New Whitman Book on America’s Greatest Modern Coins

[Atlanta, Georgia] – Whitman Publishing announces the release of the third edition of 100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins, by Scott Schechter and Jeff Garrett. In this beautifully illustrated book, two award-winning numismatists take the reader on a guided tour of the post-1963 circulating, bullion, and commemorative issues so avidly sought by collectors today. The 128-page coffee-table book will be available on the 4th of July, 2014, online (including at www.WhitmanBooks.com) and from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide.

100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins is the eighth entry in Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest™ library. Preceding books showcase American and ancient coins; paper money; medals and tokens; comic books; and stamps.

The 100 Greatest were selected and ranked by the authors with input from leading coin dealers, researchers, and collectors, and a survey of current hobby journals and periodicals.

The ranking includes prized and seldom-seen rarities—the scarce and high-valued pieces that collectors dream about. Some are errors, like the famous 2000 Sacagawea dollar/Washington quarter mule. Some are die varieties, like the 1972 doubled-die obverse Lincoln cent and various “No S” Proof coins. A few are coins that shouldn’t exist, like the mysterious 1964 Special Mint Set coinage and the Wisconsin “Extra Leaf” quarters. And many are coins with small mintages or poor distribution, or that collectors weren’t interested in when they were first released—factors that make them scarce (and therefore eagerly sought) today.

“We decided that all the coins on the list should be collectable,” says author Scott Schechter. “Potentially illegal coins are not. This explains why the 1974 aluminum cent was dropped from the first edition, and why several other coins are absent: the fabled 1964-D Peace dollar and the 2000-W Sacagawea dollar struck in gold, for example.”

Author Jeff Garrett points out that American Eagle and American Buffalo gold bullion coins remain popular among the 100 Greatest moderns. New rankings in the third edition include the 2013-W Enhanced Uncirculated American Silver Eagle and the 2013-W Reverse Proof American Buffalo gold piece.

The book also explores more readily available coins: pieces so beautiful or with such important and fascinating stories that everybody wants one. The 1999-S silver Proof Delaware quarter, the 1996-W Roosevelt dime, the 1983-P Washington quarter, the 1982 Washington commemorative half dollar, and dozens more are pictured in bold full color, with their stories told in engaging detail.

The book includes forewords by numismatic legends Kenneth Bressett and Q. David Bowers. An illustrated introduction answers the question, “What are modern coins?” (As a starting point, Schechter and Garrett discuss 1964 as a pivotal year for modern coinage.) The introduction also covers methods of modern coin manufacture and packaging; the differences between varieties and errors; types and surface finishes of modern U.S. coins; varieties and errors; and how the 100 Greatest were chosen and ranked.

A new section on “Modern-Coin Grading Essentials,” by NGC chairman Mark Salzberg, rounds out the third edition’s front matter.

Throughout the book, Schechter and Garrett describe how to collect and enjoy U.S. modern coins, aspects of the marketplace, and smart buying.

Ken Bressett, senior editor of the best-selling Guide Book of United States Coins, calls 100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins “compelling.” In his foreword he writes, “You will be not only fascinated by the coins, but also thrilled to know that some can actually be found in your pocket change. They disprove the axiom that all the good coins are gone from circulation.”

Q. David Bowers, the “Dean of American Numismatics,” in his foreword writes about the hobby’s growing passion for die varieties, the rebirth of the U.S. commemorative coin program, and other aspects of modern collecting. “I enjoyed reading about my own favorite coins,” he said, “but also came to appreciate many I had overlooked.”

Various Reverse Proof bullion pieces, the “Cheerios” Sacagawea dollar, the 2009 Ultra High Relief double eagle, “Godless” Presidential dollars, Speared Bisons, and more await the reader of 100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins, third edition.

The book is coffee-table-size, 128 pages, in full color, with photographs and stories for every coin. It also includes market values, field populations, certified-coin census reports, quantities minted, specifications, and design notes.

100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins will be available July 4, 2014, online and from hobby shops and bookstores nationwide.

This is a guest article. The thoughts and opinions in the piece are those of their author and are not necessarily the thoughts of the Certified Collectibles Group.