Idea regarding Registry Sets and varieties

blato1

To start out, let me say that I'm quite traditional in my numismatic views. I appreciate the history of coins and the hobby as much as the coins themselves. I have never associated the term "variety" with error coins, although some varieties are due to errors committed by mint staff. However, many (probably most) are not. Take a look at the incredible number of varieties identified in the early large cent series due to different die marriages and other inconsistencies in die creation.

Anyway, here's my idea. Over the years, coin collecting has evolved. Early collectors were primarily interested in assembling comprehensive type sets. Later, year sets became popular. When assembling these, collectors didn't care about mint marks. In the late 19th century, collecting by date and mint mark came into vogue. The cutting edge of scholarly numismatics today is in identifying numerous varieties within date series. As the hobby evolved, devotees of the various approaches have remained. Hence, we still find ardent type collectors alongside of those seeking yet another finely-differentiated variety.

Why not address the needs of all these collectors? Why can't the Registry include type sets, date sets, date and mint mark sets and variety sets? I made a suggestion to this effect in my survey response. What do y'all think?

Keyrock

IMHO every collector has a unique style and I think that is the problem. There will never be a concensus on what defines a set. I'm sure PCGS could list every concievable set but where does it end. If you do year sets are you talking 1793 to date? The registry could turn into a horrible monster of 1000s different sets.

There will be plently of people neutral, pi$$ed and happy with what happens. As long as I have my collection they way I want it, I'm content. If PCGS doesn't have a category for it, oh well.

Rich

cosmicdebris

How about this: For a variety to be included in a Registry Set it has to have a certain number available. For instance there are only 10(?) PCGS 1964 SMS Quarters they would not be included. However, there are over 100 1972 DD lincolns cents certified by PCGS they would be included. There has to be enough available for the average collector to be able afford to include one in their set.

blato1

To clarify Rich's question: Traditionally, year sets were collected by series. So, a collector might put together a year set of Seated Liberty Dollars - one from each year without regard to mint mark. Until the 1880's or so, few really cared about mint marks. I think year set collecting (as defined) has a very small following today. However, I see no problem in the Set Registry containing type sets, year and mint mark sets (with no varieties or only a few widely-recognized classics such as VDB Lincolns), and variety sets which would contain all varieties that PCGS recognizes when they grade.

I don't think this would lead to 1000's of sets. However, I also agree that you can't please everyone, and a collector shouldn't be looking to PCGS to identify how and what they will collect.