How many people know about the registry?

MatthewBabcock

Hello everyone,

I got to thinking about how I found out about the registry and why I decided to register my sets.

I wanted to let you know that I found the registry by accident. Believe that? Well, its true. When I decided to start buying different coins on eBay, I figured that one grading company was just as good as the next. Little did I realize at the time how significant the difference was. What caught my attention first was that coins graded by a few of the services were being bid on by more people than those graded by others...

After doing a Google search on coin grading services and reading what different companies were saying about their services and those of others, and after reading what 'consumers' were saying about the different grading services out there, I realized that there was a difference. A big difference.

Since making that discovery, I began to notice more and more people boasting "Graded by PCGS, the #1 third party grader..." in their eBay listings.

It wasn't until I was spending more time at the PCGS site (researching submission procedures) that I noticed that there was also a set registry... Like I said, I found the set registry by accident...

How many people know about the registry? I'm not sure, but lets look at some of the of the numbers... In checking the Set Registry Statistics page to see how many sets are registered, and then comparing those numbers with some population data, I found:

(Statehood Quarters sets out number all the other Quarters sets;
Ike to present given for perspective on modern Dollars.)

Washington Statehood Quarters, Circulation Strikes (1999-Present) - 121 Sets
Washington Statehood Quarters, Proof (1999-Present) - 187 Sets
Eisenhower Dollars Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1971-1978) - 155 Sets
Eisenhower Dollars with Varieties, Circulation Strikes (1971-1978) - 40 Sets
Eisenhower Dollars, Proof (1971-1978) - 175 Sets
Susan B. Anthony Dollars, Circulation Strikes (1979-1981, 1999) - 100 Sets
Susan B. Anthony Dollars, Proof (1979-1981, 1999) - 170 Sets
Sacagawea Dollars, Circulation Strikes (2000-present) - 122 Sets
Sacagawea Dollars, Proof (2000-present) - 172 Sets

Now, here is a sampling of population numbers:

Proof Washington Statehood Quarters, 1999 Only (PR69DCAM/PR70DCAM):
1999-S 25C Delaware 2133/2
1999-S 25C Delaware-Silver 3238/6
1999-S 25C Pennsylvania 2208/8
1999-S 25C Pennsylvania-Silver 3308/11
1999-S 25C New Jersey 2208/9
1999-S 25C New Jersey-Silver 3338/9
1999-S 25C Georgia 2225/7
1999-S 25C Georgia-Silver 3400/7
1999-S 25C Connecticut 2312/12
1999-S 25C Connecticut-Silver 3437/11

Mint State Washington Statehood Quarters, 1999 Only (grade, pop/number higher):
1999-P 25C Delaware MS67, 248/13
1999-D 25C Delaware MS66, 764/84
1999-P 25C Pennsylvania MS67, 161/10
1999-D 25C Pennsylvania MS66, 595/47
1999-P 25C New Jersey MS67, 117/3
1999-D 25C New Jersey MS66, 839/67
1999-P 25C Georgia MS66, 610/57
1999-D 25C Georgia MS66, 736/46
1999-P 25C Connecticut MS66, 651/95
1999-D 25C Connecticut MS67, 200/9

Proof Sacagawea Dollars (PR69DCAM/PR70DCAM):
2000-S SAC $1 2678/0
2001-S SAC $1 6579/0
2002-S SAC $1 1819/12
2003-S SAC $1 3016/36

Mint State Sacagawea Dollars (grade, pop/number higher):
2000-P SAC $1 MS68, 293/6
2000-P SAC $1 MS67, 90/246 (Goodacre Presentation)
2000-D SAC $1 MS67, 663/78
2000-D SAC $1 MS67, 212/28 (Millennium Set)
2001-P SAC $1 MS68, 498/16
2001-D SAC $1 MS67, 216/29
2002-P SAC $1 MS67, 815/434
2002-D SAC $1 MS67, 463/25
2003-P SAC $1 MS68, 323/8
2003-D SAC $1 MS67, 158/12

I chose all of these to show the numbers of what I consider to be reasonable "entry level", new collector grades available at reasonable prices.

Back to my main question, how many people know about the registry? Or should I be asking how many people have collections that they do not wish to add to the registry?

Some people have said that Statehood Quarters and Sacagawea Dollars are fuelling a boon in registry mania... I don't see it... To me, the numbers show that there are a lot of new collectors out there who don't know about the registry.

