No matter the era, there’s a defining phenomenon of summer for kids. Agelessly enduring, it’s the absolute certainty children have that they can make lucrative tangible discoveries during summers. Truly, kids are convinced treasure and caches of immeasurable wealth are out there waiting.
I don’t know of a child that didn’t, at one time or another, believe they could unearth untold riches during the summer. Maybe it started with a story, perhaps from a TV show or movie. Better yet, after reading from an enticing book checked out of the library. Sources for inspiration abound. Any or all of those inspire kids to dream and hope about what waits to be found on a long, lazy summer afternoon.
One book that has done exactly that is a volume kids and adults alike have stumbled across or sought out for eight decades. Officially, it’s known as “The Guide Book Of United States Coins.” More colloquially, collectors have called it “The Red Book” due to its perennial red colored cover....
Admittedly, it may sound boring. Unexciting. I get it. Truthfully though, it is anything but. Particularly for America’s 250th anniversary, the Red Book has reinvented and reenergized enthusiasm collectors have long known and kids have fantasized about. I say that from experience.
More years ago than I care to think about, I stumbled across a copy. Inside were black and white pictures or illustrations and descriptions and dates of US coins the likes of which I had seen at home and in my pocket change. Some of those humble pennies and nickels that looked just like many that had passed through my hands proved to be worth hundreds, even thousands of dollars. Particularly for a young kid this was incredible.
Naturally, it started turning the wheels of wonder. Where might such rarities be hidden, waiting to be discovered? There were and still are many accounts of such found riches. Particularly in New England, where everyday people dating to the earliest colonists have continually lost or stashed many a coin, such fortunes have been uncovered. Others are still waiting to be unearthed.
The 2027, 80th edition of the Red Book is a far cry from the copy I first looked at decades ago. The new version features full-color photos, over 2,000 of them. Add to that, some 13,000 listings, over 1,000 of them brand new for this year.
Certainly, the condition of each coin affects the coin’s value. The 2026 Red Book categorizes most coins into nine grades on a scale from “1” to “70.” That may sound confusing. It’s not. The book includes a short primer on how to grade a coin and what to look for when doing so. As pricing goes, those grading numbers can and do mean a great deal when it comes to value.
For instance, for many people growing up, Mercury dimes were still regularly found in change – even old ones. We didn’t think much about them. It turns out, some were rarer than others – especially in nice grades. Today, once common dimes minted in 1927 or 1928 are worth around $15 or $20 in “Fine” or “Very Fine” condition. However, if one in “Mint State” turns up in an old desk drawer, the value is $400 or $500.
Other examples of rare pennies, nickels, quarters, etc., go on and on. But, what of modern rarities? Those are still being produced. The thing is, because we look less and less at our change, we don’t see them. These are “error” coins containing minor anomalies. Those keen enough to spot them may find a common-looking quarter worth $250 instead of 25-cents. A chapter on “Error Coins” walks readers through that.
Coinciding with the US Semiquincentennial, included in the 2027 Red Book is a special 16-page commemorative section dedicated to the 2026 coins now being issued. The chapter showcases the one-year-only circulating dime, quarters, and half dollars being struck in recognition of our 250th.
For armchair collectors who may not be able to personally hunt down every one of the 2026 commemoratives in top-grades, Whitman Publishing is making available a unique “Red Book Bundle.” It includes the latest Red Book along with every one of the Semiquincentennial coins certified and graded. It’s a nice kick-start for hobbyists getting their feet wet.
In past years, the Red Book has been found in book stores in soft and hardcover editions. This year, the Mint is producing a variety of editions including the soft and hard cover, spiral bound, large print and “Mega Red” jumbo version with substantially more collecting info.
Retail prices range from $14.99 climbing to $99.95 for the Mega Red printing. The certified 2026 Semiquincentennial coins are sold separately or in a set.
For adults still young enough to dream about “what if?,” these are a priceless summer addition. For more information, check out www.Whitman.com.
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