It seems like PCGS is creating “Orphans” again for the Kennedy series. For some reason the powers to be at PCGS has determined that all of the new 50th Anniversary Kennedy half dollars are not part of the Kennedy series and will only be included in the Modern Commemorative Set in their Registry. NGC on the other hand is requiring all of the new 50th Anniversary Kennedy half dollars in either their basic Proof or Uncirculated Sets plus they are making a special set for just the new 50th Anniversary Kennedy half dollars. The word I heard from PCGS is: “The coins are considered commemorative (see population report) and at this point, will not be included in the denomination sets.” I fail to see the logic to this, if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and looks like a duck then it probably is a duck. It would be nice if PCGS would use some consistence on how they list coins in their competitive sets. I mean first of all these new 2014 Kennedy half dollars I believe the US Mint listed as 50th Anniversary coins and not commemoratives. Second, the 1996 W Roosevelt dime was struck on the 50th anniversary of that series and PCGS includes it in the basic Roosevelt dime collection. The special silver Eagles struck on the 10th, 20th and 25th Anniversary, PCGS includes in that denomination Registry set(s). The Bicentennial coinage of 1975 – 1976 was to commemorate the two hundred year birthday of our nation and I notice that the quarter, half dollar and one dollar coins are all required in their respective denomination set(s) within the PCGS Registry. I also notice that the 1994 & 1997 Jefferson nickels and the 1998-S silver Mattie Kennedy half dollar that were issued in special sets with commemorative dollars are all required coins by PCGS in their respective Registry set(s). I’m glad that we collect coins in our collection the way we want them and not necessarily the way PCGS thinks a collection should be put together. As far as common sense is concerned, consistency across all denominations and integrity of how the online Registry is administered it looks like PCGS has some work to do. Just my fifty cents on the subject, Tim
This just blows me away Tim at how arrogantly they've addressed these coins with little regard toward the 1998-S Kennedy and the inclusion of the 1964 SMS Coin in the complete variety sets. For those that don't want others to dictate what they do or do not collect, I fully agree but, some type of consistent guideline needs to exist for a collectible goal and since all of my coins are PCGS slabbed coins, the PCGS Set Registry serves as my guide for a Complete Variety Set with additional CONECA Varieties included. I understand PCGS's need to put these somewhere but to call them commemoratives when they are not Congressionally Authorized Commemoratives is fairly short sighted for the collectors.
BTW, Tim, a coin you left off is the 2013-W Enhanced Circulation Silver Eagle which is included in the Silver Eagle Set. The Reverse Proofs for the 20th, 25th, and West Point Silver Eagles Sets are also required in the Proof Registries for these coins. Just a smidge of inconsistency IMO.
Lee, There were several coins I left off. If I were to follow the stance PCGS has taken on these 50th anniversary Kennedy half dollars: Any coin meant to being or considered a commemorative will not be included in the denomination sets. If anyone would follow that logic then the 1909 Lincoln cents which celebrated the 100th anniversary of President Lincoln’s birth, the 1932 Washington quarter which celebrated the 200th anniversary of President Washington’s birth and the 1959 Lincoln Memorial Cent which celebrated both the 50th Anniversary of the Lincoln cent and the 150th anniversary of President Lincoln’s birth would all not be included in the appropriate denomination sets. Tim
I thought PCGS is supposed to be one of the leaders in the industry for authenticating coins (LOL)? But they have to have a meeting of the minds to determine if a Kennedy half dollars is a Kennedy half dollar and belongs in a Registry set purporting to be of Kennedy half dollars? I thought this would have been a ‘no brainer’, what little did I know. Regardless of what PCGS does, the 50th Anniversary Kennedy half dollars will be part of my collection of Kennedy half dollars.
