July 24, 2014 – Whitman Publishing releases 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 has been available since 4th of July, 2014, online and from booksellers and hobby shops.
Scott Schechter and Jeff Garrett, 100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins, 3rd edition, Whitman Publishing, Atlanta (GE), 2014. Hardcover, 128 pages, Full color, 10 x 12 inches. ISBN 0794842356. $29.95 US.
“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.
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.
Click here to visit Whitman’s Online Store or purchase the book directly.