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Are registry sets fictional?

BigD5BigD5 Posts: 3,433 ✭
in PCGS Set Registry Forum
I mean do the number one sets really believe they are the number one sets? Better than any set anywhere? How many "closet" sets do you think are out there that would be listed? How many sets contain ngc coins that don't want to bother playing by the "rules" of registry set engagement?
Just curiousimageimage
BigD5
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Comments

  • BearBear Posts: 18,953 ✭✭✭
    In answer to your question, an Olympic winner was asked if his winning meant that he was the best in the world. His reply was ,"This award only means that at a given place at a specific time, I was the best". No one knows what magnificent sets exist outside the registry, we can only strut and preen among the posted sets of the Registry itself.
    There once was a place called
    Camelotimage
  • DabigkahunaDabigkahuna Posts: 3,419
    Bear,
    That was very well put! Sums it all up I think.

    Larry
    Dabigkahunaimage
    My Ebay Auctions
    image
  • truthtellertruthteller Posts: 1,240 ✭✭
    Over the many years collecting, I can tell you, the finest coins are definitely not in any registry set. For the most part, a number on a slab can sometimes be meaningless when you are viewing the 'true' finest coins. I know of one collector putting away an absolutely awesome color collection, some of the finest coins I have ever seen, and his is not mentioned on any registry forum.

    TRimageTH
  • RegistryCoinRegistryCoin Posts: 5,117 ✭✭✭✭
    I'm certainly not fooling myself. I believe there are better sets out there.
    I would like to see a level playing field.
  • keithdagenkeithdagen Posts: 2,025 ✭
    Like Bear said, you may ne the Finest Registered, but definitely not have the finest set. You only have to look at the number of "classic" sets that are registered to see that. Very few complete sets out there, yet we know that there are many complete collections out there. After, the things keep coming to auction.
    Keith ™

  • RegistryCoinRegistryCoin Posts: 5,117 ✭✭✭✭
    That brings up a good point Keith. Are the non-pcgs-only sets slowly being broken up?
    Will there be a "level playing field" someday?
  • keithdagenkeithdagen Posts: 2,025 ✭
    A collector with a mixed set can register at NGC and compete (one NGC advantage) or they can not register. One of the 100% Indian Head sets up for auction at Long Beach was just registered a month or so ago. Each major auction, there is usually one series collection, either 100% PCGS, NGC, or mixed, that has not previously been registered. And some are even, shudder, raw coins still.

    I think that one day, within say, 5 years, the gaps between NGC and PCGS will shrink significantly. There are too many good things happening across the street for it not to happen.
    Keith ™

  • osirisMMIIosirisMMII Posts: 225
    Ok Bear - who was it that said that anyway...... sounds familiar.......... I'm guessing Carl Lewis. Anyway speaking of #1 sets.............. a big congratulations to the hard work and hard earned dollars recently spent by Bear in jumping (what ten - twenty spots in the past few months) into a tie for that top spot in the Kennedy proofs! image Now I can't say I recall ever seeing a Bear strut but........ hmmmm......... is it a two-legged thing or a four-legged thing? Either way...... go ahead - you'll probably be able to for quite awhile.
    ahhhh....... SODO MELVIN?????
  • DeepCoinDeepCoin Posts: 2,781 ✭✭✭
    I agree that many and probably most of the finest sets are not currently PGCS Registry Sets. However, as time moves along I believe more and more of them will become part of the PCGS Registry.

    My rationale for this migration is that when these truely number one sets are eventually sold or broken up, the maximum value (and this is partly marketing) can be obtained by advertising them as PCGS Number One Registry Sets. Our time here is temporary and eventually everyone's set gets sold. Our heirs typically do not share our passion for coins (yes, there are exceptions but this is the general case)
    .
    Yes, these number one sets already have cache, but look at how some of the major dealers are advertising the coins they are selling. This observation is only true as long as PCGS holds its current place in the market. You can see ads in Coin World now for coins from Number One sets.
    Retired United States Mint guy, now working on an Everyman Type Set.
  • BearBear Posts: 18,953 ✭✭✭
    Osiris - When you are a four legged Ursis Horriblus, the correct term is to waddle.But one must do so with dignity , an air of nobility and just a dash of grandure. Bear
    There once was a place called
    Camelotimage
  • tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,162 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Some sets are, some sets aren't. If you spend a lot of time reviewing auction catalogs and prices realized, you can get a feel for what super gems are out there in the classic series. You can then get a feel for what it would take to be better than certain sets.

