The Red Book Turns 80, and Whitman Just Took It Beyond the Book
Whitman Brands has begun shipping the 2027 edition of The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins to distributors, bookstores, hobby shops, wholesalers, libraries, museum stores, and online retailers across North America. The release marks the Red Book’s landmark 80th edition and expands the brand into print, digital, certified collectibles, and collector merchandise.
For generations, collectors have reached for the Red Book first. Now, Whitman wants that trusted guide to follow collectors far beyond the printed page.
The 2027 Red Book celebrates 80 years in publication and more than 26 million copies sold. Whitman describes the guide as the world’s best-selling coin price guide and one of the hobby’s most trusted U.S. coin references.
The Red Book Turns 80
“The 2027 Red Book represents more than an anniversary edition,” said John Feigenbaum, CEO of Whitman Brands. “It’s the next chapter for one of the hobby’s most iconic brands.”
That next chapter includes books, eBooks, certified coins, educational media, collector supplies, and exclusive bundles. In other words, Whitman now treats the Red Book as a collector ecosystem, not just an annual price guide.
That matters. For many collectors, the Red Book has served as the hobby’s front door since R.S. Yeoman’s first edition appeared in 1946. The guide still answers the basic questions that every collector asks: What is this coin? How rare is it? And what is it worth?
Eight Ways to Collect the 2027 Red Book
For the first time, Whitman offers the 2027 Red Book in eight distinct collector formats. That lineup gives readers more choice than any previous edition.
The 2027 Red Book formats include:
- Classic Softcover Edition
- Hardcover Edition
- Spiral-bound Edition
- Large Print Spiral-bound Edition
- Limited Numbered Signature Edition in classic red leatherette
- USA 250 Special Collector’s Edition with a 16-page section on 2026 Semiquincentennial coinage
- Retail-exclusive Collector’s Edition with cover art featuring CAC-certified 2026 circulating coins and the Official Red Book label
- Digital eBook Editions powered by Glassboxx
The new digital editions bring the Red Book into a secure cloud-based library. Glassboxx supports reading across iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and web browsers, giving collectors access from phones, tablets, computers, and the web.
Built From Collector Feedback
The 2027 edition builds on last year’s award-winning redesign. However, Whitman did not simply repeat that format. Instead, the company says it incorporated hundreds of suggestions from collectors, dealers, authors, and researchers.
“For eighty years, the Red Book has been the starting point for millions of collectors,” said Mike Pfeiffer, COO of Whitman Brands. “Today, it’s becoming so much more.”
That collector feedback shows up throughout the 2027 edition. The guide now includes more than 13,000 listings, more than 1,000 new additions, and market values in up to nine grades. It also uses Greysheet-based pricing and GSID catalog numbers.
What’s New Inside the 2027 Red Book
Whitman has expanded the book’s pricing, photography, and specialty coverage. The 2027 edition includes:
- More than 13,000 listings
- Over 1,000 new additions
- Pricing in up to nine grades
- Complete Greysheet CPG retail values
- GSID catalog numbers
- DMPL Morgan Dollar pricing
- Coin roll values
- Restored in-series grading guides
- Proof and circulation values in unified pricing charts
- Expanded error and variety coverage
- More than 2,000 full-color images
- Updated U.S. Mint research and market information
The later summer publication schedule also gives Whitman more time to include new U.S. Mint releases and more current pricing. It also places the launch closer to the ANA World’s Fair of Money, one of the hobby’s largest annual events.
USA 250 Edition Connects the Red Book to America’s Anniversary
The 2027 Red Book also arrives at a major moment for U.S. coinage.
Whitman’s USA 250 Special Collector’s Edition includes expanded historical content and a 16-page commemorative section about the United States Mint’s 2026 Semiquincentennial coin program.
The U.S. Mint created the Semiquincentennial program as a one-year-only celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The Mint introduced special changes to familiar American coinage, including the circulating dime, quarter, and half dollar. The 2026 quarter program features five designs, and the Mint also issued dual-date 1776–2026 coinage tied to the anniversary.
Because of that, the USA 250 Red Book edition works as both a reference and a keepsake. It documents a one-year coinage event that collectors will study long after 2026 ends.
Red Book Moves Beyond the Annual Guide
The Red Book brand now reaches well beyond the annual volume. Whitman has expanded it into a larger platform for collectors.
That platform includes Red Book Quarterly, The Red Book Podcast with John Feigenbaum and Jeff Garrett, Official Red Book graded coin labels, exclusive certified coin programs, collector supplies, digital editions, educational content, specialty books such as Mega Red and Red Book Series guides, and online-exclusive bundles.
Among the newest offerings, Whitman has introduced the U.S. 250th Anniversary Red Book Label Coin Collecting Starter Bundle. The bundle pairs the 2027 Red Book with CAC-certified and graded U.S. Semiquincentennial coins, collector supplies, and exclusive Whitman packaging.
For new collectors, the bundle offers a ready-made entry point. For experienced collectors, it adds certified coins and Red Book-branded packaging that Whitman says collectors cannot find elsewhere.
Whitman also expects to release additional Official Red Book merchandise and collectible accessories later this year.
Available Now
Collectors can purchase the 2027 Red Book through bookstores, hobby retailers, distributors, libraries, museum stores, online retailers, and Whitman.com. Whitman also sells multiple print editions, secure eBook delivery through Glassboxx, exclusive bundles, and online-only releases through its website.
