geekpryde's "Box of 100" CAC Type Set

This is what I use. I have a 25 coin version and 2x of the 50 coin versions (for the box of 100).

I will say, the first two I bought maybe around 2014 and they were better quality than the one i purchased in the last year. Even the dimensions are slightly different which annoys me. I even returned one I purchased thinking it as a fake knockoff, reordered directly from the manufacture, and it was the same thing. It's good enough. The aluminum is nice, as I can bang it around back and forth between the bank it the slabs and coins are well protected.

 

Yeah, this is the one that irks me so badly, I can't even bring myself to list if for sale or take photos. I really like this coin, (seller photos stink), but the rim slice drives me practically insane. Looks worse in hand, as it also is shiny and reflective.

 

Latest addition, not here yet, Civil War Token, which is a spot I wanted to fill.

(1861-65) CIVIL WAR TOKEN - TRADE & COMMERCE PATRIOTIC F-259 - 445A PCGS MS63 BROWN

 

Lovely example and nice design type!

 

Quoting myself here, I finally listed this coin and it sold quick. I can move on with my life now.

Interesting how coin "pet-peeves" I have are not even considered by other collectors. Buyer loved the coin.

 

Latest additions:




Morgan Dollar.

When I quit buying coins like 10 years ago, the last thing I did was sold my Morgan Dollar Type coin. I sort of regret it, as I liked the coin, and also it has sort of unusual toning, the color was not your typical rainbow. Nothing spectacular, but I liked it enough and I dont really know why I sold it except to just be "done" with coins.

This is the new Type coin. I like it, but maybe not as much as my original example. Still waiting on that "wow" Morgan that I can afford...









I now have a Type coin for the 10, 20, 50 Centavos.






Here is a coin I bought, loved the look in photos, but in hand not quite special enough for me, So I will NOT be replacing my existing coin. It is my birthyear so I was going for that angle. Skin in photos is really nice, but in hand its just sort of a boring Washington. :-(

 

Aug 2024 "Status of the Collection" Update.

I am at 99 coins out of 100 depending on how you count.

I have realized "numbering" the coins is dumb, because unless I keep them in "Date Purchased" order, than the order and numbering constantly changes.

I have purchased 21 coins in 2024. !!! Average Price of coins purchased in 2024 is $137

Of the 21, 16 ended up in the Geekpryde Box of 100 Type set.

I sold 3 coins from my Box of 100 in 2024.

I buy almost exclusively from Great Collections. (1 out of 24 was on PCGS forum)

Various Liberty Seated "No Drapery" Type coins continue to elude me, that's what will end up as the last Box-of-100 Type coins I think.

Happy Hunting!

 

I am working on my PCGS Digital Album for this Box of 100 Type coins.

Of course the NGC coins are not here, so it's feels lacking as a Type set, but it's a good start for now.

This method does a great job to showcase a set of coins beautifully, and something that is easy to share with friends / family / or online forums. PCGS has some really nice software behind this, its very easy to create, edit, and share these Digital Albums once you load all your coins into inventory.

I recommend that if you own PCGS coins, and especially if you have TrueViews of those coins, to create one of these albums for your set. It works great for "custom registry sets" or "Showcases" in PCGS parlance, for when the registry doesn't have what you want or need for your collection.

I notably like how the album shows the relative size of each coin, something that normal TrueViews or uploaded images for a registry set do not convey.

Take a peak:

geekpryde's Affordable PCGS Business Strike US Type Set with Major Varieties

 

Sept 2024 "Status of the Collection" Update:

I have sent and received back a 6 coin CAC submission.
I am preparing to send a PCGS reslab & photo submission.

I reorganized my box-of-100 coins to remove a Kennedy SMS coin, as I think SMS should not really count for Business Strike Type set, AND, I also already have a Kennedy SMS coin that really is a Matte Proof, so I am already pushing the theme of my set.

