20th Century end in 1999?

Theop

Why do the 20th Century registry sets only include coins up to 1999?

2000 is in the 20th Century. So, shouldn't year 2000 coins be included and shouldn't the Sac $1 be in the set?

Or is it really a "1900's" type set?

sumdunce

You're mixing references.

Although there is some debate at what constitutes the first and last year of a referenced century, it is accepted that the years leading up to the century's completion are referenced by the century. Therefore, PCGS uses 19XX dates to refer to in the 20th Century set. It follows then that 20XX dates would refer to the 21st Century.

When you refer to the "1900's" type set you are refering strictly to the year on the coin and not the referenced century by date.

CarlWohlforth

It is a 1900s type set. We had a long and unproductive debate on the subject when PCGS was first creating these sets. I don't care if we collect a 1900s set or a 20th century set but I would like it named properly.

It is generally accepted by those who study calendars that the 1st year is year 1 and that the 100'th year is 100. Since a century is 100 years the 1'st century is the years 1-100. The 2'nd century is the years 101-200. If you keep counting you get the 20'th century as being the years 1901 to 2000.

However it is clear some people don't like to count. They want the 100 years beginning with the numbers 19 to be the 20'th century. They don't even bring up the argument that year 0 is the 1st year. In my (long past) computer science classes there was a renegade professor who insisted on counting from 0. (OK, class, now count your fingers: 0, 1, 2, ..., 9). Most students remained unconvinced they had 9 fingers. I will change my tune if someone can point out that a majority of historians name the 1st year year zero.

khayse

> Why do the 20th Century registry sets only include coins up to 1999?
Because they thought "1900s set" sounded weird.

> Although there is some debate at what constitutes the first and last year of a referenced century,
Really?!?! There is?!? I just thought there were the uneducated masses who didn't know what 20th century meant
and those of us who do.

-KHayse

Cameonut

I understand both sides of this debate - as long as the set is defined it makes little difference to me.

What has been debated around here even longer is how to pronounce the year. Is it -
1) Two thousand four or
2) Twenty o four

Even though two thousand four is most commonly spoken, it is felt that twenty o four is more consistent. After all, we say nineteen o four and we will say twenty one o four (should we live that long!) My theory is that we got used to saying two thousand in 2000 and just stuck with it.

Cameonut

Theop

Thanks for your replies.

While 2000 is in the 20th century, I guess it is more consistent to have a century set being all coins with the first 2 digits.

khayse

Cameonut,

I think when you say nineteen o four you are abbreviating and leaving out the word "hundred". Nineteen hundred and four.
You wouldn't say "twenty hundred and four" when you can just say "two thousand and four". It's shorter.

Just my guess,
-KHayse
ps Two thousand just sounds cooler anyway.

Steve27

Why do the 20th Century registry sets only include coins up to 1999?

Because PCGS is clueless.


You should also question why a type set has date limitations (e.g. any Liberty Nickel from 1883 on, should be permitted in the set, not just 1900 and later).

RBinTex

Just to state the obvious:

Since there was no year 0, the first century included all years from year 1 up to AND INCLUDING year 100. Continuing that then, the 20th century includes all years from 1901-2000.

ThatImpalaDude

I'll add another confusing issue, though completely unrelated to the current thread. When does the Walking Liberty late date set begin?? PCGS says 1933 but NGC says 1934.

Steve

solid

It is generally accepted by those who study calendars that the 1st year is year 1 and that the 100'th year is 100. Since a century is 100 years the 1'st century is the years 1-100. The 2'nd century is the years 101-200. If you keep counting you get the 20'th century as being the years 1901 to 2000.

Carl's statement is succinct and correct, but it's PCGS's game and they make
the rules by which we play.

Ken