BOOK REVIEW: MODERN FEDERAL RESERVE NOTES, 1963–2009

The recently released (2011), Whitman Publishing LLC, “Collector’s Guide to Modern Federal Reserve Notes, Series 1963 – 2009,” by Robert Azpiazu is another in a long line of “An Official Whitman Guidebook(s).” The reference covers 29 different series of Federal Reserve notes in denominations from $1 through $100. Star or replacement notes are also covered. It has a soft cover, is spiral bound and contains 448 well illustrated pages. It is the same size as most of the Whitman “Redbook” size references.

The Foreword was written by noted author Art Friedberg and he said the book is especially valuable to collectors and dealers at every level. The book lists the key notes for each denomination, which is especially useful since the number of notes printed does not always tell the whole story of what is truly scarce.

This collector’s guide to modern Federal Reserve notes is written in an easy to read and understand format. The nine page introduction contains all the preliminary information you will need if you want to start collecting these small size notes. You will learn how to differentiate between the notes printed in Washington and Fort Worth; how notes are laid out on a 32-subject sheet; the elements of Federal Reserve notes, and just what is on the face and back of each note. We recommend that you always call paper money face and back, not obverse and reverse.

The introduction also contains: The different ways to collect the notes; how to use the book; selected paper money terms; low and fancy numbers; mules, runs (there are 15 different runs in current $1 Federal Reserve Note production. A run consists of 6,400,000 notes); series and district designators and finally serial numbers.

The author has spent countless hours in researching the information for this reference. The oldest Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) Report he could find was for 1976. And he went on to say that many printings were omitted or the wrong information was given for these reports. Over many years, we have seen Robert looking at auction lots and attending just about every major paper money sale held.

He also had bourse tables (or an early-bird badge), at most of the major coin and paper money shows. At these events he was constantly asking collectors and looking at dealers stocks of small size Federal Reserve Notes. Over the course of all these years of research, searching for needed information, buying and selling, he has listed prices for these notes which are a true barometer of just where the market stands for the information contained in this reference.

We collect small size Federal Reserve notes and many times we just are not sure how common or scarce a note is that we are about to purchase. With this easy to carry reference, we can look up the information with ease and know exactly what a note is worth. Though other paper money references include the pricing of the notes which are covered in this book; we feel this reference is the one to have for this series of notes.

Author Robert Azpiazu has given us a reference that will enhance the collecting of small size Federal Reserve notes. Some of the later issues of these notes can still be found in banks for face value. This reference will also be very useful from what ever source you are using to either buy or sell notes listed in the book. We have many small size FRN’s in our collection, and with this reference we can review the notes and we can determine which are common and which are scarce.

Both the dealers and collectors now have a very useful guide to price their collection or stock in a fair and equitable manner. We highly recommend this book for any numismatist or non-numismatist. Quoting Dennis Tucker, the publisher of this book for Whitman, “We feel this book has the same potential to revolutionize and invigorate paper-money variety collecting that the Cherrypickers’ Guide had for U. S. coins back in the early 1990’s.” We wholeheartedly agree and think that a steady and upward movement is in the cards for the series of notes covered in this reference.

The retail price of the reference is $29.95. For information regarding the book or purchasing a copy, you can contact: Whitman Publishing, LLC, 3101 Clairmont Road, Suite B, Atlanta, GA 30329, Phone (404) 235-5300 or (800) 546-2995, Email info@whitmanbooks.com Web Page http://whitmanbooks.com

To read Mike Marotta's review in the last E-Sylum, see: BOOK REVIEW: MODERN FEDERAL RESERVE NOTES, 1963–2009 (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n52a03.html)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web