The Siren Call of a #1 Registry Set and th Inevitable Letdown! posted by Oldtrader3

[CSJournals-migration]

I have built a Registry set over a period of nearly 10 years and had a #1 set for three years. Then came the inevitable let down for all who aspire to be #1.

 

Before I moved to Washington State, about (2003), I was buying mostly better date, lower MS and AU gold coins with low pops. This lead me to having three coins dated 1979 (two quarter eagles and an eagle) of which the eagle was later sold. From these two quarter eagles, my 1879 Registry Set began to take shape about 2004.

 

Putting this particular set together is always a challenge because many of the coins in this set are quite difficult and expensive to find. Especially the half eagle, eagle and double eagle from Carson City Mint which mintages of range from 1,700 to 17,000 pieces, none of which are easily found, even in large auctions.

 

This set is also unique in that the silver minor coins are extremely low mintages also, except for the Morgan silver dollars which are all quite available, despite the 1879-CC being quite expensive. Anyhow by 2009, I had clawed this set up to a #1 registry rank, mostly with coins that I could afford, when I finally found them.

 

I have tried to keep most of the gold issues in this set at AU58 grades or higher, except the CC gold. After finally reaching first place with this set in 2009. I held the first place position for three years. However, in coin collecting registries, all things are inevitable, specially unless you have extremely deep pockets. Knowing this, I lost #1 set position in 2012. In fact the new #1 set outscores my set by double the points that I have in my set and effectively makes me uncompetitive, despite my having 12,000 registry points in this set.

 

At my age and fixed income, it is doubtful that I will ever regain #1 status on this 1879 Mint Set which is okay. All things come and pass in a sort of natural progression in coin collecting. I am just happy to have retained this set ranking for as long as I had it.

 

It is a fact of life with coin collecting, that despite the level which any one collector may attain. he/she is always hearing footsteps from the sets directly behind them and eventually most top sets will lose their claim to #1 set with few collectors regaining the #1 position again after losing it

 

I am okay with this and will continue like before because the challenge is in finding the coins, not the ranking that one attains..

 

See more journals by Oldtrader3

[#]

Hi Charlie,

 

Ok, I know you didn't mean to but I feel worse than today. Your journal was well written and applies to ALL OF US! We are just stewards of our coins for a brief time they are inevitably sold by us or our heirs for the the next generation to enjoy and care for. Someone at sometime enjoyed your 1879 coins and were just as proud as you have been. Before that someone worked hard, meaning manual labor the likes we don't see today to feed their family with those coins they sweated to earn. Even before that God owned the coins buried under thousand pounds of dirt and rock- his private reserve if you will. As mentioned above I too will lose my number one spot to some younger, weathier, healthier and probably better looking son of *****! So goes life. I wish you all the best and enjoy your accomplishments.

 

Sincerely,

David, HashTag, #

[greysoldier]

Congratulations on having been a #1 Registry Set Holder! That is an impressive achievement even if not always a permant one. Now you can sit back and enjoy the coins you have without being concerned about where they place in the Registry. I'm thinking that is not a bad thing at all.

[Mr Bo Jingles]

Love the post. I feel your pain (without actually ever having a #1 set).

 

Congrats on having held the #1 spot so long and congrats on still owning one of the finest sets in the world!

[Walkerfan]

OT3----Now THAT was a journal entry!! Very well done!! Congrats on being a former #1 set holder!!!

[Six Mile Rick]

WOW Rank #1 on a early date mint set for three years is a heck of an achievement. I have my hopes on a few modern Rank #1 sets by the end of the year but don't really expect to be able to hold them for 3 years (that is if I get them).

Congratulations,

 

Rick