The "Red Book" tells you how much you can expect to pay a coin dealer for the coins you need. But what if you have coins to sell? How do you know if the offer you've been given is fair? That's where the "Blue Book" comes in. Since 1942, the Handbook of United States Coins (called the "Blue Book" for its distinctive cover color) has been the annual reference used by U.S. coin dealers to make buying offers. Likewise, coin collectors use it to find out what dealers will pay for their coins. Its price listings offer a real-world look at the coin market, gathered from dozens of well-known and active dealers around the country.