PCGS The Standard for the Rare Coin Industry

Expert Comments:
In just one year, the number of sets in the PCGS Set Registry has nearly doubled, from 4,000 sets to 7,000 sets. The competition was super intense in 2002. This year it was even more intense. The sets are fantastic and our experts had an incredibly tough job narrowing down the winners list to 5 per category. 

This year, PCGS experts John Dannreuther, Bruce Amspacher, and David Hall looked at all the top sets in the PCGS Set Registry and then compared notes to make the final determination. For the PCGS Set Registry Hall of Fame induction, PCGS founder and grading expert Gordon Wrubel joined JD, Bruce, and David to pick this year's inductees. Once again PCGS experts want to congratulate all participants in the PCGS Set Registry. We've each been around rare coins and rare coin collectors for decades. We are amazed at the number of world class coin collections that are now in the PCGS Set Registry and we are totally impressed with the dedication and achievement of the collectors who have assembled these monumental sets.

Five* Best Classic Sets (1792-1964) of 2003

High Desert - Complete U.S. Type Set (1792-1964)
This is the grandaddy of all U.S. Type sets and the High Desert set is not only the finest set now in existence, it is one of the finest sets ever assembled. It is high quality throughout, even the rare early issues. In the words of Bruce Amspacher, "Who is this High Desert guy?"


Stewart Blay - Lincoln Cent Collection (1909-1958)
Lincoln Cents Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1909-1958)
Lincoln Cents with Varieties, Circulation Strikes (1909-1958)
Lincoln Cents, Matte Proof (1909-1916)
Lincoln Cents, Proof (1936-1942)
Lincoln Cents, Proof (1950-1958)
Lincoln Cents, Proof (1909-1958)
Unquestionably the finest set of 1909-1958 Lincolns ever assembled. The circulation strikes, both basic and with varieties...the matte proofs...the brilliant proofs...when it comes to wheat reverse Lincolns, Stewart Blay is the man!


Tom McCarroll - Buffalo Nickels Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1913-1938)
Mr. Buffalo Nickel has a Hall of Fame best set of all-time. And he's still adding to it! Nearly all coins are Pop Tops and he's not done yet. We are in awe of this set of Buffalos.


Dr. Steven L. Duckor - Barber Half Dollars, Circulation Strikes (1892-1915)
Barber Half Dollars Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1892-1915)
Barber Half Dollars with Varieties, Circulation Strikes (1892-1915)
We are confident this is the finest set of Barber half dollars ever assembled, both basic and with varieties. It's better than the Dr. Price set, better than Eliasberg, better than anything we've ever seen in all of our years in the coin market.

The Cardinal Collection - Early Dollars, Circulation Strikes (1794-1803)
Early Dollars Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1794-1803)
Early Dollars with Varieties, Circulation Strikes (1794-1803)
The "Cardinal Collection" of early dollars is an incredible accomplishment and it's an extremely difficult set to build in any grade, let alone the amazing quality of the Cardinal coins. Finding one of these coins is a significant task. To have all of these great Bust dollars in one collection at one time is beyond words.

Legend Collection - Trade Dollar Collection (1873-1885)
Trade Dollars, Circulation Strikes (1873-1878)
Trade Dollars Chop Mark Set, Circulation Strikes (1873-1878)
Trade Dollars, Proof (1873-1885)
The best set of all-time for the circulation strikes and the best set of all-time for the proofs. This year "Tradedollarnut" has added his complete set of chop mark Trade dollars. A Hall of Fame monumental set of coins in every way.

*6-way tie.

Five Best Modern Sets (1950 to date) of 2003

EBL III Collection - Franklin Half Dollars Basic Set, Proofs (1950-1963)
Absolutely the finest ever assembled. An incredible 13 of the 14 are unimprovable Pop Tops with three being unique for the grade. This set is a full point better than the fabulous number two ranked set.

Richard Green Collection - Kennedy Half Dollars, Circulation Strikes (1964 to present) Kennedy Half Dollars Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1964-Present)
Kennedy Half Dollars with Varieties, Circulation Strikes (1964-Present)
An incredible set with virtually every coin a Pop Top and many that are Pop one and Pop two or three. The Green collection of both the basic and with varieties sets are the achievement bar for circulation strike Kennedy half dollars.

Pittsburgh Collector - Modern Commemoratives, Circulation Strikes (1982 to Present)
This amazing set features Pop Tops for all but four issues and the vast majority of the coins are unimproveable MS70. This is a monumental accomplishment.

Churchill Cameo Proofs - Proof Set (1950-1964)
The 1950 to 1964 proof coins are what started the whole collecting cameos trend. While most pre-1916 proofs have cameo surfaces, the 1950 to 1964 issues usually do not. The Churchill complete 1950 to 1964 set is the best of the best for this very challenging series of proofs.

The Honeycutt Collection - Proof Set (1968-2002)
This year we put up proof sets from 1900 to date as individual sets. We also had several "runs" of proof sets as possible sets. The Honeycutt 1968 to date set of proof coins is virtually perfect. There are Pop Tops and finest knowns galore...it's 100% complete and 100% Deep Cameo.

Best Set Registry Newcomers of 2003

(Sets registered between 7/1/02 and 6/30/03)

Nick Cascio - Roosevelt Dimes, Circulation Strikes (1946-1964)
The best set in a very competitive series. Pop Tops galore and an extraordinary number of MS68 and Full Band specimens.

Driftwood - Twenty Cents Collection (1875-1878)
Twenty Cents with 76-CC, Circulation Strikes (1875-1876)
Twenty Cent with Branch Mint, Proof (1875-1878)
Talk about stepping up to the plate..."Driftwood" registered the best set of circulation strike Twenty Cent pieces and the best set of proofs. His set includes the ultra rare 1876-CC!!!!

Just having fun! - Standing Liberty Quarters, Circulation Strikes (1916-1930)
Standing Liberty Quarters Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1916-1930)
Standing Liberty Quarters with Varieties, Circulation Strikes (1916-1930)
"Just having fun!" stepped up to the plate in this difficult series and registered the number one set of all-time, surpassing even the Hall of Fame set of Richard DiCicco and Pat McInally's great set.

Cali Collection - Silver Commemoratives 144-Piece Set, Circulation Strikes (1892-1954)
"Cali" had a great 50 piece commem type set which this year was expanded to the complete 144 piece set. It's now the number three set of all-time.

The Leonardo Garcia Collection - Platinum Eagles Complete Set (1997 to Present)
Platinum Eagles Complete Set, Circulation Strikes (1997-Present)
Platinum Eagles Complete Set, Proof (1997-Present)
"Mr. Platinum" has the best circulation strike and proof Platinum Eagle sets. He also has the number two sets of both circulation strikes and proofs...enough said!

Best Canadian Set of 2003

Stewart Blay - Canadian Small Cents, George V & VI, Circulation Strikes (1920-1952)
George V Small Cents, Circulation Strikes (1920-1936)
George VI Cents, Circulation Strikes (1937-1952)
Stewart Blay attacked Canadian small cents with the same intensity he used for Lindon cents and Indian cents. His George V and George VI Canadian cents set is our first Canadian award winner.

Best of the Registry Certificate Winners of 2003

(#1 set in each category with at least 50% completion, 7/1/03 12:00am EST)