More than twenty years after its original publication, Whitman Brands has released a completely revised second edition of 100 Greatest United States Paper Currency. Authored by longtime paper-money specialists Art Friedberg and Dustin Johnston, the new volume reexamines and re-ranks America’s most significant banknotes in light of two decades of research, market activity, and shifting collector interest.
First issued in 2005, the book returns with expanded historical commentary, updated rarity data, and high-resolution color photography. It covers legendary rarities such as the 1890 “Grand Watermelon” Treasury Note and the 1863 $20 Gold Certificate alongside more approachable favorites, including the colorful 1869 “Rainbow” Notes and the 1896 Educational Series. High-denomination icons, among them the $10,000 Federal Reserve Note, appear next to historically important issues still within reach of many collectors.
Each of the 100 entries includes historical background, expert commentary, Friedberg catalog numbers, and estimated populations. The authors have deliberately omitted individual valuations, focusing instead on historical significance, rarity, and lasting collectability. Collectors seeking current pricing can consult Whitman’s other paper-money references.
Patrick Ian Perez, Whitman’s Chief Publishing Officer, contributes a new foreword. “Paper money collecting has entered a remarkable new era, driven by growing collector interest, groundbreaking research, and greater access to numismatic information than ever before,” Perez said. “When the original edition was published, it inspired collectors to discover, pursue, and appreciate some of the most extraordinary notes in American history. Twenty years later, we’re proud to introduce a completely refreshed edition that reflects how far the hobby has come while making these incredible stories accessible to a new generation of collectors.”
The second edition continues Whitman’s award-winning 100 Greatest series, which now includes titles on U.S. coins, modern coins, ancient coins, women on coins, Canadian coins and tokens, and more. The series has seen renewed attention following the sixth edition of 100 Greatest United States Coins by Jeff Garrett. Whitman is also expanding the brand into other formats, including a planned precious-metal trading-card series based on the U.S. coins volume, scheduled for release in November 2027.
The paper-currency book forms part of a broader push to strengthen Whitman’s paper-money publishing program. In January 2027 the company is scheduled to issue the 24th edition of Friedberg’s Paper Money of the United States—the first under the Whitman imprint. That volume will run 348 pages with roughly 1,000 color photographs and 10,000 market values, covering federal issues from 1861 through Series 2021, plus expanded Colonial and Continental material. Whitman is also preparing a new edition of the Collector’s Guide to Modern Federal Reserve Notes, last updated in 2010.
Together these projects signal a sustained commitment to updating foundational references and giving collectors clearer tools for studying American paper currency.
Collectors interested in the full 100 Greatest lineup can explore the series at whitman.com/series/100-greatest-series. Club members may want to watch for the new Friedberg edition early next year and consider how the revised rankings might influence local exhibit themes or educational programs.