Suggestion from a New Collector: Expanding Achievements for More Fun and Growth in PCGS Community
LucrumCentrum
Posts: 10 ✭
Hi PCGS Team and fellow members,
I’m a relatively new collector and recent member of the PCGS family (joined a few months ago and submitted my first coins in January 2026), and I wanted to start by saying how much I appreciate everything PCGS does. The grading quality, the registry sets, and the overall resources have made coin collecting even more enjoyable for me. One feature I’ve really liked is the Achievements section on the website—it’s a cool way to recognize milestones and adds a bit of fun to the hobby.
That said, I noticed the current list of achievements feels a little limited and hasn’t been updated in quite a while. As someone who loves games and progression systems, I believe expanding the achievements could be a fantastic, low-effort way to boost engagement across the platform.
Why Gamification Works for Coin Collecting
Achievements turn collecting into a rewarding journey rather than just a checklist. They encourage people to explore different areas of numismatics, complete sets, try new categories, and stay active on the site. Many modern hobbies (trading cards, video games, fitness apps, etc.) use this approach successfully, and it keeps users coming back.
Benefits for Younger Collectors
This could be especially powerful for bringing in the next generation. A lot of younger people (teens through 30s) are discovering coins through social media, TikTok, YouTube, and shows like Pawn Stars (I know it is an old show, but I watched it a lot with my dad). They’re used to earning badges, levels, and unlocks. More achievements would make PCGS feel modern and welcoming to them, helping grow the hobby long-term. It’s a fun, low-pressure way to learn about history, rarity, and different coin series without feeling intimidating.
Low Cost, High Potential Reward
Compared to a full website redesign or big marketing campaign, adding more achievements seems like a relatively straightforward update on the backend. You could roll them out gradually, and the engagement boost (more set registrations, more submissions, more time spent on the site) could easily pay for itself. It looks to me that the last time an achievement was added was in 2019.
Some Achievement Ideas
Here are a few friendly suggestions to get the conversation started:
Series Completion – “Full Lincoln Wheat Cent” or “Complete Morgan Dollar Set by Date & Mint”
Rarity Hunter – Submit or own a coin graded MS/PR 65+ with a population under 50
Diverse Collector – Own one graded coin from each major U.S. denomination (or from 10+ different countries)
Error & Variety Master – Register multiple major varieties or error coins
First Year / Last Year – Own a first-year or last-year issue from multiple series
Toning Enthusiast – Register coins with exceptional natural toning (could tie into existing photo uploads)
Registry Climber – Reach Top 1000, Top 500, or Top10 in any Registry Set
Submission Milestones – 10th, 25th, 50th, or 100th coin submitted for grading or adding to inventory.
Thematic Sets – “Bicentennial Bonanza,” “Presidential Portraits,” “Wildlife on Coins,” etc.
Community Contributor – Write a review, upload high-quality photos, or participate in forums regularly (its seems like these forums have this but it is not connected back to our accounts on PCGS. Might be wrong, but still learning)
Seasonal or limited-time achievements (e.g., “Summer of Silver” or holiday-themed) could also create excitement.
Closing Thoughts
I’m genuinely excited about PCGS and want to see the community keep growing and thriving. Adding more achievements feels like an easy win that rewards loyal collectors while attracting new ones. I’d love to hear the team’s thoughts or even help brainstorm more ideas if that’s useful!
Thanks for reading, and happy collecting everyone!
Comments
Thank you for your feedback. I will share it with the team.
Manager of Numismatic Research and Programs | PCGS
Thank you. I really appreciate it.
Wow! I can't believe your suggestions that you made because I was recently thinking many of the same thoughts. I love your ideas. I especially like the idea of gamerification to attract a young segment to numismatics. Many gamers are serious about their stats and once they're introduced into the wide array of this hobby we could have a serious continuation of numismatics. I will point out that I would imagine that the die hard numismatis may frown upon this idea of making a game out of the hobby but in reality of it coin collecting has always had a competitive effect amongst collectors. I assume if a younger generation comes in as a gamer they will quickly evolve into a numismatis and investors. I am 63 years old and I believe the technology we have seen in our hobby is amazing. If gamers get into this it could and develop into international experience. I could go on about this but I think you can see that I am in favor of the idea. I would love to be a part of a round discussion with PCGS and think LucrumCentrum should definitely be a part of it.
Thank you for the kind words and your thoughts on my suggestions. I am trying to get my friends into the hobby and are dissuaded with the barrier to entry cost to be considered "a good collection" from a traditional sense. But they would be more inclined to have fun with smaller achievements depending on what they would be interested in doing.
I think you've made a very realistic and persuasive suggestion. Inherent in the collector mentality is to find that next great coin and, if one can be stimulated in the pursuit of badges along the way, it can add to one's enjoyment. Great idea and welcome to the hobby and forum!
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."
Thank you for the welcome. I am going to some local coin shows and the big one in Orlando twice a year with family. Very excited for the next one.