Removed:



I am just going to stick the above coin in my "Kennedy Set", which is not by Date or by Type or even by Finish, its just made up of coins I really like. Have 6 or so coins so far, but that's for another thread at some point in the future.

Kept In: (even though pushing the Theme of my Set)



(As you might have guessed, I really like the Kennedy coin design.)

I also re-organized my box, in the sense that I now list my coins by (1) Denomination, then (2) Design Type, then by (3) Metal composition. I think I like better than what I had been doing (1) Denomination, then (2) Year, then by (3) Metal composition.

Doing a Type set by year ends up having coins of Type 3 showing up before the Type 1 of the same series in many cases, which I decided today, that I don't like.

For example, I wanted my CENT - LINCOLN, TYPE 1, WHEAT REVERSE to come before CENT - LINCOLN, TYPE 2, WHEAT REVERSE STEEL, but that doesn't necessarily happen in you take Date as the second sort criteria, as my Type 1 example coin is dated 1952 and my Type 2 example is 1943.

I realize this may seem like much ado about nothing, but organization a collection helps me keep focus and I want to be able to share it in a logical manner that makes sense and I can justify beyond just tossing 100 coins into a box all haphazard. I ended up moving several series around.

Certain coins continue to elude me because my bidding strategy perennially puts me as the underbidder on coins that infrequently show up at my preferred auction house. "Thinly traded" is an finance term that comes to mind.

The seated "no drapery" coins across all the denominations are really confounding me in the grades I need, TPG I want, within budget I have set, and so forth. So, I am going to redouble my efforts with aggressive bidding, especially since I have mostly filled by box and can laser focus on a few remaining types.

I also recently joined the CAC registry, although I don't plan on grading or crossing any coins with them anytime soon. They didn't even have a "Slab box" until this past week, so even storing those extra thick slabs was a pain as they dont fit into PCGS or NCG boxes.

Check out my CAC Registry Dansco 7070 if you are curious.

I am strongly considering sending a batch of coins to sell with Great Collections instead of doing that on eBay or elsewhere. I want to free up some money for coins I actually want, and get rid of the fluff that doesn't fit into my box of 100, or my Kennedy collection, or my raw Washingtons date set (which is basically abandoned at this point). I have some modern graded bullion coins, duplicates, etc. We all have fluff in our collection as we change our minds about collecting goals. I think I will make that a goal to do before 2025.

 

Constantly tweaking, pruning, reorganizing. I respect that. I’m the same way.

Kennedy halves do nothing at all for me, but that SP69 is sweet.

Best of luck on the early Seated stuff.

I’ve sorta been playing with the idea of sending some of my castoffs to Great Collections myself (when I have any). At least the US material. Heritage might be the better venue for my World and Ancients. I’m not sure, as I’ve never consigned to a third-party auction house before. I always went the self-listed eBay route before (for anything I didn’t just sell privately on the forums).

But eBay has gotten expensive and more choked with red tape. For all that, the idea of consigning to an auction house and letting THEM do all the photography and shipping is increasingly tempting.

 

I organized my coin photos tonight!!

Moved things like SOLD coins to a dedicated folder, deleted duplicates, renamed a ton of files, etc. Took 3+ hours of work, but it was much needed! I have over 5,000 coin photos, my coins, friends coins, sold coins, etc.

In general, I like to have the following for each coin in my Permanent Collection:

1. Obverse Slab Shot
2. Reverse Slab Shot
3. Obverse Closeup
4. Reverse Closeup
5. Template showing the both closeup shots in a single image with the grade and cert.
6. Sellers Photos (from whom I bought the coin)
7. Available PCGS Trueview and/or Available GC "Great Photo"

The on top of that I have all my raw test photos different lighting, etc.

So, a 100 coin collection generally means I have at least 700 photos that are the "keepers".

I name them very particularly so I can find any photos, or a certain search term, in a matter of seconds across all 5,000 coin pics.

For example, I name all images of the below coin:

1944 50C HALF DOLLAR - WALKING LIBERTY PCGS MS65 13086543 CAC
and append things such as "Obv Slab" or "Rev Closeup" or "Template" or "TrueView" as needed.

