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Whitman Acquires Rights to Influential Friedberg Numismatic Books

Whitman Acquires Rights to Influential Friedberg Numismatic Books
Image: Whitman Publishing.

Whitman, a leading publisher of numismatic literature, is proud to announce the acquisition of worldwide intellectual property rights to several iconic coin and currency reference works authored by renowned experts Art and Ira Friedberg. This acquisition includes globally recognized titles such as Gold Coins of the World and Paper Money of the United States, along with the universally respected Friedberg Numbering System™, the standard for cataloging, describing, buying, and selling gold coins and U.S. currency.

These enduring references are celebrated for their scholarly accuracy, depth, and practical value to collectors and researchers. Gold Coins of the World is an indispensable guide for exploring gold coinage from ancient to modern times, while Paper Money of the United States, widely regarded as the definitive currency price guide, has been a cornerstone of U.S. paper money valuation and study for over seven decades.

The acquisition also includes other notable works such as So-Called Dollars by Harold Hibler and Charles Kappen and America’s Foreign Coins and Coins of the British World by Robert Friedberg. Additionally, Whitman will distribute titles previously published by the Coin and Currency Institute, including:

  • A Collector’s Guide to Postage and Fractional Currency
  • Complete Catalog of Large Size Star Notes:1910–1929
  • Early Dated Coins of Europe: 1234–1500
  • The Complete Book of World War II USA POW and Internment Camp Chits
  • The Investor’s Guide to United States Coins
  • United States Paper Money Errors

This acquisition strengthens Whitman’s commitment to delivering the most comprehensive and trusted resources in numismatics. Future editions of these works will be updated under Whitman’s stewardship to reflect the latest research, trends, and pricing data.

Art and Ira Friedberg’s longstanding relationship with Whitman includes authorship of popular titles like Coins of the Bible, Modern World Coins: 1850–1964, and A Guide Book of United States Paper Money (part of the Red Book Series), which has already sold over 8,000 copies since its summer 2024 release.

“Once we decided to sell, there was no doubt who we would entrust these titles to,” said Art Friedberg. “Whitman is the leading authority in numismatic reference books and price guides, and we’re confident they will uphold and enhance the legacy of these works.”

Whitman has incorporated these titles into its distinguished catalog and ONIX 3.1 feed, making them available through its established retail network and wholesale channels. Current inventory can be purchased from Whitman.com, Whitman’s eBay store, Amazon, and Walmart.com, and bookstores, hobby shops, and other retailers nationwide.

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The post Whitman Acquires Rights to Influential Friedberg Numismatic Books appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

One thought on “Whitman Acquires Rights to Influential Friedberg Numismatic Books

  1. spitfire says:

    1. This move by Whitman seems like a smart consolidation of resources, potentially leading to even more refined and comprehensive numismatic guides in the future. I’m particularly interested to see how they update *Gold Coins of the World*.

    2. It’s good to see Whitman continuing to invest in numismatic literature. So many collectors rely on these resources, and keeping them updated and accessible is vital for the hobby.

    3. I wonder if this acquisition will lead to any changes in the pricing of these books. Hopefully, they remain accessible to collectors of all budgets.

    4. The Friedberg Numbering System is such a fundamental part of numismatics. It’s almost like the Dewey Decimal System for coins! It’ll be interesting to see how Whitman manages this crucial aspect.

    5. Acquiring the Coin and Currency Institute titles as well is a big move. It really solidifies Whitman’s position as a one-stop shop for numismatic literature.

    6. I’m curious to see what new titles Whitman might develop now that they have this expanded catalog. Perhaps they’ll branch out into new areas of numismatics.

    7. This news makes me want to revisit some of these classic books. I haven’t looked at *So-Called Dollars* in years!

    8. This acquisition speaks volumes about the enduring value of physical numismatic references in a digital age. There’

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