Images in Registry Sets

Cocoinut

I did sort of a quick and dirty survey to see how many Registry sets included images of all, or practically all, of the coins a participant had in the set. I only looked at the series that began after 1900, for cents, nickels, dimes. quarters, halves, and dollars. No gold, type sets, variety sets, or year sets. The results were disappointing, considering that digital cameras have become so much more affordable over the past couple of years. Out of 2352 sets, precisely 100 had complete or nearly complete sets of images. The most photographed series (and total sets for the series):

Circulation strike Franklin halves - 8 (148)
Circulation strike Ike dollars - 7 (119)
Statehood quarter proofs - 6 (168)
Kennedy half proofs - 6 (122)
Peace dollars - 6 (70)
Proof Ike dollars - 5 (135)
Circulation strike Mercury dimes - 5 (79)
Circulation strike Washington quarters - 5 (76)
Circulation strike Anthony dollars - 5 (75)

There are 4 sets where no one has photographed all or most of their coins:

Proof/SMS clad quarters 1965-1998 - 0 (67)
Circulation strike clad quarters 1965-1998 - 0 (41)
Lincoln cent proofs 1950-2003 - 0 (39)
Walking Liberty half proofs - 0 (18)

In general it seems that larger size circulation strike coins are most likely to be photographed. This isn't surprising, because it's more difficult to capture the detail on smaller coins, and proofs are difficult to photograph without getting reflections from the camera or the lighting.

Is the poor showing due to apathy, difficulty in photographing coins, difficulty in uploading the pics to the PCGS site, cost of a camera, or something else? With the holidays coming, maybe we 'll see more pictures of some of the great sets in the Registry in 2004. PCGS could help by allowing larger files, or allowing separate photos for obverse and reverse (hope they're reading this).

Jim

USMC_6115

I'm working on my photos right now. Eisenhower circulation strike with and without Varieties. I'll be done by today....

AKrick

Jim,

The lack of photographs is one of my biggest disappointments in the Registry. Although I'm lacking in my photography skills I do put up images of all my coins in the Registry (with extras on some dates). To me, it adds to the enjoyment of listing my coins. Many sets have great descriptions of their coins but being able to browse through the images of each set would really make visits to the Registry far more enjoyable.

Rick

marcmoish

difficulty in photographing coins, difficulty in uploading the pics to the PCGS site, cost of a camera, or something else?

frankly Jim, it all of the above (except cost of camera)...I for example have so little time to spare and when I finally think I got one coin right it doen't upload easily tp PCGS's site etc. That kind of puts a damper on that!

However your message is clear, and I know myself how much I would like to view actual pictures of the collection(s) I am looking at - so no further excuses from me - I hope to get to it one of these days.



Marc

DrPete

Many pertinent points have already been made about lack of imaging for sets. My barber half dollar set (Dr Peter K. Shireman Collection) has been imaged and posted on the pcgs registry site, but it took a lot of time, and the images are sub-optimal having been obtained by a scanner. There is a learning curve to obtaining adequate images, performing digital image file manipulation (or not) and combining obverse and reverse images together. Most of mine only show obverses as it took me a long time to find any software that would do this in a human understandable manner. Add the inconvenience of storing a valuable collection in a saftey deposit box and the time it takes to upload images one at a time, it is not surprising about the current condition of the registry sets.

Just because someone has collected a set and has listed it on the registy site doesn't mean they have the inclination or skills to procure and post images. Even if pcgs or a third party offered to image and post your set for a nominal amount, I am not sure how many people would take advantage of it. I still face a certain degree of inertia with my set, wishing to have combined obverse/reverse images for all 73/74 coins with better capture of the luster and color than the images already posted. To me, the imaging project is something I will eventually do to improve what I have already done.

In the meantime, we'll enjoy what images get posted and encourage our fellow collectors to do the same.

Fairlaneman

Wish I had a set so images could be posted.





Ken

fcloud

My photos are not the best. And I have spent some time to go through and update most of them over the three to four weeks. But when the coins are in the safety deposit box, at least I can look at the dimes. It is the only set that I have put photos on. The rest of the sets I simply list. Can you tell which set I have the most pride?

Ken,

Use that 1928-S to start a new set.

Tony

dddangerousdan

Three of my sets have pics the other 3 only hace 1-2 coins each in them.

DAN

cosmicdebris

Aa someone who takes the time to image all their coins let me say it is a big project to take up. It is not easy to get great pictures and there is a big learning curve to do it right. My biggest advantage is an Associate degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in multi-media. I learned about digital images and all the ins and outs. I also learned how to use software like Adobe PhotoShop.

Pictures like THESE would not have been possible without it.

dpoole

I've posted pictures of every set I have, hoping people who have the wherewithal to post pictures will do so. Looking at people's quality coins is half the fun! (Owning quality coins yourself is the other half)

Russ

All of the coins in my sets are imaged and posted.

Russ, NCNE

oreville

cocoinut: Buying coins has become such a competitive sport that there is hardly any energy left to photograph the darned coins?

egsantos

I'm trying to follow Russ's example. I believe that is fantastic have the entire set photographed.
Unfortunately I just will see my last acquisitions during Christmas time.
After that I will take new pictures of all the coins to post, following some tips suggested by Russ. Probably the images will be better than the current pictures.
Eventually as an award for the best sets, PCGS can provide, at reasonable cost, a professional picture service to publish it. Something like the pedigree advantage.

Edson

Keyrock

It can be very time consuming. Toned coins, coppers etc can be difficult too. Part of my 2004 goal is to image the coins since they are in a safe deposit box.

tjkillian

Photography your collection is a lot of work.I am EXTREMELY comfortable with computers and have a nice camera, so I did photograph my entire collection. I like to share it with other as I do like to see other coins too!

Killian Family Type Set

Tom

CarsonCityGold

I have obverse and reverse images of every coin in my set ( 1 exception that I just added yesterday). They were done on a flatbed scanner and then combined into 1 image with Adobe Photo Shop. The $20 Libs are 650 Pixels by 325 and load to the PCGS sight rather quickly. Later, CCG