I just had an interesting conversation with Matt Campbell at NGC... over the score of my 2015 w dime.. NGC scores all modern proof dimes with a max score of 211 for type sets.. It's my opinion that a coin with a mintage of only 75k and fewer then 1k 70s, should score much higher then a similar coin with a mintage of 1B and 20k 70s... NGCs opinion is that grade only comes into play on a type set, not rarity/key dates, so the coin get the same score as any other dime of the same grade in that period... Sounds like total BS to me, but I can see Matt's point as well... What do you guys think... Should a low mintage, special release coin get a higher type score then common date mega-mintage coin?
I don't care, but maybe rarity should be the tie-breaker when all else is equal (in type set competition)!
Sorry, but no. For my two cents it should be by the grade only, above/before all else...already at that, all-too-subjective...but factor in the rarity/mintage/70s scores and grades, et al, and then where do you draw the additional lines and criteria of pop cut-off numbers for what's rare, semi-rare, more/less rare, mega-rare...plus different for each different coin, etc, etc. It just muddies the grading/scoring waters more than they already are, and we don't need that...my op.
No proof has a mintage of 1 billion nor does any circulation strike get 70s aside from like a couple you can count on your fingers from NGC. The premise of the complaint is flawed to being with.
I agree with rarity being a possible tie breaker in a type set. But the goal of registry type sets isn't to necessarily have the rarest coin-just the nicest example of the type.
I think for type sets condition should be the sole rating condition. If someone wants to use rarity as a point-setter, then the appropriate registry sets for that is the series. I don't participate in registry sets so my opinion probably has little value (no dog in the hunt and all that).
I used to have an NGC Registry Type Set but I gave it up. Things went "south" for me when NGC wouldn't recognize 1856 FE's graded MS. Apparently NGC doesn't recognize Rick Snow's work. And PCGS didn't recognize NGC graded coins. So I dropped out of Registry Sets and just went with plain old type sets. After all there is no specific definition for the contents of a type set. I just go with what pleases me.
If you're frustrated over that you better not wade into the US type. This scenario plays out over and over. I don't worry about it that much. Sometimes I'll settle for a lower grade of a rarer type for my own satisfaction. I just got an 1823/2 Large Es CB dime to fill that slot. 440,000 minted but only about 2-3k estimated left in existence. They are definitely harder to find than the other dates. I got that one because I like interesting differences on the capped bust series but it's a tougher date and not as nice of an example as I could have gotten. The modern cents are the most confusing. You get into business strike, special satin finish, proof, reverse proofs, all different point totals. I suppose the system is complicated enough for them without recognizing additional points for rarer specimens but I would take the points if they gave them.
I based my US Type Set on the NGC Registry Type Set. NGC last I saw had the largest "definition" for the US Type Set. The I tweaked their "definition" to accommodate my personal definition. 1. My US Type Set ends with 1964 (the ending date of most US silver coins). 2. I do not include proofs. Among other things that means I don't need a Stella. 3. I recognize the 1792 proposed coinage (particularly the Half Disme) but realize it's HIGHLY unlikely that I will ever own any. 4. I believe the status of the 1787 Fugio cents has changed and I'm on the prowl for one. 5. I recognize gold coins designed prior to 1834 but I'm currently not financially interested in purchasing any. 6. I recognize Gobrecht dollars but realize it's HIGHLY unlikely that I will ever own one. 7. There's probably some others I've forgotten. Within those parameters my US Type Set is two coins short of complete.
There is not one definitive type set at NGC. I do the US Type including moderns which is what I liked. The moderns are interesting, easy to obtain, but not worth alot of points for most. I do a gold type by itself on the side. The one including moderns is fairly in depth with silver and clads, three different types for the 3 cents, SLQs, lots of seated liberty types. Includes early, 1700 types you might never find. All the CBHs not just one example. There is a more basic one you can do and I believe one that stops at 64. The UST Including moderns does recognize the half disme, and the Gobrecht dollar but only guys in the top 50 have them. I've accepted there's a handful I'll never see unless I hit the lottery. It seems they have a specific type for everyone's needs.
