PCGS Registry Morgan Sets

sweetwilliet

Why don't some people allow others to see their current registry sets online, much less post pictures of their coins? The current finest Morgan dollar set only has an average grade you can look at, no pics or even see the individually graded coins. Is it that is too much work?

BAJJERFAN

Not everone is skilled in taking pix or wishes to take the time to learn. Posting pix is of course optional on the part of the set-holder. Others don't wish to reveal which coins they need to complete their set.

morgannut2

Of coarse if you already own the five best sets, it's not clear what you need to hide trying to complete the sets!

WTCG

<< <i>Why don't some people allow others to see their current registry sets online, much less post pictures of their coins? The current finest Morgan dollar set only has an average grade you can look at, no pics or even see the individually graded coins. Is it that is too much work? >>



I have asked the owner of the "California" Morgan Dollar Registry Sets this question, and he states that keeping the details of his sets hidden from the public is his preference. I have seen many of the coins in the sets, and they are nice. All the listed sets are intact and in his posession.

"California" is currently focused on collecting Morgan and Peace Dollar VAM's at this moment. He is an excellent authority on VAM's.

By the way, "California" isn't exactly an expert with computers, so posting pictures online isn't really his thing.

cho10

<< <i>Why don't some people allow others to see their current registry sets online, much less post pictures of their coins? The current finest Morgan dollar set only has an average grade you can look at, no pics or even see the individually graded coins. Is it that is too much work? >>


I can tell you that it is an awful lot of work to post pictures and to keep them current. Not everybody has the same ability with cameras and computers that they have with coins. I chose to post pictures almost immediately when I started listing my sets in 2004. I have learned a lot and I periodically re photograph all of them. If you consider that the Morgan Set with Varieties includes 117 coins (234 images) that in itself means a fair amount of work. What I mean by "work" is:
1 - setting up the photography 16 inch by 16 inch tent (with my wife's complaints about a certain table becoming "off limits")
2 - setting up the lighting (I use 5 cold light Ott lamp lights)
3 - setting up the background and easel to make sure that the slabs are always in the same position
4 - setting up the tripod and establishing the best angle, determining White Balance, taking a few trial shots
I use a Nikon D70 with a 60mm Macro AF lens set on Manual with relatively slow exposure and fairly closed diaphragm
It takes about 45 minutes to get a good set up that will be OK for taking all those pictures
As I use the Nikon RAW format called NEF, each picture will be about 5 to 6 MB. That means that more than one 1 GB memory card is needed.
Once finished taking pictures (I tend to go back and forth every 20 coins or so) they have to be unloaded on my computer. I don't do editing on memory cards because they are generally slower.
Then you have to crop and convert the images, make brightness corrections (not "enhance" but simply make sure that a certain "digital drag" does not make images look "too dark").
Not everybody has the passion and patience to do that sort of thing more than every once in a while. I do admit that it is fun to "handle" all my coins that are normally stowed in a Bank safety deposit box. Another factor that does hinder taking frequent pictures is the security aspect and the sheer weight of the set. It takes 7 PCGS Blue slab boxes (including proofs, VAMS and proof likes without duplicates) to carry the Morgan set. If you think of just how much that weighs ......
I hope that helps see why not everybody will want to get involved in loading pictures of their coins.

This is a link to the Morgan Varieties page list. My set (CHO10) is currently #9 (I wonder for how long).

BAJJERFAN

The Gold River set utilizes the TrueView photo service. Pretty nice but pricey too I bet. If you can afford a $200+K coin I guess a few bux fer pix aint gonna break ya.

TheRaven

I don't have a Morgan registry set, but I do have a few things on the registry, not that I am ever going to get anything, but it is just something fun to do.....

I just got a camera to take pictures of things, so before I had no option of pictures.....

I am sure I am not the only one like that.....

lava

I show the contents of my set. I think that is one of the neat features about the registry.

I understand that most people who do not show the contents feel that it may add to the cost of the items, since it may create increased demand in coins that would be an upgrade for someone. I don't know if anyone is really watching sets that closely. I think if you have a low population morgan with eye appeal, the demand is going to be rather obvious.

I don't post pictures just because of the time. I can't even get around to submit crossovers or sell duplicates.