Congratulations to the 2022 NGC Registry Award Winners!
Posted on 1/6/2023
Each year, NGC recognizes outstanding achievement in Registry Set building. For 2022, 10 winners were selected in each of our Best Classic, Best Modern, Best Presented and Best New categories, along with seven Custom Set winners. In addition, we named six winners in the Overall Achievement in Collecting category.
Winners in these major NGC Registry Award categories receive a personalized plaque, an icon of recognition next to their NGC Registry set and a $500 NGC grading credit. We awarded more prizes than ever for 2022, with a total value of more than $35,000!
Our team of judges reviewed all the top sets across every category in the Registry. After much consideration, they selected the following sets. Congratulations to our 2022 winners!
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Overall Achievement
Koalas, kookaburras, and kangaroos – Oh, my! Christos’ dozens of collections of modern Australian bullion and commemorative coinage are a menagerie of all things that hop, crawl, skitter, glide, climb, and swim. Active in the NGC Registry since at least 2011, Christos boasts nearly 2,500 coins in 252 sets, the bulk concentrated in Australia. His set of silver $5 Kookaburras 1990-date is top-ranked and near-perfect with nearly every coin a spotless MS 70. The only MS 69 is the 1990, but no coin has ever been graded MS 70. His top-ranked set of Wedge-Tailed Eagle silver dollars, designed by former US Mint chief engraver John Mercanti, is a showcase of artistry matched with the Royal Australian Mint’s state-of-the-art technology.
Where does James Bond meet Homer Simpson? In the massive collection of RDH2000. This collector boasts nearly 3,100 coins in 611 sets and is the overall 15th-ranked world collector in the NGC Registry. He collects modern silver coins and must collect at warp speed to keep up with the many issues from countries such as Niue and Tuvalu. He has been the driving force behind themed sets built around James Bond, The Simpsons, Disney and many more, and is frequently the first collector to bring new coins into Registry sets. Remarkably, his Niue Star Wars set is 99% complete with 174 coins dating back to 2011, and he has also collected all 34 of Tuvalu’s Star Trek coins. We’ll invoke and modify the words of Captain James T. Kirk and declare that RDH2000, with his numerous gigantic and complete and nearly complete sets, has “boldly collected where no man has gone before.”
Liberty1776 is the fifth-ranked competitor in US sets. Competition in the Registry is fierce, and of his complete sets of Roosevelt Dimes (all at least MS 66, most with Full Torch), Peace Dollars (all at least MS 64), Franklin Halves (almost all at least MS 65 FBL), silver Washington Quarters (mostly MS 65 and MS 66), Liberty Head Nickels (all at least MS 64), Indian Head Cents (all at least MS 64 with most RB and RD) and classic silver commemoratives (virtually all MS 65 and above) and Morgan Dollars, only his Liberty Head Nickel set cracks the top 10 at #6. However, each complete set with judiciously selected and well photographed Gem and near-Gem coins is a laudable achievement on its own. When considered together, Liberty1776 is unquestionably deserving of an Overall Achievement award.
Since joining the NGC Registry in 2021, Gold Beaver has entered 3,335 coins into 382 competitive sets for over 3.5 million points, making him the overall seventh-ranked collector in the NGC Registry. His specialty is Canadian commemorative and bullion coinage, and he has been a detective hunting down the Royal Canadian Mint’s issues. Many modern issues with small mintages are virtually impossible to find in the secondary market after they sell out at the Mint, and we applaud his complete set of 1-=ounce Gold Maple Leafs (1979-date). No less impressive is his 92% complete set of the hundreds of different Silver Maple Leafs in various finishes and special editions produced since 1988.
Welsh Dragon has been a member of the Registry since 2008, winning best in category a mind-boggling 830 times with his 182 competitive sets and 2,055 coins. He primarily focuses on modern coinage, particularly United Kingdom 20th century circulation and commemorative issues. While his modest point total of just over 450,00 ranks him 306th overall, the Registry recognizes well-presented collections of material across the scale of rarity and value. The Welsh Dragon has completed various large-date runs of denominations in Mint State.
