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I think I have a Set Registry "first" for PCGS!
tcmitssr
Posts: 1,570 ✭✭✭
As of today, my silver classic commem typeset is, I believe, the only complete type set where every coin is a Secured Plus coin!
I did this because my set is totally made up of toners. Some are subtle while others are monsters. Given all the issues surrounding coin doctors, I wanted to take no chances with my collection. I bought virtually every coin from a quality dealer and none have seen an auction for at least a decade, if not much longer. I did not fear "the sniffer," rather I embraced it for both it's stamp of approval as well as the likely upgrades I felt I would receive.
Well over 25 percent of my collection upgraded upon review. Most got pluses but others did even better. I have several low pops now or pop 1's, such as the only Secure Plus pop 1 Antietam in MS67+. The same for my Missouri 2x4 in MS65+. I've concentrated on getting the rarer options where they exist in the classic commem typeset such as the Grant with Star, 2x4, 2x2, etc.
Others are "pops less than a handful or less than two handfuls."
I don't plan on selling my set in the foreseeable future. Rather though than depend on a fourth party "sticker," I made the decision to put my faith in the actual toning and quality of my coins in "the sniffer" technology. Right now, beans might bring bigger bucks but as more and more coin doctors, and their work, is exposed...a bean won't be of much help at that point.
I consider Secure Plus for my collection as the strongest statement that can be made about each coin's originality and worth, particularly as each coin is a nice toner in varying degrees.
The collection is far from retired. However, all future coins will have to be contingent on being placed in Secured Plus holders for final acceptance. It's a high standard but one that the better dealers should not shy away from, in my opinion.
Special thanks to the main folks responsible for my collection: Warren Mills and Jon Rosenthal of Rare Coins of New Hampshire, the folks at David Hall Rare Coins, Larry Shepherd (before he decided the ANA needed him more) and Mike Printz of Harlan Berk.
Let the adventure continue...... I still want upgrades for my Isabella, Hudson, 2x2, Hawaiian and Lafayette. I've waited over two years for someone to find a coin of sufficient quality to add to my collection and I'll just keep putting the hobby funds aside each month until they become available.
I did this because my set is totally made up of toners. Some are subtle while others are monsters. Given all the issues surrounding coin doctors, I wanted to take no chances with my collection. I bought virtually every coin from a quality dealer and none have seen an auction for at least a decade, if not much longer. I did not fear "the sniffer," rather I embraced it for both it's stamp of approval as well as the likely upgrades I felt I would receive.
Well over 25 percent of my collection upgraded upon review. Most got pluses but others did even better. I have several low pops now or pop 1's, such as the only Secure Plus pop 1 Antietam in MS67+. The same for my Missouri 2x4 in MS65+. I've concentrated on getting the rarer options where they exist in the classic commem typeset such as the Grant with Star, 2x4, 2x2, etc.
Others are "pops less than a handful or less than two handfuls."
I don't plan on selling my set in the foreseeable future. Rather though than depend on a fourth party "sticker," I made the decision to put my faith in the actual toning and quality of my coins in "the sniffer" technology. Right now, beans might bring bigger bucks but as more and more coin doctors, and their work, is exposed...a bean won't be of much help at that point.
I consider Secure Plus for my collection as the strongest statement that can be made about each coin's originality and worth, particularly as each coin is a nice toner in varying degrees.
The collection is far from retired. However, all future coins will have to be contingent on being placed in Secured Plus holders for final acceptance. It's a high standard but one that the better dealers should not shy away from, in my opinion.
Special thanks to the main folks responsible for my collection: Warren Mills and Jon Rosenthal of Rare Coins of New Hampshire, the folks at David Hall Rare Coins, Larry Shepherd (before he decided the ANA needed him more) and Mike Printz of Harlan Berk.
Let the adventure continue...... I still want upgrades for my Isabella, Hudson, 2x2, Hawaiian and Lafayette. I've waited over two years for someone to find a coin of sufficient quality to add to my collection and I'll just keep putting the hobby funds aside each month until they become available.
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Comments
Congratulations on the upgrades and on having put together such a fine set.
Ron
<< <i>Wholesome, man!
Thanks.
I've risen as high as 10 in the Registry and as low as 18, over time. The frustration in being competitive is that less than 0.2 points, overall, are keeping me from top 10 status again. If the typeset awarded points based on the same weightings as the 144 classic commem set, I'd be there. That's in part because a Grant with Star is worth 9 points, for example (which I have) while a regular Grant of the same grade (because of the Grant's typeset weighting) is much less. Same with several other examples. Such is life. I'd rather be 15 now and have the rarities than be 8-14 (the big boys like Bruce play above 8th place) but have more common varieties but in higher grades. All in good time and I'll eventually get the right coins and get back there.
In the meantime, my wife printed and framed, some years ago, the highest my set ever reached so I can always say, and prove, that I "had a top 10 set!"
<< <i>Very impessive set you have there tcmitssr. There is only one thing wrong with your set, no pictures.
Congratulations on the upgrades and on having put together such a fine set.
Ron
Thanks and apologies for the pictures. I'm terrible with a camera. There's always the Secured Plus pictures but I'm not sure, from what I've looked at them, that they really do as much justice to my coins (for practical time and economic reasons, no knock on PCGS) that a professional coin photographer could do. OTOH, I'd rather have the money to buy coins!
<< <i>
<< <i>Very impessive set you have there tcmitssr. There is only one thing wrong with your set, no pictures.
Congratulations on the upgrades and on having put together such a fine set.
Ron
Thanks and apologies for the pictures. I'm terrible with a camera. There's always the Secured Plus pictures but I'm not sure, from what I've looked at them, that they really do as much justice to my coins (for practical time and economic reasons, no knock on PCGS) that a professional coin photographer could do. OTOH, I'd rather have the money to buy coins!
I don't blame you for that one. Spending money for pictures as versus spending money for upgrades. It's upgrades every day.
I understand fully where you are coming from on playing with the deep pockets. I tried the Registry Set with my commems for a while but finally quit. I have a set of Carver/Washingtons and a set of Booker T. Washingtons that are still on the All Time Set Registry as retired. If I were to re-activate them my C/W set would be in the top 10 and my BTW set would be around 21. If I were to combine my two BTW sets I could crack the top 10. I need 2 of the 47's to finish a second set. It can be seen in the Themed Sets under African Americans on US Coins. I borrowed the 47's from my first set to post the best possible grades on this set. Not worth it to me, the registry is out of my league. They are registered as R. Moss.
Continue on my friend and assemble the best coins you can and you will never regret it.
Ron
Not really looking for much these days but if I were, it might be a toner.
Lafayette Grading Set
We've corresponded over time here and there and I've admired your collecting acumen. My Commem Type Set will not match yours, but it has been fun completing it. I can imagine the quality of yours and wish you the best in your desired upgrades!
Drunner