Completeness should account for something.

[BillJones]

I’ve worked on type coins for almost all of my 50+ years as a collector. I’ve now completed 100% of the non gold type coins from 1792 to 1964, and I have 99% of the non gold total type set. I’d have 100% there except for the fact that I can’t find a certified America the Beautiful clad quarter.

 

Recently I dropped in the standings because a couple of high rollers whose sets are less than 40% complete decided to get involved in the type coin area. One of them is an obscured set, which makes me doublely angry because obscured sets offer nothing in the way of education. They are just black holes that stand in the way of constructive set displays.

 

It irks me that a collector can have far less than 50% of a collection and yet displace someone who has over 90% of the set complete. My collection contains no junk. The lowest grade coin in it is my 1796 half dollar which grades Fine-15. Everything else grades from VF-25 to PR-70 for the real common modern stuff.

 

Shouldn’t completeness could for something? I merely ask the question.

 

[gpnyc]

I get your point yet what if someone completes their set with low grade coins. Should that displace a less complete set with more appealing mid-grade coins because of some completeness "bonus?" A bonus for pics and descriptions is something that definitely should be looked into. Sets that are just cert numbers do nothing for the hobby and merely serve to stroke egos. Along those lines, I don't think obscured sets should be scored at all.

 

PS: to some people, you are a "high roller," . That said, I love your coins... one can tell you put a lot of thought into your purchases whereas some of the individuals that anger you are likely just buying plastic.

 

Just my 2¢.

[leeg]

I'm behind you 100% on this one Bill! (thumbs u

[nunfa0]

I agree with Bill too!!

[Kenneth F]

While I agree with the "obscured sets" thought, I dont feel that somebody should get extra kudos because their set is complete. It doesnt bother me that somebody has higher end coins than I do. You cant do anything about the "high rollers".. they are working on their hobby just like you. If you look at the Morgan registry, you will see the "high rollers" dominate that registry, does it affect me or my collection, no. Hey, if you are 100% in your set and the others above you are 40%, they dont qualify for the registry awards but you do.. so you do have an edge over them.

[jgrinz]

New Rules says me -

 

NO obscured sets

All coins must have a picture

Description is optional

 

Hee-yawwww

[BillJones]

New Rules says me -

 

NO obscured sets

All coins must have a picture

Description is optional

 

Hee-yawwww

 

I agree completely. I've challenged some of these people with the top sets that have no pictures and no descriptions. One of their excuses is that "cameras are expensive."

 

Give me a break! You can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on coins, and you can't afford a few hundred on camera? Digital photography makes it so easy to record your entire collection with pictures these days!

 

 

[Kenneth F]

New Rules says me -

 

NO obscured sets

All coins must have a picture

Description is optional

 

Hee-yawwww

 

I agree completely. I've challenged some of these people with the top sets that have no pictures and no descriptions. One of their excuses is that "cameras are expensive."

 

Give me a break! You can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on coins, and you can't afford a few hundred on camera? Digital photography makes it so easy to record your entire collection with pictures these days!

 

 

Are you serious??

 

I have the cheapest digital camera best buy has to offer.. and my pictures turn out ok.. ha ha. Well these are folks who dont put much effort into their registry sets.

[BillJones]

IF YOU DON'T LIKE HOW THE REGISTRY SETS ARE SET UP, THEN LEAVE. IT WOULD BE GOOD RIDDANCE AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED.

 

Use Excel if you don't like it. It is not NGCs fault that you can't afford better coins.

 

 

Let me explain something to you. One can pay $35,000 for a VF 1796 quarter or a 1793 Chain Cent and get 4,876 registry points for the 1796 quarter or 4,565 registry points for the Chain cent.

 

Alternately you can spend $5,000 (1/7th as much) for a Type I Standing Liberty quarter in MS-67, Full Head and get 4,231 registry points.

 

I can sight many, many examples of this weakness in the registry point system.

 

Before you start hurling insults at other collectors, you had better study the inequities in the registry point system.

 

[BillJones]

IF YOU DON'T LIKE HOW THE REGISTRY SETS ARE SET UP, THEN LEAVE. IT WOULD BE GOOD RIDDANCE AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED.

 

Use Excel if you don't like it. It is not NGCs fault that you can't afford better coins.

 

 

Let me explain something to you. One can pay $35,000 for a VF 1796 quarter or a 1793 Chain Cent and get 4,876 registry points for the 1796 quarter or 4,565 registry points for the Chain cent.

 

Alternately you can spend $5,000 (1/7th as much) for a Type I Standing Liberty quarter in MS-67, Full Head and get 4,231 registry points.

 

I can sight many, many examples of this weakness in the registry point system.

 

Before you start hurling insults at other collectors, you had better study the inequities in the registry point system.

 

I am merely repeating the sentiment here regarding the registry.

 

The tone of your post did not convey that message.

[Kenneth F]

AUGUSTUS!!! Your picture distracts me.. ha ha ha..

[Kenneth F]

Bill, bottom line.. dont worry about what other people do with their sets. Keep your eye on your target! If some rich folks get a few high ball coins, so be it.. go and try to get some of yours. I save up years at a time to get the high ball coins I want. I know that I will never be #1 in the Morgan registry, but I still drive on. If you look at my set, Im only 41% complete.. that means that I am not qualified for a registry award. You seem bent out of shape about not being #1. If you are over a certain %, your set will go in front of the judges.. If you are 100%, your set will be there. Take pride in your set.. make that set something to look at. I think I talked about the registry set that won this year.. it was ranked 8th overall.. and I WON.. I DID... not the 1st ranked guy/gal.. So, with this being said, drive on and be well..

[World Colonial]

I agree with you on the point system. In my opinion, the grade is given far too much weight over the overall scarcity of the coin. Most high grade coins are only "rare" in a narrow sense.

[mtnstyne]

I can understand the heartburn on the points thing. I think what amazes me the most is that you can collect all modern stuff that is not scarce and minted solely for collecting and build a ton of points if you want for very little cost or even what I consider "collecting" for that matter. It's not much different than going to Walmart and picking up a set of PF70UC modern day whatevers and building points. Not enough credit is given to the older more difficult finds out there. My highest point coins are the presidential series...which conversely where the easiest to find and cheapest to buy and the ones I am least proud of. I stopped picking them up in 2010 but those 12 coins are each worth 908 registry points each.

[Oldtrader3]

I missed this the first time around and am late but will comment. I do only own a single MS70 (or PF70) coin and have only owned a couple that were modern gold half eagles because they came that way. I do not collect modern coins generally and only have a couple of proof sets of any coins that were minted after 1950. I do not even particularly consider these sets as part of my core collection.

 

However, I do own and would covet owning more high grade XF/AU coins that are classic, high scarcity or rare coins that have no MS population at all in any grade. I do not begrudge anyone collecting what they like and I really do not even care much about many specialist areas of collecting which I have no stake in. Plus, I have paid my dues in learning new series over the years.

 

For guys like Bill Jones,TomB and others have put in the time and funds to have admirably deep and completed type sets, I certainly enjoy looking at them and am very glad when good pictures are included. I may never compete with many of these sets but I do what I can to collect the best collector coins in my area of interest. This includes any solid classics which I can afford. Plus, I try to maintain an eye on some modicum of scarcity and collectability for my own acquisitions, modest as they are.

 

High grade means different things to different people.