The Numismatic Literary Guild® (NLG®) presented Whitman Brands™, publisher of the CDN Monthly Greysheet®, the2024 NLG Award for Best Price Guide at the ANA World’s Fair of Money® in Rosemont, Illinois on Thursday, August 8, 2024.
For over 60 years, CDN has been the undisputed resource for pricing for U.S. coins and paper money. Renowned for its accuracy and dependability, the Greysheet is revered within the numismatic community as the "gold standard" reference for wholesale pricing, insights, and news. Each monthly issue includes pricing for nearly every U.S. coin, as well as modern China issues and values from former Greysheet publications, Bluesheet®, and Goldsheet® newsletters, incorporated into a single 134 page full-color magazine.
John Feigenbaum, President and CEO of Whitman Brands, expressed deep gratitude for being chosen by the Guild, stating, "We are honored by this year’s recognition. Greysheet and its associated products continue to set the standard for coin values, and this acknowledgment is truly humbling."
The Coin Dealer Newsletter was first published in 1963, when the dealer community expressed a need for a weekly compendium of bid levels. The very first issue was known as the National Coin Broker’s Bulletin, a name soon changed to the Coin Dealer Newsletter. The Monthly Supplement was first introduced in 1980, providing dealers with thousands of additional prices every month. Today, dealers simply refer to us as the "Greysheet." From the beginning, as now, we meticulously examine all possible sources of information (teletype services, computerized trading networks, dealer trades, "buy" lists, and auction prices realized) to present relevant and exceptionally high-quality content, products, and service to our clients, customers, and the larger collectibles community.
In 2023, CDN Publishing and Whitman Publishing united, creating a historic moment in numismatic history. Whitman Brands, the collaboration’s new name, marries CDN’s data-driven wholesale expertise with Whitman’s retail prowess, offering a comprehensive and intellectually rich coverage of collectibles.
Whitman’s legendary brands, such as Red Book, Blue Book, 100 Greatest, Cherrypicker’s Guides, and an expansive line of folders, albums, and supplies, have long dominated the retail landscape. Meanwhile, CDN Publishing boasts esteemed wholesale brands like Greysheet, Greensheet, CPG, CDN Exchange, and the Banknote Book.
Additionally, Jeff Garrett, Senior Editor of A Guide Book of United States Coins, affectionately known as the "Red Book," received the Clemy Award, the highest honor of the NLG annually bestowed to a member in recognition of writing skill, dedication to numismatics, sense of humor and dedication to the Numismatic Literary Guild.
The Numismatic Literary Guild is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization composed of editors, authors, writers, bloggers and content producers who cover news and feature stories about all forms of money, medals and tokens as collectibles. Each year they host an Annual Writers Competition and hold an Awards Ceremony at the annual ANA World’s Fair of Money.
About Whitman Brands™
Formed from the 2023 merger of the numismatic publishing powerhouses of CDN and Whitman, Whitman Brands combines the revered titles of Red Book, Blue Book, 100 Greatest, Cherrypicker’s Guides, and an expansive line of folders, albums, and supplies, that have long dominated the retail landscape with the pricing and data-rich expertise of Greysheet, Greensheet, CPG, CDN Exchange, and the Banknote Book.
Whitman Brands offers a comprehensive and rich coverage of collectibles, literature, cataloging and pricing, which embraces the heritage of numismatics and seeks to enrich the lives of all coin and paper money enthusiasts. As North America’s leading producer of coin and currency shows, Whitman Expos and its three industry leading events in Baltimore further enhance the brand portfolio and expand the company’s national reach.
“Today, dealers simply refer to us as the “Greysheet.” From the beginning, as now, we meticulously examine all possible sources of information (teletype services, computerized trading networks, dealer trades, “buy” lists, and auction prices realized) to present relevant and exceptionally high-quality content, products, and service to our clients, customers, and the larger collectibles community.” That statement is taken verbatim from the body of today’s CoinNews.net column above. This would seem to indicate this text was provided to CoinNews.net by Whitman Brands to be printed as such in its entirety. If so, isn’t this in fact an advertisement rather than an article? Aditionally, does this even… Read more »
Kaiser, most likely there was a press release supplied by Whitman. The US Mint does the same thing in releasing “news”, but I agree there should have been a reference cited. Check out the 2nd paragraph 2nd sentence in full on the Whitman webpage: “For over 60 years, CDN has been the undisputed resource for pricing for U.S. coins and paper money. Renowned for its accuracy and dependability, the Greysheet is revered within the numismatic community as the “gold standard” reference for wholesale pricing, insights, and news.” CDN Brands | Whitman Brands – Whitman, GreySheet, H.E. Harris, Cowens
Major D,
Since I didn’t want to make a big deal out of this observation I am so very glad you included in your response to my comment that you agreed “there should have been a reference cited.” Many thanks to you for doing that and also for providing the link to the CDN Brands/Whitman Brands website.
Did you see where the sentence was copied word-for-word in its entirety from the web site?
Major D,
Now that you’ve mentioned it I went back for another and closer look, and sure enough, there it is in all of its self-glorifying splendor.
This makes their whole “advertisement disguised as a news story” routine even funnier. Word for word; you just gotta love it…or not!
And it used to be better, it has been cannibalized to create more publications
All due to a sorely mistaken belief that more is always better.
So who was their competition in order for them to win this “award?”
Seems to me like they have the market cornered on price guides but maybe I am missing something.
I’m surprised eBay doesn’t do price guides, or partner with someone. They have all the data.
Major D,
I’m not sure eBay has the right type of operation to be capable of producing that type of material. Additionally, eBay seems to lack the controls to monitor and thus guarantee the authenticity of everything that is sold on its site nor does it appear to have sufficient means to assure the validity of all the claims made by its sellers.
TheKings714,
I don’t know if I’m being realistic or cynical but it would seem to me that since they, as you said, “have the market cornered on price guides”, they can and likely will do whatever they want when it comes to finding ways to heap plaudits on and give congratulations to themselves at every opportunity. Advertising is the name of the game.