Is this an issue that is or should be of concern to Collectors Universe members? Thoughts??? ( Be kind, please. )

Thank you for enduring the length of this posting,
Matt

foodude

While PCGS has promoted the registry on thier website, as well as in ads in numismatic publications, my experinece from shows is that many people have never heard of it. Of course, I've run into a number of people that didn;t know who PCGS is either (a smaller number). In general, the larger the show the larger percentage of the people I encounter know of both PCGS and the registry.

Mistercoinman

First I would like to welcome you to the boards. Next is my response. I believe you have a good point that the new collector sector may not know of the registry and PCGS may need to do a better job in advertising it, on the other hand some long-time collectors will never register their sets. Some are concerned with security, others with the tax man, and some are just downright anti-social. Of all the sets registered there are just about the same or more not registered. Some of us make sets just because our egos' won't let the other guy have bigger toys than us. Then its a matter of capital. The main reason to collect coins is to just have fun, and enjoy a little escape from the everyday grind. So don'y spend to much time worrying about the other guys set just work your set, and more importantly have FUN

foodude

The main reason to collect coins is to just have fun, and enjoy a little escape from the everyday grind. So don'y spend to much time worrying about the other guys set just work your set, and more importantly have FUN

MatthewBabcock

I don't worry about much... But I do tend to do some thinking from time to time...

Mistercoinman

LOL

cladking

Thanks for the info. Most people who are deeply involved in the hobby are aware of the
existence of registry sets. Among others this knowledge is much more spotty. There are
a very large number of reasons that people don't register their collections but as time goes
by it seems likely that more and more these sets will be registered.

lava

Super post, because many of us don't remember what we thought when we were in your position, and those that do remember may not be able to articulate it. I agree with the idea that the registry system is not a hyped concept. I think it is early, and as time passes, participation will be much more commonplace. If not, I will be surprised. There is no doubt the buying market far outnumbers the registry participants. I'd like to see a jump in participation in the registry systems, but how?

Bear

Well lets see, there is you, there is me and there is Lava. That makes at least

three of us in the know.

lava

Three, hmmmm. The same number of licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie roll tootsie pop, if I'm not mistaken. Coincidence? I think not!

Compa

It would be interesting to see how many people actually take part in the registry ... Lots of us are in more than one catagory and some have more than one set per catagory. I have sets in 6 catagories.

The way to get more people involved in the registry is advertising on the part of PCGS. Of course they can't handle the load they currently have so I don't see that happening anytime soon!

For people who actually buy the coin and not the plastic, they will NEVER partcipate in the registry (at least not PCGSs). I can't see someone submitting coins to PCGS just so they can take part in the registry program. If they are preparing to sell their collection, maybe.

Bear

I kinda have the feeling that the majority of Forum members have

at least one or more sets in the Registry. Thats just my opinion.

MatthewBabcock

Only my modern coins are certified...

These are the sets that I'm currently in:
Washington Statehood Quarters, Circulation Strikes (1999-Present)
Washington Statehood Quarters, Proof (1999-Present)
Sacagawea Dollars, Circulation Strikes (2000-present) [Two sets, one is mine, one is my daughters]
Sacagawea Dollars, Proof (2000-present)
2003 Proof Set
2002 Proof Set
2001 Proof Set
2000 Proof Set
1999 Proof Set

WalkerGuy

After careful calculation and analysis, there are exactly 14, 987 people who know about the registry. That leaves 5 or 6 Billion, give or take a few who don't know. Talk about being an exclusive club!

Robgetty

I think that it is something that has taken some time but will keep
growing at a faster pace. I remember PCGS making a big deal out
of the 3,000th set registered, and now we are at 10,000 without
any fanfare.

haletj

I knew of pcgs when I collected as a kid, and learned of the registry the first time I visited their site when starting to collect again 2 yrs ago (An 09-s Indian Cent was my first pcgs graded coin!). I have no intent to ever having a complete registry set (due to many reasons!), but I think it is still lots of fun to list all my pcgs graded coins in the registry and still see where my (partial) set lies, or compare to others, etc...

Stooge

I actually found out about the PCGS set registry by reading an article in CoinAge. Then I went to the web site and it was then several months before I listed, then it was several more months after that that I joined the forum. Then all I did was read instead of posting.

I'm a slow starter!!!

Later,
Paul B. Gunsallus

cladking

<< <i>

I'm a slow starter!!!

>>



Maybe. But still fast enough likely to be in the forefront of a wave.