Collector Rajesh Kamath is the 52nd-ranked collector in world sets but one of the top collectors of coins from India. He holds the top ranking in 17 sets; is second-ranked in 15 sets; and third in a further 19 sets. He has won Best in Category a whopping 105 times. This laser-focused collector has nearly complete date-run sets of several denominations in addition to complete British colonial type sets covering 1862 to 1936 in Mint State.
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Best Classic Sets
19th century circulated - DocKJ
DocKJ’s 19th century circulated type set of United States coinage shows that coins with just a touch of wear are as desirable as fully uncirculated coins in grades of MS 63 and even higher. We challenge collectors to carefully examine the AU 58 coins in this set and find the evidence of circulation. Among many particularly nice coins are DocKJ’s 1853 and 1859 Seated Half Dollars (the 1859 with a particularly lustrous surface), 1899 Barber Half, 1898 Quarter Eagle and an 1855 Half Cent showing traces of red. DocKJ’s set contains every copper, nickel and silver issue except for the early Draped Bust Dime and Half Dime, which are tough coins in circulated as well as uncirculated condition. The set includes some of the gold issues and is well on its way to 100% completion.
KAGIN’S M.E. HART COINS OF THE GOLDEN WEST COLLECTION - Kagin's
M.E. Hart’s Coins of the Golden West, modeled after private gold issues of the 19th century, are charming souvenirs of the Old West and pioneer days. As intriguing as the tokens themselves is the story of M.E. Hart, rumored to be a disguise for Farran Zerbe who did not want to be seen hocking souvenirs. Indulge in nostalgia and enjoy these kitsch depictions of prospectors, Eskimos and Indians. Kagin’s top-ranked set contains high-grade specimens with excellent photos.
Chile Peso Collection 1867-1891 - Nonos2007
An NGC Registry participant since 2009, Nonos2007’s collection of Chile Pesos 1867-1891 is top ranked. With 28 coins out of 50 needed, the large set is only 56% complete, but the high-quality coins show Nonos2007 is in no hurry. Nonos2007 likely could have completed the set already, but it’s clear this collector is focusing on quality over quantity and savoring the journey with 13 top-pop coins. Every coin exhibits superb eye appeal, and we look forward to seeing Nonos2007’s continued progress.
The phrase “don’t mess with Texas” can also be applied to the top collector of its commemorative coins – MLM. MLM’s set of the 13 Commemorative Half Dollars, minted from 1934 to 1938 in Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco, is top-ranked and close to double the score of his nearest competitor (we’re excluding the second-ranked set, which also belongs to MLM!). Assembled since 1995, every coin is MS 68. The coin commemorates the heroic effort at the Battle of the Alamo to win independence for Texas, and in the set summary, we can sense MLM’s excitement as he bellows, “Remember the Alamo!”
Trade Dollar Set - guenther trust
Finding a problem-free circulated or uncirculated Trade Dollar for a type set is a challenge for many collectors, but Guenther Trust is simply competing on a different planet with his complete set of Proof Trade Dollars, featuring five top-pop coins. The set contains 11 competitive coins, with mintages ranging from 510 to 1,987. Most US Mint proofs of this era did not exhibit Cameo, but six of this collector’s coins exhibit Cameo and three are Ultra Cameo. If the US Mint made modern commemorative versions of the Trade Dollar (as it has with the Morgan and Peace Dollars), we could look at some of Guenther Trust’s remarkable pieces to envision what they would look like!
Pokeplayer101’s set of Roosevelt Dimes, 1946-1964, Circulation Issue, is a remarkable achievement. Nearly two-thirds of the 48 coins are top pop, giving Pokeplayer101 set with 160,729 points a nearly 30% lead over the second-place set with 123,763 points. Pokeplayer101’s stay at the top will likely enjoy longevity like Roosevelt’s bust on the dime. Many of the coins have stars for eye appeal, and there is a mix of blast white coins and rainbow-toned coins. Those who love to debate the merits of coins with and without toning might win some converts when viewing stunning blast-white 1949-S (MS 68+) and lovely rainbow-toned 1957 (MS 67+).
