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Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful book! (and Proof Sets ARE included)
Review: Sorry LeadPedal2, but you are wrong, and I hope not too many people have been driven away from this wonderfully written, helpful, and complete book by your false statements.This book DOES contain information on Proof and Uncirculated sets sold by the U.S. Mint, on pages 68-71. Also, to the previous reviewer - I don't know what problem you see with the color pictures, perhaps your edition was misprinted. The full-color pictures in my edition are beautiful, clear, and very helpful. I've been collecting both the Red and Blue books since 1993 as a nice compliment to my coin collection, and this edition maintains Yeoman and Whitman's high standards. I am very happy with this book, and highly recommend it to other coin collectors, beginners through those with much experience.
Rating: 
Summary: Ouch! Better stick with 2003 edition for reference
Review: This 2004 edition of a standard reference disappoints; if you can get it, I recommend the 2003 edition for now, especially if it's your first coin book purchase. While there are some ongoing improvements (more commemorative coin images), there are two major strikes against this edition: 1) A bunch of new color images have been added throughout - and they're horrible. 2) Whitman has filled some of the blank space with ads, increasing the number of ads for Whitman products five-fold, usually popping up between denominations.
The new images are failures because they are digital images that were incorrectly prepared for press. The artifacting in the images is so bad, for example, that the 1858 flying eagle cent large/small letter variety isn't clear to the novice eye. Many of the large cent date varieties look terrible, and in some pictures you can't even discern what the difference is supposed to be. The editor has provided a reference book that fails as a reference - no small feat.
As for the ads, Whitman certainly has the right, but the vivid colors just feel distasteful; I don't mind them at the back, where they're a handy reference, but our lives are stuffed with enough commercial filler - can't I avoid it while looking up my coins?
A couple of new varieties are added, expanding beyond the addition of recent Lincoln varieties in 2002. The state quarters section has been attractively improved, and images now exist for all quarters designs to date. Interestingly, the hard times tokens at the rear are eliminated, and a section on pattern pieces added instead. I always find patterns fascinating examples of 'what could have been', so I laud this addition, as it lends the starting hobbyist a little peek into an area I find more exciting than tokens. That's a subjective viewpoint though, and the only reason I gave the book a 2 instead of a 1. I'm saddened that it falls so far short of where the 2003 edition came to.
Rating:
Summary: Ouch! Better stick with 2003 edition for reference
Review: This 2004 edition of a standard reference disappoints; if you can get it, I recommend the 2003 edition for now, especially if it's your first coin book purchase. While there are some ongoing improvements (more commemorative coin images), there are two major strikes against this edition: 1) A bunch of new color images have been added throughout - and they're horrible. 2) Whitman has filled some of the blank space with ads, increasing the number of ads for Whitman products five-fold, usually popping up between denominations.
The new images are failures because they are digital images that were incorrectly prepared for press. The artifacting in the images is so bad, for example, that the 1858 flying eagle cent large/small letter variety isn't clear to the novice eye. Many of the large cent date varieties look terrible, and in some pictures you can't even discern what the difference is supposed to be. The editor has provided a reference book that fails as a reference - no small feat.
As for the ads, Whitman certainly has the right, but the vivid colors just feel distasteful; I don't mind them at the back, where they're a handy reference, but our lives are stuffed with enough commercial filler - can't I avoid it while looking up my coins?
A couple of new varieties are added, expanding beyond the addition of recent Lincoln varieties in 2002. The state quarters section has been attractively improved, and images now exist for all quarters designs to date. Interestingly, the hard times tokens at the rear are eliminated, and a section on pattern pieces added instead. I always find patterns fascinating examples of 'what could have been', so I laud this addition, as it lends the starting hobbyist a little peek into an area I find more exciting than tokens. That's a subjective viewpoint though, and the only reason I gave the book a 2 instead of a 1. I'm saddened that it falls so far short of where the 2003 edition came to.
Rating:
Summary: Good for what it includes, but where's the proof?
Review: This book is good for what it includes, but there is a glaring and shocking omission! There is no info on proof sets, only on some individual coins. With the introduction of state quarter sets, annual proof sets have become a hot commodity, yet this book completely overlooks the entire category!
Rating:
Summary: Good for what it includes, but where's the proof?
Review: This book is good for what it includes, but there is a glaring and shocking omission! There is no info on proof sets, only on some individual coins. With the introduction of state quarter sets, annual proof sets have become a hot commodity, yet this book completely overlooks the entire category!
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