Ok... So I'm starting a registry set on Franklin half dollars. Do most "setters" keep all the coins the same grade? What is a good starting grade....MS 63 or 64? Thanks.
Once you have determined your Registry of choice, PCGS or NGC, you need to understand that site's rules. How you choose to build your set is totally up to you. I choose a "target" grade to strive for, as a personal goal, regardless of how it fit in to the other sets there. A number of factors can be considered, cost of course being only one. Collecting is about having fun with a hobby, so go have fun.
I have my Kennedy Proof registry on NGC. I have never tried PCGS, so I cant say if one is better than the other. My goal is PF69 Ultra Camero for the coins, and 90% of them meet this grade. I dont have a single example of PF70, since they can be 4 times (or more) the cost of a PF69, and that doesnt make much sense to me. In the tougher years, I bought PF68 Cameo, which are way more affordable than Ultra Cameo. So, my goal is 69, but budget makes the final determination. It is fun for me to add a coin and increase in the standings a few places. It also makes it easy to know which coins you are still missing, major varieties, etc. Gives you a ballpark value, and you can export you coin inventory as a report in PDF and Excel (either just your registry coins, or ALL your coins). Since I am only really needing one major coin left for the reistry (not counting 2012), I recently spent time taking pics of every coin (Thanks Detecto for motivating me) and uploading it to the registry. This is good for a variety of reasons, and I know I like looking at other peoples coins.
Probably the most important rule of first time registry players is do what you want and collect what you like. Don't think about rankings. In many cases it leads to buying coins just for points not because it is a coin you like. BTW before choosing a grade in the Franklin's make up your mind to go full bell line or not. Price wise the non FBL set will be a lot cheaper.
If you want to be the "number one greatest set of all time", prepare to pay way too much for your coins. Take for example the 1932 D Washington quarter which sold for $143,750 recently at Bowers and Marena. It is the single finest and surely was battled for by two registry collectors. A good price for a MS-65 is a little more than a tenth of that price.
The 1998-s Silver SMS/SP/MS (or whatever you want to call the Matte Proof). Cheapest I have seen them is $150.00. I'll be saving awhile.
Agreed. I will probably never be higher than #100 in the Kennedy Registry, but moving up from #115 to #110 can still be fun, even for us small time players, as long as you are collecting the series you like, not just "collecting the points".
I have one which is non-discriminate on grade, i.e. any MS with Proofs. The one I'm working on now, all are MS/PR64 or higher. The next one, will be MS64 or higher with FBL. Any I purchased that were slabbed, are no longer in the slab, and reside in 2x2s in a binder.
The higher the grade the better. MS64 is an excellent starting point but I think you'll find that mixing grades will be difficult to avoid.
I've personally avoided registry sets, as it commits the collector to stick with only one TPG. They can be very cool, and many of my friends have them, either with PCGS and/or NGC. Problem is, neither has crossover privileges for coins certified by the other company in the set. I do believe the advice given is good--establish the rules of the company, and then get the nicest coins YOU CAN AFFORD. Finances drive registry and complete sets a lot. When I had my complete Morgan set, it was not a registry, as the coins were from 3 different TPGs--NGC, PCGS, and ANACS. With Franklins, it is a little bit easier, as nice condition key dates aren't as insanely expensive as some series.
This is why my advice started with reading the rules for the Host company you choose. The NGC Registry does allow PCGS coins.
I prefer to have all of my coins in the same slabs. My primary registry set goal right now and for the next 30 or so years is to do a full set of MS64 or better Merc Dimes with FB. Easy enough, right? Just don't have the funds... So to make it more challenging, I'm only buying Mercs with the old green inserts. Adds another level of difficulty.
This is outright false. NGC allows all PCGS coins as competing in US Coin sets. Conversely, PCGS sets are the ones that are "elitist" and exclusive to their own brand of plastic. I strongly recommend going with NGC's website if you decide to start a registry set. You can place either PCGS or NGC coins in the set, and if you decide to go with FBL coins (any at all, not necessarily all of them) NGC is much more strict on the FBL designation. Not to mention, for all of the PCGS kool-aid drinkers there are fewer coins to fill their slots, and thus sometimes you can get a nicer example from NGC for way less money. As others have pointed out, make sure you are creating a registry set for the right reasons. I use the sets as a way to organize my coins, as I would have the coins regardless of if I could put them in a spot or not. Don't resort to buying coins just to plug a hole....I promise eventually you'll regret that method.
My opinion of each grade: 63 and 63 FBL: Bad idea 64: Don't get, unless it looks FBL or 65 64 FBL: Dates known to have average strikes 65: Dates known to have strong strikes 65 FBL: Common dates 66: Dates known to have weak strikes 66 FBL: Easiest dates 67: Bad idea I recommend the grades highlighted in green