Principality of Bulgaria 1879-1908 - Viktor Rogachev
Eastern European coinage has been on the rise, and Viktor Rogachev’s Bulgaria 1879-1908 type set, containing 26 coins and only missing a single common issue, is a showcase of the artistry of Bulgaria’s coinage. The 1894 Gold 100 Leva with a handsome portrait of Ferdinand I and a finely engraved coat of arms is the key coin with a mintage of 2,500. Few coins survived in Mint State and none crack even MS 62, and Viktor Rogachev’s set is the only one out of six complete or nearly complete sets to contain a Mint State example.
#1 set *RUDMAN* Santo Domingo - rudman coleccion
Rudman coleccion is the top-ranked competitor in World Sets with 3,858 coins, and his Santo Domingo colonial coinage collection is stunning. Rudman needed 12 copies of the set to house his multiple specimens of various coins. The collection contains well-struck museum-quality examples of often-crude hammered coinage from the 1500s. While corrosion, environmental damage and altered surfaces are typical for coins from this period, remarkably the vast majority of Rudman coleccion’s coins are problem-free with numerical grades. That this collection was assembled in one lifetime is unbelievable, and to us the most plausible explanation is that Rudman was a member of Ponce de Leon’s expedition and has been collecting these coins firsthand for centuries.
Red Holders Only – Set 1 - beckes
The Redfield Hoard of Morgan and Peace Dollars has developed a cult following among coin collectors. Unlike other collectibles such as action figures and toys, coin collectors in the past never had to resist the urge to pop open that box and play with their coin. In the early years, many collectors who obtained Redfield coins gave into temptation and removed the coins from the original holders, making a serious mistake as many of these coins, some quite scarce in certain dates, have skyrocketed in value. Beckes’ set is only 57% complete with 38 coins, but many are top-pop and we look forward to Beckes’ further progress on this challenging set.
MJS – Panama 1904-1962 Coleccion Clasica (1) - MJS Collection
The Balboa, named after the famed helmeted explorer and conquistador featured on its obverse, is one of those iconic foreign coins every collector should seek out. Panama in general and the Circulation Issue Coinage, 1904-1962 is a popular, tightly contested area of the NGC Registry. MJS Collection holds the top-ranking (as well as second place with a second complete set!) but he competes against five other 100% complete sets and holds only a slim 10% lead. His 1931 Balboa is a blast-white beauty and top-pop coin in MS 65. Notably, he has one of seven known 2-1/2 Centesimos (most were melted down). Though the coin is non-competitive and does not count toward set completion, it elevates MJS Collection’s set.
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Best Modern Sets
Canada’s “Loonie” Dollar, nicknamed this after the common loon floating on the obverse, has become a national icon since 1987. Perhaps the secret to a successful dollar coin is putting a bird on it. It certainly isn’t the Reuleaux polygon shape Canada’s dollar shares with the US Mint’s unsuccessful Susan B Anthony dollar. In any case, mdwoods has the topped-ranked set of circulation-issue Loonie Dollars in the NGC Registry. At 97% complete, the set contains many top-pop coins.
Eisenhower Dollars, 1971-1978, Mint State - The Bray Collection
Sometimes we choose our collecting passion, and sometimes it is instilled in us by another. In the case of The Bray Collection, the collector received an Eisenhower Dollar from his grandfather every time he visited. In a touching set summary, the collector writes he has kept every Eisenhower Dollar he has ever received and has amassed thousands. He also hopes to spark the collecting passion in others and gives many away. However, we assume he’s not giving away any of his numerous coins in astronomical grades. More than half of The Bray Collection’s coins are top-pops, including two MS 69s. We imagine this collector’s grandfather would be very proud of this achievement.
