The Official Blue Book Handbook of United States Coins 2010 (Handbook of United States Coins (Paper)) [Paperback]

Kenneth Bressett (Author, Editor)

Product Details

• Paperback: 255 pages
• Publisher: Whitman Publishing (May 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0794827764
• ISBN-13: 978-0794827762
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #32,208 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

  #15 in	Books > Home & Garden > Antiques & Collectibles > Reference
  #12 in	Books > Home & Garden > Antiques & Collectibles > Coins & Medals

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Helpful but less than accurate, December 11, 2009

By	Susanna Hutcheson "Copywriting for the Discri... (Midwest U.S.A.) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Official Blue Book Handbook of United States Coins 2010 (Handbook of United States Coins (Paper)) (Paperback)

Like another reviewer, I wish this would come in a spiral bound edition. But more to the point, here's my opinion of the book itself. You pretty much have to own it if you buy and sell coins. But the prices in it are considerably lower than the true wholesale price of most coins. In other words, you'll lose money if you sell according to the book. I suggest you get The Greysheet and go by those figures --- that's what your dealer goes by. You then take 15% to 20% off the bid and you'll come close to what "most" dealers will pay. BUT -- much depends on the coin(s) and many other variables not included in any reference, including The Greysheet.

To its credit, the book does start with G4 and not AU like the Greysheet. That is helpful for lower grades. It also gives grading descriptions for each coin. And, it gives the mintage.

I use it mostly to take advantage of the very low prices in making my own online bids. If you go by the Blue Book, you'll never pay too much.

Highly recommended.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Buy the Red Book!, January 21, 2010

By	Thomas Krischan - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Official Blue Book Handbook of United States Coins 2010 (Handbook of United States Coins (Paper)) (Paperback)

This Blue Book is nearly identical to the Red Book. Here's the main difference, if the coin value is 40 in the Red Book, it's listed as 20 in the Blue Book. That's it. Since I had a 2009 Red Book, it was a big waste of money to purchase a 2010 Blue Book. There is no additional information, the price values are merely cut by 50 percent. Very disappointing.

In addition, the Red is sold with a very nice wired binding for easy page turning. The Red lays flat on your table. The Red has color photographs (Blue is B/W). Don't buy both books. Pick one and you are forever set.

Pricing in the both guides are inaccurate. I watch PCGS and NGC graded coins on eBay. The grade of the coin is without question. I compare the selling price to the book and it is sometimes close, but often well off. Half of the graded coins sold on eBay are more then 40 percent off the Red Book price. So, what is the point of an up to date price guide, if it isn't up to date?

Both PCGS and NGC give free value guides about their graded coins. Just go to their site and type in their serial number stamped on the slabbed coin case, you'll get a price guide. I have found this guide to be more accurate then the book.

The important value of the book is the information and photographs of the coins. The Red Book color photographs are excellent. Great info too. But you only need one of these books because the info is duplicated between the two editions.

I wish the Blue Book would have explained why some coins wholesale for slightly more, or slightly less, than purely 50 percent of retail. Are some classes of coin appreciating faster then others? The book gives no answers.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fred's Opinion, August 16, 2009

By	Fred's Insight "Fred's Thoughts" (SW Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Official Blue Book Handbook of United States Coins 2010 (Handbook of United States Coins (Paper)) (Paperback)

One must have a current Blue Book. It helps to understand the value you can get from selling a coin to a dealer. And it is useful to help understand that there are different amounts of different on different coins. Some coins have Blue Book value rather close to Red Book value.

I wish it were available in wire bound spine as is the Red Book. That would make it easier to hold the book open for reference and set it down to use it handless.