    For instance - the best early bust collection in the world is not registered (and probably never will be) - any pretender to number one on the Set Registry would have to be considered fictional. But, at the same time, I'm certain that there are collections on the Set Registry that cannot be beaten by any combination of coins that are in existence - these sets are bona fide number one's!
    Early Dollar Set
  • gmarguligmarguli Posts: 2,225 ✭✭
    It almost sounds like some of you are saying that "best set" does NOT equal "highest graded set". This isn't the PCGS way!!! image

    Off the top of my head I can think of two sets that are registered that are most likely the finest sets based on known condition and could not likely be greatly improved by additions and they just couldn't be beat. Most of the other #1s are meaningless. The modern #1s are #1 until PCGS changes its standards yet again.
  • windycitytriowindycitytrio Posts: 63
    I can't talk for others but I can tell you why I registered my set...it is an easy way for me to keep track of what I have & for me to see who has what I need image
    It is possible for people to ask questions for no other reason than to educate themselves. The only stupid questions are those that are never asked.

  • SpoolySpooly Posts: 2,108 ✭✭✭
    gmarguli.............. which two?
    Si vis pacem, para bellum

    In God We Trust.... all others pay in Gold and Silver!
  • BearBear Posts: 18,953 ✭✭✭
    If we were to look at all the sets of the Registry for appearance and not strictly for slab grade, I believe we would find many lower ranked sets actually superior to higher ranked sets by a wide vote margin. The true worth of the value of a set will be known when the set is auctioned or sold to knowlegable collectors. Bear
    There once was a place called
    Camelotimage
  • gmarguligmarguli Posts: 2,225 ✭✭
    Spooly: Bruce Scher's Proof 3¢ CN. It's got two coins listed with coins graded higher than it. Out of a 26 coin set, it has 8 in PR68 and 6 coins that are pop 1's.

    The second is TradeDollarNut's MS Trade Dollar set which has 13 pop 1's and not a single coin graded higher by PCGS for any single coin.

    I don't believe either of these sets could be beat either by raw coins or coins in non-PCGS slabs. They are the two actual finest sets for their type.
  • keithdagenkeithdagen Posts: 2,025 ✭
    Dr. Golan's MS Susan B Anthony set. No upgrades possible currently. That's an achievement for a MS modern set.
    Keith ™

  • SpoolySpooly Posts: 2,108 ✭✭✭
    I would agree with that.

    I would add the following:

    Steve(RegistryCoin) - Silver Commemoratives 144 Piece

    Stewart Blay - Lincoln Cents Basic Set Circulation Strikes (1909-1958)



    Si vis pacem, para bellum

    In God We Trust.... all others pay in Gold and Silver!
  • KoinKollectorKoinKollector Posts: 388 ✭
    What about TDN's proof set? While its not all the highest graded coins by PCGS, i think his "set" would still considered the finest proof trade $ set.
    Sean J
    Re-elect Bush in 2004... Dont let the Socialists brainwash you.

    Bush 2004
    Jeb 2008
    KK 2016

  • littlewicherlittlewicher Posts: 1,822 ✭✭
    TDN has an amazing collection.image I would like to own it someday.


    For some life lasts a short while, but the memories it holds last forever.
    -Laura Swenson

    In memory of BL, SM, and KG. 16 and forever young, rest in peace.
  • gmarguligmarguli Posts: 2,225 ✭✭
    I wouldn't consider the SBA set an not improvable set only because it is a modern set and PCGS changes their grading standards way too frequently for it to be a stable set.

    TDN's proof set has 9 of the 13 coins with higher pops and zero pop 1's. While I'm sure it is a stunning set, while looking at the PCGS assigned grade (and that is the only thing that matters in slab collecting) there could easily be a finer set out there.

    The Stewart Blay Lincoln set might be great. Who knows. It can't be seen and therefore I don't consider it. I think it is LAME to list a set and not allow it to be seen. Kind of the same with RegistryCoin's silver commemorative set, but I also bet a small amount of those commemoratives have equal counterparts in NGC slabs. I don't know how many pop 1's he has.


  • tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,162 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Greg: I agree that it is possible that an overall finer proof Trade Dollar set exists, either in PCGS holders, raw, NGC holders or a combination. Therefore, the Legend Proof Trade Dollar Set is not necessarily the finest.

    In putting my sets together, there were two distinct, but different, goals. The first goal was to create the finest known mint state collection. The second was to complete a matched quality proof set centered around the Eliasberg 1885. I think the two goals have been accomplished nicely (tho I do know of a couple of NGC graded coins that could be finer than my current PCGS coins!).
    Early Dollar Set
  • FairlanemanFairlaneman Posts: 10,423 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Joshua II Mercury Dime Set. Take a Look !!
      His Set has 63 Coins that are Tied for Finest Known or Finest Known. The Real GPA for the Set is Just a Shade Under MS68FB. Could some Day be Topped but Right Now With No Doubt the Finest Merc Dime Set Ever. This Could be Shown by the Kritzman Set that was put together over a Period of 30 Years I believe and came No Where Near the GPA of this Set. The Kritzman Set had some Finest Known Coins in it but No where near the Amount that the Joshua II Set has.
        The Joshua II set owner stated, I believe, that His intention was with this Set to Assemble a Set that would Never be Topped.
          Ken
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