At 91% complete and 83 coins, Stanislawski’s collection of Gold 200 Zlotych coins is an impressive feat. No other collector is in the same ballpark — or continent — as Stanislawski, who has been adding coins steadily since 2013. Some mintages are as low as a few hundred, making these coins difficult to find. Almost all of Stanislawski’s coins are perfect PF 70s.
The new American Women Quarters Program has launched with great fanfare, but this program owes some of its success to the original 50 State Quarters program that ran 1999 to 2008. Mikey Siegel’s impeccable collection’s top-ranked set enjoys a 20,000-point or nearly 32% lead over the nearest competitor. Of 140 coins, this collector has over 100 top-pop coins and more than a dozen coins designated PL, including some from the Philadelphia Mint. Only three issues and five coins out of 120,728 graded samples have reached MS 70, and this collector possesses three of them! Mikey Siegel’s impeccable collection also occupies the top spot for the National Parks Quarters, 2010-2021. Other collectors be warned, this behemoth has also begun assembling the American Women Quarters Circulation Issue set as well…
Coin Cover set - 79449 - JJWhizman
JJWhizman’s fondness for American history is evident in his description of each president and some of their numismatic connections. This set consists primarily of the special First Day Coin Cover sets from the US Mint featuring a portrait of each president next to the coin.
Renaissance58 has every Proof Gold, Silver and Platinum Eagle struck by the US Mint since 1986. His top-ranked set consists solely of gleaming, PF 70, Ultra Cameo coins with jet-black fields. Enjoy viewing these gorgeous coins and debating whether the Walking Liberty or Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is the most beautiful US coin design!
The Renard Collection Commemorative Gold Proof - Bruce Laquster
The US Mint’s commemorative coin programs contain some of the most beautiful and innovative US coins, and Bruce Laquster’s complete set is a worthy showcase. Each coin is a pristine PF 70 Ultra Cameo. Some highlights of the set include the 2019 and 2020 curved Apollo 11 and Basketball Hall of Fame coins; the pink-tinted 2018 Breast Cancer Awareness coin; and the 2000 Library of Congress bimetallic coin.
HDB – Silver Eagles – Full Set - HDB
If any coin could be described as a celebrity, it would be the American Silver Eagle. The unique Silver Eagles, 1986-Date, Mint State, Specimen, & Proof (Including Varieties & Special Pedigrees) set includes the Silver Eagle produced in every finish since 1986, every place it was produced (including coins where mintmarks are not present) and all the celebratory special sets. The Silver Eagle always makes an occasion special, and the set also includes coins issued at past World’s Fair of Money conventions and other shows. HDB possesses a complete set (minus the recently released 2022 Limited Edition Proof Set coin) in perfect grades of 70 but for one issue, and we would certainly endorse him for the presidency of the Silver Eagle Fan Club.
Gold Sovereign Mints per Ruler Set - Cozdred
Nothing says empire quite like gold, and conquest of this British set requires 21 Gold Sovereigns covering 200 years of history from George III to Elizabeth II (and soon Charles III) and mints in Europe, North America, Australia, India and Africa. Cozdred has built the top-ranked collection, and we have no doubt the collector is readying a fleet of ships to obtain the missing Perth Mint sovereign of Victoria. The design of St. George slaying the dragon is one of the most iconic British designs, and its appeal is surely one of the driving factors in why Cozdred built a stellar set with many attractive examples in grades of MS 64 and MS 65.
Jordan, Hussein bin Talal, Complete Base Metal Type Set - ArabianCoins Collection
The NGC Registry only has a handful of sets representing Jordan’s coins, but ArabianCoins Collection has completed all five sets and possesses 180 coins covering nearly 50 years of history. The Hussein type set (excluding silver and gold commemoratives) is the largest with 37 types, and each coin is accompanied by a high-quality image.
