Recently, I decided to declutter and stumbled across six old red books I’ve held onto since I began collecting in summer 2012.

I believed I’d never part with them because I’m often obsessed with things I love. However, I soon realized they were just gathering dust on my shelves. If I truly want to embrace a minimalist lifestyle in the future, a good challenge would be to find new homes for these books where they could be useful to other collectors. Especially newer collectors who aren’t as concerned about the edition year and are just starting in the hobby.

While the value of coins in these books might change slightly due to demand, the rest of the content serves as a helpful resource. This is likely why many of us keep them for a long time. But surely, one copy is enough!

Rather than hoarding knowledge on my shelves, I’ve decided to release them back into the world, hoping they’ll inspire other budding collectors. I’ve already found four ways to do this that have been very rewarding.

Maybe it’s worth considering for yourself?

Your local coin club might be the best place to put these books to good use. Many clubs hold community events to educate about the hobby and partner with organizations like the Boy Scouts. Even if there isn’t an urgent need, it never hurts to have extra copies for their library. Not everyone can update their books every year!

Another option that benefits both your coin club and your wallet is selling your old red books at an auction. This keeps everything “in the family,” earns you some cash, and helps fellow members get a great deal. I sold one last week for just $4.00—more than half off the sticker price!

You can also donate your old coin books directly to your town’s library. Most libraries lack books on coin collecting, and if they do have them, they’re often outdated. Donating such resources can be immensely helpful. It’s the gift that keeps on giving! Some people even subscribe libraries to annual memberships to receive monthly coin magazines.

Similar to the library idea, most thrift stores don’t have anything related to coin collecting either. You might spark a young person’s interest or remind an older collector about their forgotten collection. Plus, you might get a small tax write-off!

Here’s a fun idea: donate to a Little Free Library. These are small book exchanges where anyone can take or leave a book. Not every town has one, but those that do offer a charming way to spread the love of reading.

I donated one of my red books to a tiny library near a school, hoping to inspire a young reader. When I checked back 48 hours later, it was gone! Mission accomplished!

While these books are hefty, collecting dust on the floor is as bad as on the shelves. It’s probably best to pass on these Mega Reds in one of the mentioned ways too. They make excellent resources for personal libraries, combining coin valuing and grading guides with pages of research. A great book to own—although one copy is more than enough.

So there you have it! If you’re not aiming for a complete red book collection on top of everything else, consider sharing your copies and spreading the love for the hobby. Tidier bookshelves are just a bonus.

******

Note: I haven’t given away my 1947 second edition red book during this process. That one’s worth about $150—I’m just waiting for the right buyer before I damage it! Protecting rare books is no easy task.

Note II: Don’t have a single red book? Get one to up your game! Though they don’t provide actual resale values for coins, these books offer great ballparks and tons of learning. You might find one on Amazon for around $10 or at your local library or coin club. (FYI, all Amazon links are affiliate links.)