Cheated out of your Registry Award?
Since Registry Award time will be coming up shortly, how many of your Registry Sets are parked in 2nd place with a Hansen set as #1 with some of the coins now in CACG holders?
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Since Registry Award time will be coming up shortly, how many of your Registry Sets are parked in 2nd place with a Hansen set as #1 with some of the coins now in CACG holders?
Comments
For me: "Homey don't play that".
My sentiment is that we should be more focused on the coins and less focused on competing for mythical status symbols like Registry awards. Those who put status or recognition ahead of interest in numismatics will inevitably be disappointed when a collector with significantly more disposable income comes along.
Here’s a recent related thread:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/comment/14049918#Comment_14049918
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Not an issue for me.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."
I appreciate the dialogue regarding the PCGS Set Registry Awards. We will have more information on the 2026 competition shortly.
Manager of Numismatic Research and Programs | PCGS
Yes, this did happen to me. I had been working on an 1883 proof set for about 7-8 years and was very happy to complete it last year:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/386267
The set is ranked #2 all-time but I know at least two of Hansen's coins (the Trade dollar and 3c nickel) are no longer in PCGS plastic. Being recognized as the 2025 "Best of Registry" would have been nice but it doesn't detract from my satisfaction with the set.
I do think PCGS should make more of an effort to apply their rules consistently. This falls in the category of things that some collectors care deeply about but don't immediately impact PCGS/CU's bottom line (but rather contribute to customer frustration and the slow degradation of reputation). It's great to have someone like @Charles_Morgan, with such an obvious passion for the hobby and connection with collectors, involved going forward.
I am really over registry set thing. My sets are mostly with “the other guys.” I made a huge effort to make my sets educational with pictures and write-ups for every coin. The top guys have no write-ups and no pictures. In other words their sets are blank spaces with lots of registry points.
Now the gold sets are becoming impossible for a high score for anyone but the mega wealthy. If you collect only Mint State coins, the high numbers for Proof gold makes it impossible to compete. I took a detailed look at one the sandblasted Matte Proof $2.50 Indian coins. That sandblasting had taken so much detail off the piece that a Mint State coin has more design detail.
It doesn’t bother me, as I will never be number one here due to the fact that I include NGC Coins in my set.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
100%. It's kind of fun having a top ten collection, but I just keep registries for organization and the ability to share my collection to folks to view. Honestly, I stopped using our host's registry as my collection is about 30% CACG with the rest PCGS and a couple NGC coins. I keep them now with CACG and MyCollect.
I do wish our hosts and CACG played more nicely together, because I prefer our hosts registry design and features.
Newbie collector of type and circulated Peace dollars, photographer of places and animals, player of instruments and builder of amplifiers, espresso industry professional, and a person distracted by shiny objects. https://mycollect.com/Rule556/sets
@rhedden nailed it, and I agree with @Rule556 except that I prefer the CAC registry for several reasons.
Sounds like the short version of a 12 step program 🫣
You may not always see it, and you may not always feel it, but your effort is being noticed. It could very well be the inducement another collector needs to begin their own journey, inspired by yours. Believe it or not, our team reviews every set—and they inspire us, too.
Manager of Numismatic Research and Programs | PCGS
I am in 2nd place behind Hansen in five Lib $2.50 registry categories. I don't look it as being stuck behind Hansen sets as the point gap between those #1 sets and my #2 sets is often vast. Inclusion of CACG coins does not concern me.
All told I am happy to just be in the same league as Hansen sets.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
March of Time - 27 Centuries in Gold
https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=36590
I like it for the most part, and I really like the “what if” function, but honestly all three have positives and annoyances.
I really just liked our host’s virtual album implementation.
Newbie collector of type and circulated Peace dollars, photographer of places and animals, player of instruments and builder of amplifiers, espresso industry professional, and a person distracted by shiny objects. https://mycollect.com/Rule556/sets
I agree with you here.
I think, and this goes for all of them, that sets shouldn’t be able to compete without having photos or if they’re set to “private”. I understand using the registry for organization and setting them to private for security, but by their very nature, competitive registries are a social construct, and we should be able to compare collections using more than just holder stats.
Okay… Better now that that’s off my chest. 🤣
Newbie collector of type and circulated Peace dollars, photographer of places and animals, player of instruments and builder of amplifiers, espresso industry professional, and a person distracted by shiny objects. https://mycollect.com/Rule556/sets
Agreed, honestly I just love looking at other folk’s collections. I’m not too fussed about rankings.
Newbie collector of type and circulated Peace dollars, photographer of places and animals, player of instruments and builder of amplifiers, espresso industry professional, and a person distracted by shiny objects. https://mycollect.com/Rule556/sets
I received such a post to one of my sets from someone; anonymous.
USAF (Ret.) 1985 - 2005. E-4B Aircraft Maint. Crew Chief and Contracting Officer.
✓ Everyman Mint State Carson City Morgan Dollars (1878 – 1893)
✓ Morgan Dollar GSA Hoard (1878 – 1891)
✓ Everyman Mint State Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1958)
✓ Matte Proof Toned Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1916)
Not much one can do... unless... maybe?

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CAC | PCGS | NGC