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Best New Sets
Sacagawea Complete Set By OA Nentico - OA Nentico
While the American Women Quarters Program has generated immense excitement, it’s worth remembering that Susan B Anthony broke the glass ceiling with the United States dollar design from 1979 to 1999. The Sacagawea Dollar is one of the most interesting series of US coinage to collect as the coin has been issued with various finishes and reverse designs. Traditional Mint State and Ultra Cameo Proof coins were made as well as satin-finish Mint State coins, Reverse Proofs, and several enhanced versions as well. And of course, there is the special “Goodacre Presentation” coin which OA Nentico has in SP 67. Artist Glenna Goodacre took her $5,000 commission for the Sacagawea portrait in the form of 5,000 specially finished 2000-P Sacagawea Dollars (about 3,000 were sold for $200 each!). OA Nentico only re-entered the coin collecting hobby in 2021, but this complete set of Sacagawea Dollars is already ranked eighth, and we look forward to charting this collector’s journey in the NGC Registry.
Ukraine Silver 10 Hryven - Romament Ukraine
Ukraine’s rich and long history makes for a fascinating series of 1-ounce Silver Proof commemoratives depicting Cossacks, Orthodox cathedrals and much more in a distinctly Ukrainian style. Native art forms such as Kosiv painting are strikingly rendered on colorized coins, and other issues are artfully accented with gilt elements. The series began in 1996 and encompasses nearly 200 coins with mintages as small as a few thousand making Romament Ukraine’s set even at 67% completion a major achievement.
The Achori Pe Colonial Peru Real Set - Achori Collection
Spanish colonial coinage and “Pillar Dollars” (or 8 Reales) have always been in-demand coinage, and we credit the Achori Collection for getting off the beaten path and collecting the smaller 1 Real coins. The set is only 66% complete, but all six coins are top population coins, including an MS 64 1754 Real with the iconic Pillars of Hercules. Of the possible nearly 50 dates that could be included in this type set, only around 30 coins have been graded by NGC in Mint State. We hope the Achori Collection will discover and bring more of these coins into the collecting world.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA GOLD, TOP POP, DUCAT SET 1923 - 1936 - Michal Pelan
The Gold Ducat occupies a special place in collectors’ hearts, and the Czech Ducat with its depiction of the legendary medieval king and saint, Wenceslas, invokes the time of castles, knights and heroic virtue. Czech collector Michal Pelan’s essay and comments accompanying this set reveal a deep love for these coins, and the collector has assembled a museum-worthy showcase with the majority in grades of MS 67 and 68.
其他 - Silver 5 Yuan, 1983 – Date, Proof - justicezala
China’s commemorative 5 Yuan series is a daunting series to collect, with more than 150 issues, and no collector until justicezala has made a serious dent in the series. Over the last year, justicezala has steadily added 101 coins to the set to arrive at 55% completion and 47,394 points. We look forward to the further progress of this intent collector.
Reed’s 1oz Gold Buffalos Complete - J Reed
J Reed’s complete set of 1-ounce Gold Buffalos contains 36 coins in Mint State, Proof and Reverse Proof. The coins are based on James Earle Fraser’s 1913 Buffalo Nickel design. While the US Mint struggled at the time with producing this iconic design (sometimes not even being able to give the buffalo all four legs) and Fraser’s design was replaced after a relatively brief 25 years, the US Mint has now given Fraser’s design glorious justice in these stunning gold coins. Every coin in J Reed’s set is a perfect MS, PF or RP 70.
Turkey Silver Circulation Set 1327 - Av.Mustafa KuL
Av.Mustafa KuL has been an advocate for coins of the Ottoman Empire encompassing Turkey, Egypt and other countries, and his enthusiasm has led to the creation of many new Registry sets in these areas. Middle Eastern coins are unfamiliar to many, so we will help elaborate. In this set, the obverse of each coin features a “toughra” which is a monogram of the Sultan’s name with embellished letters. Each reverse is dated Muhammad V (١٣٢٧), the Hejira year that Mehmed V became Sultan, while the obverse has anywhere from a 1 to a 9 marking the individual year of the Sultan’s reign. Muhammad V ruled from 1909 to 1918. Virtually all of the coins in the set are in Mint State, and Av.Mustafa KuL has many other complete and nearly complete Turkey sets.
