Competitive NGC collections / sets

Only recently have I begun to buy slabbed coins. As a real old-timer I was always fond of being able to put my hands on the coins, but I understand the purpose and value of third-party graded coins and I enjoy the ones that I have.

Only even more recently did I decide to put together an NGC silver war nickel set. Then on the NGC site I found that you could register your the coins in your set and have it ranked against other sets of the same category.

It's addictive... and just today I got myself a 1942 p five full step ms66, which broke me into the top 100. I'm at 97.

Anyone else hooked on this? I am still looking to increase my ranking on this one but also looking around for ideas for other small sets that are meaningful that I might have a chance to actually complete.

Any suggestions?

 

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Registry sets, whether competitive or not, can be challenging and fun. To be honest, the only sets I don't care for are those put together by people with deep pockets who refuse to post photos of their coins. They want the awards given out by NGC each year, but don't want to use their sets as a teaching tool for other collectors.

Chris

 

Never tried doing registry sets, maybe it's time...

 

Sounds like fun!

 

One of the neat things is that it exposes you to the population spread of the coin year/mint mark and grade, giving you an appreciation of rare a given coin really is. Makes ya feel special, sometimes. Like I found out my MS66 pn one, while there were a couple thousand, there are only 3 (three) MS68s, and nothing higher.

 

SBAs and Ikes are short sets that can be completed as long as you aren't going for the number 1 set, though not sure how high theirs are on there. Franklins are pretty short too. Most sets can be completed if you do date sets instead of the full run.

 

I had 10-12 registry sets with NGC.
They were a mixture of NGC and PCGS slabs.
Then those two TPG's got "unfriendly" and NGC would no longer award points for new PCGS entries into their registry sets.
Since a number of my sets were "works in progress" there was no reason for me to continue entering them.
Plus I was annoyed by the new policy and removed ALL of my sets.
My type set was ranked 15th at the time I took it down.

I now make only NGC Custom Sets so that I can easily do a "dog and pony" show.
But no more Registry Sets.

 

Back in February, I decided to make a registry set to put my NGC-graded bust quarters in just for the heck of it. Everything was going well until I found out that they don't have a slot for 1825. Instead, they have three different overdate slots for that year: 1825/2, 1825/3, and 1825/4 (all three of these are actually 1825/4/2, but that's beside the point). Since my coin's holder said "1825," I couldn't enter it. I was fairly frustrated that an NGC-graded coin could fill zero slots in NGC's registry set program without paying extra money to have an erroneous attribution attached to it, so I threw in the towel about half an hour after starting it.

Anyway, if you aren't prone to "rage-quitting" and don't stumble across weird situations like I did I think you could really have a lot of fun.

 

I'm over on PCGS with Bookers and Carver Washington's. Tads of fun, and a great way to keep track of of things, but I'll never enter the top ten. I refuse to get carried away with the competition..........

 

Completely agree about folks not posting pics. They should be given a set time, say 6 months, to post a pic or the coin should be removed from the registry for at least year. The year's time out would prevent them getting an award. Even worse is that the registries allow hidden or obscured sets where you can't even see the grades let alone pics.

Cal

 

Maybe the money stands in the way of practical skills Chris. Maybe, they just don't know how......

 

All they have to do is spend a little more money to have it done. NGC and PCGS are glad to make pics as are others like BluCC, JK, and several more.

Cal

 

Heck, if Little Lord Fauntleroy's abound, then that might account for something lacking in skills. After all, these types of pukes have always had their posteriors wiped by others.......

 

They still lack the skills.........something you and I (happily) possess.......

 

They just may not want people knowing which coin is/was theirs for whatever reason. For PCGS at least the top 5 sets in certain categories can get free pedigrees one the holders. Obviously not everyone who could has taken them up on that offer.

 

I applaud those fellows.

 

I don't think the coins should be removed, but I do think that they should not be allowed to win a Registry Award if they don't post photos.

Chris

 

I would be more than happy to provide the names of some professional numismatic photographers who could undertake the chore for them.

Chris

 

Here, here......

 

Posting photos of the coins will not, in any way, affect their anonymity.

Chris