Whitman Acquires Rights to Overton Half Dollar Reference

Whitman Brands has acquired the rights to the influential works of Al C. Overton and Donald L. Parsley, securing the future of Early Half Dollar Die Varieties 1794–1836, the standard reference for collectors of Capped Bust half dollars.

Known throughout numismatics for the widely used Overton numbers, the reference has served for decades as the common language for identifying die marriages in the early half dollar series. Whitman said the acquisition will help preserve that scholarship while supporting future print editions and digital integration.

First published by Al C. Overton in 1967, the work transformed the study of early half dollars by creating a systematic method for attributing varieties that made the field more accessible to collectors. After Overton’s death, his daughter Bonnie and her husband, Donald Parsley, continued developing the reference, improving its plate quality, rarity data, and overall depth over multiple editions.

Whitman described the acquisition as another milestone in the company’s continued expansion, which today operates under the leadership of President and CEO John Feigenbaum. Whitman, long known for the annual Guide Book of United States Coins and Handbook of United States Coins, joined forces with CDN Publishing in 2023, bringing together major publishing and pricing resources in the hobby. In 2024, Whitman also added the Friedberg family of references and numbering systems to its portfolio.

“The Overton-Parsley research is the bedrock of early half-dollar collecting,” Feigenbaum said. “It is a profound honor to be entrusted with Al and Donald’s legacy.”

Whitman said plans for future editions and digital integrations of the Overton-Parsley data will be announced in the coming months.

Last year, Whitman introduced a fully reimagined 2026 edition of the Red Book, adding Greysheet-based retail market values in up to nine grades for more than 12,000 coins, tokens, medals, sets, and other collectibles.

More recently, Whitman said the updated edition has surpassed 315,000 copies sold and introduced new 250th Anniversary coin albums and folders.

For more information, upcoming book releases, and other collecting supplies, visit whitman.com.