American Revolution Bicentennial US Mint Medals - BMetoyer
Almost every coin collector has a soft spot for the 1976 Bicentennial Quarter (and maybe a jar full of them), but the US Mint was busy throughout the 1970s, however, striking various bronze, silver and gold medals commemorating the bicentennial. Bmetoyer was the driving force in creating this set and has almost the entire set of 21 pieces as cataloged by Swoger. These handsome pieces include several Proof medals, commemorative events and luminaries who never got their own coins, commemorative or otherwise, such as Sam Adams, Patrick Henry and Paul Revere.
San Marino has always been a small country, but even small countries need coins. San Marino’s handsome coinage (1864-1938) was produced in Italy at the Rome and Milan mints. One of the highlights is the 1898 Silver 5 Lire engraved by the famed Italian Filippo Speranza. The coin depicts the early Christian Saint Marinus, from whom San Marino takes its name. V.L.’s set is nearly complete except for a few common issues. Most of the coins are MS 64 and above, and V.L.’s carefully selected coins are wonderful representations of these coins’ old-world charm.
Purple Heart Roll of Honor - JaMarine
An NGC Registry participant since 2008, JaMarine has more than 1,500 coins in 160 competitive sets. His set of the 2022 Purple Heart commemorative coins consists of all perfect 70s with the special National Purple Heart Honor Mission label. (With every purchase of this special label, NGC makes a donation to the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.) The specially colorized Proof Silver Dollar in this set made quite a splash among collectors; colorization, though routine for many world mints, is still novel for US collectors. However, it might be JaMarine's MS 70 Half Dollar and Silver Dollar that are the long-term hidden gems. The low mintages reflect collectors' preference for Proofs, but that also creates opportunity, and JaMarine is taking full advantage.
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Best Presented Sets
Alfonso XII 25 Pesetas - JohnA
The NGC Registry began recognizing “top pop” coins with a special icon in only the last year or two, but we might have to consider an “only pop” label, as coined by JohnA in his description of his 1885(86) 25 Peseta. JohnA, in his detailed comments, notes that this rare coin is not only the highest-graded coin, but the only coin graded by NGC or PCGS. The coin was authorized in 1885 and dated 1885 but produced in 1885 and 1886. JohnA’s comments and clear photos reveal an incuse 18 and 86 struck in the stars on either side of 1885.
JCR preowned 20th Century Type - tsevni2
Tsevni2’s humorously described “preowned” 20th Century Type set could be the final exam for a course in grading. Of course, it would be a trick exam because almost every answer would be AU 58, though tsevni2 muses how so many of the coins are just the slightest bit of rub away from MS 63 and higher grades. Tsevni2’s pleasure in putting together the circulated-coin-only version of the 20th century type set is evident in his detailed comments paired with excellent photos. Some of the examples of how thin the line between AU 58 and higher grades can be include an AU 58 1940 Jefferson Nickel with Full Steps, a 1927 Standing Liberty Quarter with a Full Head designation and an AU 58 PL 1904 Double Eagle.
Jaelus' Hungarian 5 Pengős - Jaelus
Would the original 5 Pengo please stand up? Jaelus, an expert collector of Hungarian coins, has assembled an original collection of attractive 5 Pengo commemorative coins issued in the 1930s and 1940s. The concept of original coins and restrikes would be foreign to collectors of US coins, as the US Mint never restruck a commemorative or Proof coin after the original issue. In Hungary, however, a firm associated with the official mint restruck many coins in the 1960s, and often these restrikes are indistinguishable, but not to the keen eyes of Jaelus. Enjoy these coins; it’s easy to see why there was demand for further strikes of these designs!
