Jeff Garrett: What Makes a Coin Great

One of the more newsworthy stories in recent months was the surprising sale of Whitman Publishing to the CDN Publishing LLC (Greysheet). The company will add the Whitman line of numismatic and philatelic books and supplies to its robust portfolio of hobby offerings. CDN Publishing will also now be operating the tri-annual Whitman Coin and Collectibles Expo in Baltimore, Maryland. The reach and influence of the combined companies will be substantial.

Most would consider the Guide Book of United States Coins (the Red Book) to be the crown jewel of the acquisition. The Red Book is one of the most storied and respected brands in all of numismatics. First published in 1947, the Red Book is one of the most best-selling nonfiction books of all time. I have proudly served as Senior Editor since 2019. The 2025 edition of the Red Book will soon be hitting shelves. Next year's edition will probably have some significant changes, as the new owners decide how to move forward. John Feigenbaum, the President of CDN, is very innovative and eager to take the Red Book to the next level.

Another popular title in the Whitman portfolio is the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins and its related spinoffs. There are now about 8 to 10 books in the 100 Greatest series. The 100 Greatest U.S. Coins was first published around 2005 by H.E. Harris, the company controlled by the Anderson family before they acquired Whitman Publishing.

Examples from the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins list Click images to enlarge.

These are the current 100 Greatest Books available on Whitman.com:

• 100 Greatest U.S. Coins
• 100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins
• 100 Greatest Ancient Coins
• 100 Greatest Women on Coins
• 100 Greatest U.S. Error Coins
• 100 Greatest Canadian Coins and Tokens
• 100 Greatest Modern World Coins
• 100 Greatest American Stamps
• 100 Greatest American Tokens and Medals
• 100 Greatest Comic Books

The 100 Greatest U.S. Coins book was immensely popular when it first debuted in 2005 and is now in its 5^th edition. Over the years, I have been asked many times how I came up with the idea for the book. The book was the result of being asked over and over again by casual acquaintances: What is the most expensive coin? Most were astounded when told it was more than $10 million, and then they want to know why.

This is a great question, and the answer is not what most would expect. Almost universally, it is because the coins have a great story. The 1933 Double Eagle is the current record holder at over $18 million. The story of this coin is so great, there are two or three entire books written about this one coin.

Examples from the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins list Click images to enlarge.

One of my first instructions from the new management of Whitman Publishing is to start working on the 6^th edition. It’s been several years since the last edition was published, and the numismatic landscape has changed considerably. There have been several major numismatic estates auctioned in just the last few years. Interestingly, there have been quite a few US coins that have sold for more than $1 million, and as much as $5 million, that are NOT listed in the 100 Greatest US Coins book. Most of these are condition rarities: coins in extraordinary condition for the issue.

Over the years, we have asked the members of the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) to vote for the order that the coins are listed in the book. The vote for the Top 10 coins usually creates a spirited debate among these numismatic professionals. This year, we asked for suggestions about what new coins to add to the list, with the caveat that they would then be required to gives ideas about what coins to drop. A lot of people collect coins that are listed in the book and any changes will be carefully considered. Just last week, a new client reached out to me to start buying coins in the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins book.

The stories in the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins book are what inspire a lot of people to collect coins. They are usually a rich combination of history, art and commerce. That is why coins that are only valuable because of their condition leave me underwhelmed for inclusion in the book. What makes a coin great is an interesting question, and we look forward to getting input from the members of the PNG.

We would also like your input on the subject. Below is the list of coins in the 4^th and 5^th editions of the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins. As you can see, the order and coins included does change from one edition to the next. Please email your suggestions about what new coins should be added and your ideas for the order of the Top 10 coins to Jeff@rarecoingallery.com

Be sure to order a copy of the 6^th edition in the fall to see how the latest edition of the 100 Greatest U.S. Coins turned out.

List of 100 Greatest U.S. Coins – 4th and 5th Editions

Want to see more articles like this? Subscribe to the free NGC Weekly Market Report.

Jeff Garrett bio