This allows me to search for instance "50c" and find all my half dollars instantly. Very helpful when I decide to make a post, or list a coin for sale, or want to add coins to a new registry, like the one at CACG.


For this one coin, I have these pics:

(the date being blown out is not ideal)












Just wanted to share, as I am in a big reorganization kick. Got all my box-of-100 coins re-ordered and took a bunch of new photos.


Also, I shipped 2 coins out to PCGS to have them re-slabbed, something I wanted to do for 10 years for coins in terrible scratched up holders. I tried everything like slab-renew, Meguiars PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish, etc. and nothing could get these scratches out. This made quality photos impossible. Finally just gave up and PCGS can make it all better for me.

See what I mean, this is minimizing them as much as possible and still looks terrible!

 

Latest purchased for box-of-100 should arrive this week!



Still at 99 coins overall, as one came out (the Kennedy previously mentioned)

My want/need List is getting shorter and shorter,

Technically I should be hunting for a Three Cent Silver, Type 2 or Three Cent Silver, Type 3, but in my price range those coins are DOGS!

Probably end up will be another "no drapery" Type.

 

CAC grading has added a nice "Want List" feature. Doesn't really do anything other than allow a user to make a list. Meaning, it doesn't currently match you with dealers or inventory or anything like that. But I am going to a very small coin show in Maine this weekend, so I used that as an excuse to load up my want list on CAC, I can report it works nice, especially if you build it from the registry side. If you come in from a registry set, you can just click a STAR for your missing / wanted coins.

I really like how you can specify specific grades, that way I can stay focused on coins I can likely afford, and just not even get my hopes up for coins in grades way beyond my means.

Helpful resource for collectors, If you want to check it out and make your own list.

https://www.cacgrading.com/





For anyone following along with my journey of my Box-of-100 CAC Type Set, this is what I plan to be looking for on GreatCollections and local coin shows over the coming months. List has shrunk alot since I posted something here on CT like 10 years ago. 2024 has been a banner year for buying coins!

Series	Type	Grade (Low)	Grade (High)
Draped Bust Large Cents (1796-1807)	Draped Bust Cent (1796-1807)	1	15
Lincoln Cents - Memorial Reverse	Lincoln Cent Memorial Bronze (1959-1982)	66	68+
Classic Head Large Cents (1808-1814)	Classic Head Cent (1808-1814)	1	15
Coronet Head Large Cents (1816-1839)	Matron Head Cent "Young Head" (1835-1839)	1	58+
3-Cent Silver	Three-Cent Silver Type 2 (1854-1858)	1	58+
3-Cent Silver	Three-Cent Silver Type 3 (1859-1872)	1	58+
Jefferson Nickels	Jefferson Nickel Reverse of 1940 (1939-1964)	66	68
Liberty Seated Dimes	Liberty Seated Dime Arrows (1853-1855)	1	63
Liberty Seated Dimes	Liberty Seated Dime Stars Arrows (1853-1855)	1	58+
Liberty Seated Dimes	Liberty Seated Dime Legend Arrows (1873-1874)	1	58
Liberty Seated Dimes	Liberty Seated Dime No Stars (1837-1838)	1	40
Liberty Seated Quarters	Liberty Seated Quarter Arrows at Date, No Rays (1854-1855)	1	55+
Liberty Seated Quarters	Liberty Seated Quarter No Drapery No Motto (1838-1840)	1	45+
Capped Bust Half Dollars	Capped Bust Half Dollar Lettered Edge Slightly Modified Portrait (1834-1836)	1	53+
Capped Bust Half Dollars	Capped Bust Half Dollar Lettered Edge First Style (1807-1808)	1	35+
Liberty Seated Half Dollars	Seated Liberty Half Dollar Motto Above Eagle Arrows at Date (1873-1874)	1	50+
Liberty Seated Half Dollars	Liberty Seated Half Dollar No Drapery No Motto (1839)	1	15
Draped Bust Dollars	Draped Bust Silver Dollar Small Eagle Reverse (1795-1798)	1	8+
Draped Bust Dollars	Draped Bust Silver Dollar Heraldic Eagle Reverse (1798-1803)	1	6+
Seated Dollars	Liberty Seated Dollar No Motto (1840-1865)	1	20