Turning Pain into Suffering - Revenant
Revenant’s intriguing essay offers an insightful take on the dangers of fiat currency and inflation which ravaged Venezuela in the early 2000s, leading to his interest in its subsequent reform coinage 2007-date. Revenant is also an enthusiastic participant in the PMG Registry and has built award-winning collections of the inflationary banknotes of Venezuela and other countries. Each coin is clearly photographed, and Revenant documents the circuitous ways in which he built his collection.
Fenntucky Mike’s set of silver 1-ounce Archangel Michael coins from Ukraine shows that bullion collecting has its challenges and opportunities. The Archangel Michael is the protector of Ukraine and its patron saint with a history extending back hundreds of years and was a natural choice for a bullion series. As Fenntucky Mike describes, MS 70 examples are unexpectedly rare in the series due to production issues, spotting and poor packaging. All Fenntucky Mike’s coins are MS 70 but for the 2014 F15 Privy, and only one MS 70 has been graded so far. We hope Fenntucky Mike will still search for that elusive coin despite already holding the top ranking and winning a 2022 Registry Award.
Salinas Collection – BVI $1 Silver Proofs - ChrisInJesup
We can feel the sunshine and sand between our toes after seeing images of tropical fish and flamingoes on these British Virgin Islands Silver Dollars and reading about ChrisInJesup’s adventures snorkeling and exploring reefs and shipwrecks there. This top-ranked set features crisp photos of each coin and detailed information. Some readers might be surprised to learn that one of the coins was the work of Kennedy Half Dollar designer Gilroy Roberts, who worked at the Franklin Mint after retiring from the US Mint.
The French Colonial Set - physics-fan3.14
The French coinage of colonial Morocco 1912-1956 is an intriguing mix of French panache and Middle East imagery and symbols. All of this is captured in the plate-worthy collection and photos of Physics-fan3.14, who also possesses the only complete type set in the NGC Registry. The coins have been carefully assembled and all exhibit amazing eye appeal. Physics-fan3.14 also provides a detailed history of Morocco throughout the set. This laser-focused collector has just four sets, and we are keen to see their next project.
Martin S. Collection of Silver Libertad 2 Onzas MS - libertad1998
“Beautiful coin in a beautiful size” is how libertad1998 describes the 2 Onza – the two-ounce silver version of the popular one-ounce bullion coin. The 2 Onza sports a 48 mm diameter, expanding on the popular “crown”-size coin’s 38.61mm. We would love to see a Silver Eagle this size. The downside to a larger coin, however, is more surface area for contact marks, as libertad1998 explains in the difficulty in finding high-grade coins. That, combined with poor handling and packaging, means many of the issues before 2012 top out in MS 69 and even MS 69s are scarce. Libertad1998’s 1997 MS 69 coin is one of only four in that top grade!
CYPRUS, Mil Coinage, 1963-1982, Complete Circulation Issue. – TMS Coins
We sometimes wonder about the day jobs of Registry participants. In the case of TMS coins, we would bet it’s director of tourism for the island of Cyprus. TMS, who hails from Cyprus, describes the history and beauty of the island, writing “Should there be any wonder why Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love and beauty, made her home in this island?” The designs of the coins, issued by a new Republic after British rule, highlight the nation’s specialties. The 50 mils, with its bunch of plump grapes, has us wanting to travel to Cyprus for a glass of wine with Dionysus. TMS Coins’ fondness for these coins is readily apparent, having had them graded himself and writing the coins remind him of memories from high school, university and life.
Lehigh96's Polar Bears - lehigh96
Erik the Red, the Icelandic murderer exiled to Greenland who gave it its misleading name to attract settlers, might be surprised that the Danish Colony – Milled Coinage, 1926-1944, has 23 competitors and that the majestic polar bears adorning the coins were what attracted Lehigh96 to the set. We imagine Erik the Red might have chosen gentle seals, not ferocious polar bears. In a warm essay, Lehigh96 details his lifelong love of polar bears, which began with visits to the Philadelphia zoo as a child. Lehigh96 has the top-ranked set of five coins, and each coin is accompanied by a perfect photo and comments on how the coin was obtained.
