Jeff Garrett Talks Mega Red with Greg Bennick

In this interview with Greg Bennick, Jeff Garrett discusses his long association with the Red Book, beginning with his work on 100 Greatest U.S. Coins and later assisting longtime editor Ken Bressett with coin pricing. Garrett explains that as the coin market became more sophisticated, he gradually assumed greater responsibility for valuation and editorial content, ultimately becoming Senior Editor of the Red Book in 2019. He reflects on the transition of Whitman Publishing to new ownership under John Feigenbaum, noting that the new management has been more willing to modernize the publication while preserving its iconic identity. Garrett emphasizes that the Red Book remains the foundational reference for U.S. coin collectors, serving both identification and pricing needs. Garrett recounts the origins and evolution of the Mega Red (officially the Professional Edition when first introduced), which grew from a desire to expand the Red Book with more grading information, varieties, historical content, and specialized research. Drawing on material from Whitman specialty references and authors such as Q. David Bowers, the Mega Red has become a comprehensive 1,000+ page reference that Garrett describes as perhaps the most complete single-volume work on U.S. coinage. He highlights the 10th edition’s focus on half eagles, including articles, die varieties, branch mint issues, and extensive photographic content. Garrett and Bennick conclude by recommending the book to both beginning and advanced collectors, noting that it functions as both a practical reference and a collectible in its own right.