 

As I find it harder to source coins I need and want for my set, Organizing, culling, focusing the sets theme, and most importantly to me, improving my sets presentation has taken over some of my coin "hunting" time. I want the set to be sharable, understandable , and cohesive looking. It's well worth the effort of improving my photos, getting coins reslabbed as needed, joing registry's, and making more regular forum posts to further my goal. This tweaking part has proven fun for me.

 

Bought a coin at the Brunswick Coin Club coin show held today (10/6/2024) in Topsham, Maine.

I normally go there, have a fine time, but don't actually buy anything. 60% of dealers only have raw stuff, and a few stamp dealers, so there is not usually much stuff for me to look at when you come right down to it.

I saw a few Copper Lincoln memorial cents I liked, I need a Type 3 coin (copper) which is years 1959-1982. But I also tend to think that in general, Lincoln cents are a bit boring. That is why my Zinc Type (1982-2008) is the 1995 DDO.

So instead of an MS67 example, (which is what I have been looking for for many months), I decided it would be more interesting and fun to have an "Error" coin, which is not something I have ever owned as part of my permanent collection (or maybe at all?).

So I bought this from a very nice dealer, who seemed to be into everything. He was primarily a Guitar dealer, but also Comics, Coins, Sports Cards, and I'm sure even more if the conversation had lasted any longer.

I've not really heard of Type Collectors using error coins for their example, but I figure, why not? I now have sort of a double-whammy, both the Type and and error coin.




My wife is also happy, as the stole it from me to give to me as a Birthday gift in a few days.

Cross another one off the list!

 

I also find inspiration from other members here, especially the collectors that are "Type" focused, Box-of-20 or Box-of-100 limited, or themed (like Horses), or that have their coins shown with superior photography. Certainly has helped shape my goals for how I approach the "collecting" part of the hobby.

A specific person here at CT, has even made me realize just how pretty high grade Jefferson Nickels can be, so I got into finding beautiful examples.

I have NOT changed my primary "focus" much in around 12 years, but certainly my thinking has evolved within that focus, and so has the hobby in general to some extent. What people thought "Weird" back in 2013, which was a CAC-only Type set, well that's just plain normal now, so much so, that CAC has its own "CAC-only" registry sets and started a grading company!

I have completely changed my view on a few things, just as one example, I used to greater prefer NGC and their white slabs. But over the years, I have completely flip-flopped and greatly prefer PCGS slabs. What I realized is that I loved NGC Fatty holders, and in my mind, that meant I loved NGC holders in general, and well, its just not true. Took me many years to realize just how much I don't like the modern NGC holders.

I also used to hate SBA dollar, but actually really like my Type coin and don't just have it to fill a hole. (I still refuse to have a 50-States quarter in my set and most super modern coins).

I would be curious to know what changes you end up making to your own set, maybe if you end up implementing any tweaks, you can start a new thread so we can follow along with your process.

I know that I have turned my thread here into almost a Journal, where I dump my coin-related thoughts out, mostly for myself, but also because maybe a few people out of many thousands will think they are interesting or might spark some ideas.

 

Yes, I have heard (and seen to some extent) the coins on Instagram, and some vest-pocket dealers sort of making their business model videos on instagram. I have not tried yet to shop for any coins there, or to display my collection there, but maybe one day.

Certainly video is not something I have tried or considered, but when I see others do it, you do really get a sense of the luster and toning of a coin beautifully, a more "complete" picture of the coin so to speak, even though I still prefer the static photo.

Maybe I too one day will need to do videos of my collection, as I would find a larger audience I think to share them with, hmmm... See you got my thinking again, LOL.