no longer placed by hand, on the hub, from 1990, on. So there are can be no no RPM's from 1990, on.
Dick

wornslick

a little something to sweeten the pot, while I agree that the RedBook for the most part is not a real good price guide, the take a percentage away does not always apply.

there are coins which are considered conditional rarities that far exceed the prices which are listed in the RedBook.

most of these coins will be coins that have an exceptional strike or simply did not circulate like most of their contemporary counterparts.

full step business strike nickels from the early 60's are an example of coins which would fit the conditional rarity catagory.

Metalman,

When I asked for the RedBook for Xmas I must have misunderstood that it would give me a fair price on coins. I realize that there are coins out there that are excellent quaility and that RedBook will not come clsoe to setting a price on them, but I am talking about average to a little above average coins. So my next question is, when I make a trip to the coin shop, how do I, as a newbie, know that I am getting a fair deal on a coin? I have the RedBook and a copy of Coin Prices from Januaray 2010. Thanks,

Wornslick

Thanks eaglefoot, I am planing on making a trip today to the coin shop to buy a few coins, that is why I was wanting to know about what a fair price would be and how to go about finding that out. I will take a look at E-Bay.

Wornslick

A thing that we all are responsible for. Autos come out with dated for the next year. Some autos are made in the middle of one year and get the date of the following year. If that makes people irritated, they then give them dates like 2009and a half. Almost all stores pop up with Christmas stuff right after Holloween. We want the Sunday newspaper on Saturday and sometimes in the morning. We all want a weather report for the next 7 days and we all know they can't even tell us what is happening now. Many people are already discussing the 2010 coins and want them now.
We live in a society of people that want to know the future I guess.


That is something you just have to learn about purchasing coins. There is no manufacturers list prices on coins. This means there really is NO real price on them either. There are tons of price guides out there and they are just that, GUIDES. Taking one with you to a coin store is a decent idea if you don't know prices. Always ask a coin dealer if that is his best price on a coin you are interested in. With coins, it's sort of like going to a used car dealer or buying a house. They say one price, you come up with something else. They may counter anther price. You do the same until a deal is made.
If you want to use the Red Book just remember that the vast majority of prices shown are at least 20% to 25% over reality.