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Custom Sets
BlackBeard’s Treasure - jim hawkins
Jim hawkins’ “BlackBeard’s Treasure” is an incredible collection of over 150 Spanish colonial coins from the 1500s to the 1800s. The vast majority of the coins have original surfaces and numerical grades (as opposed to cleaned or environmental damage). Remarkably, the Mexico City Mint was established as early as 1535, less than 50 years after the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus. While the crudely struck cobs of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries are what many people think of first, check out the amazing quality of the collector’s Charles and Joanna 4 Reales, struck in the mid-1500s. We imagine the “BlackBeard’s Treasure” title is meant to reflect the scale of this amazing collection (and not the methods by which the coins were obtained), but it also makes us imagine Jim Hawkins as a member of Blackbeard’s crew, asking to cherry-pick his share of the loot!
NGC Certified, Large cents by the numbers (Year Set) - Ray, USMC
Ray, USMC’s goal in this custom set is to obtain one Large Cent for every year 1793-1857 as well as one variety for each date. While a few coins will likely remain out of reach, Ray, USMC chooses to be content with the 108 coins he has obtained. In commentary on each coin, the collector’s affection for each piece is palpable whether a modest VG, solid XF or choice AU. That affection clearly has only grown over the decades since the collection was started in 1960. Whenever you have a rainy day in your collecting, visit Ray, USMC’s set to remind yourself of the simple pleasures of coin collecting and to enjoy the journey.
Life during the Industrial Revolution was marked by frequent shortages of small denomination currency, and in late 18th century Britain, privately minted tokens often picked up the Royal Mint slack. Where regal issues, of course, featured the king and Britannia or royal coats of arms, private merchants were able to put whatever they wanted on tokens. Viewing farthings’ 188 vividly photographed, high-grade tokens is an absolute pleasure as the tokens are so different from coins and depict ships, castles and more.
Civil War Tokens - Patriotic Dies - Redline68
The NGC Registry is home to several dazzling sets of Civil War tokens. Redline68’s collection of 164 pieces containing many of R-8 and R-9 rarity are accompanied by vivid photographs. One piece was even used as a plate coin in the Red Book! Redline68’s dedication in building this set is clear, and his set is a window into a fascinating period of American numismatic history.
BKJG's Civil War Patriotic and Store Cards - County Line Numismatics
During the Civil War, hoarding of gold, silver and copper coins gave rise to privately minted tokens for commerce known as Civil War tokens. County Line Numismatic succinctly describes the history and types of these many colorful issues. Among the patriotic tokens, slogans as diverse as “peace forever” and “shoot him on the spot” can be found. This collection is notable for its high-grade samples and stellar photos of the 278 pieces.
Most Creative Custom Set
Math & Physics Coins - JKMulcahey
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to enjoy this custom set featuring coins from all over the world related to math and physics. We crunched the numbers, and all of the equations in this set add up to the 2022 Most Creative Custom Set. JKMulcahey, an electrical engineer, has assembled 70 coins and his enthusiasm shows in his photos and coin descriptions. One standout coin is a 2022 25 Euro from Austria enhanced with purple niobium illustrating the Drake Equation for extraterrestrial life. We look forward to this set’s hyperbolic growth.
Most Informative Custom Set
Jaelus’ Hungarian Patterns - Jaelus
For collector Jaelus, a pattern piece with 30-50 known samples is “difficult, but not impossible” to find. One would wonder what Jaelus does consider impossible, as several of his pieces, such as the 1946 10 Filler (10 known), were struck in quantities smaller than that. For this informative set, we would say that Jaelus got information sources such as the Hungarian National Collection, but even they do not have some of the pieces Jaelus possesses! Jaelus’ depth of knowledge and amount of research is evident after reading just the first sentence of any given coin’s description, and each coin has been meticulously photographed as well.
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