Weekly Market Report: PCGS Set Registry Goes Online; Rare Coin Market is Mixed

The PCGS Set Registry, a comprehensive listing of the finest sets of rare coins currently in existence, has gone online. Collectors from around the country are adding their sets to the lists, or are at least comparing them to the current "finest known" sets. The transition of the Registry from a once-a-year printed publication to an interactive online listing has taken nearly a year and is still a work in progress.

All US coin sets are now part of the Registry, from 18th century rarities through the statehood Washington quarters. The Registry also includes a roster of the finest sets of all time, with such noted names as Louis Eliasberg and Jack Lee clearly in evidence.

"We are adding new material to the PCGS Set Registry every day," reports B. J. Searls, project coordinator for the Registry. "The response from collectors has been overwhelming. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and it's making the project a lot of fun."

For more information on the PCGS Set Registry, click here.

"It was the best December in history for Bowers & Merena Galleries," reports Gordon Wrubel, Director of Numismatic Operations for the Wolfeboro, NH company. "There is a lot of activity from our Internet site as well as our catalogs and ads in the numismatic publications."

January is proving strong as well, as sales of the S. S. Central America ingots are brisk. "We sold three ingots in the $30,000 to $50,000 range in the first few days of the offering," Wrubel said.

What about the dealer-to-dealer end of the market? "What's important is that coins are trading," Wrubel said. "A large percentage of the deals are done on time, with 30 to 60 days payment. Some others are done with the check being held for a few extra days. Even so, there's an ebullience about the market created by high collector interest and attractive prices."

The Kingswood Coin Auctions "Bristol" sale is taking shape as another winner. The popular telephone/fax/e-mail/snail mail auction is well represented with rarities in the upcoming March 1, 2001 sale.

Highlights of the sale include an 1847-C $5 gold in PCGS MS65, an 1860 $10 Liberty in PCGS PR64 [Proof 64] from the Bass collection, an 1854-D $3 gold in PCGS MS60 (one of only three pieces ever certified in Mint State), the only 1877 Shield nickel to grade PCGS PR67, and an 1853 Arrows at Date dime in PCGS MS67.

Some other rarities of special interest from the Kingswood sale are an 1899 Morgan dollar in PCGS MS67, a Lafayette dollar in PCGS MS65, a 1968 "No S" Roosevelt dime in PCGS PR67, the finest graded 1902 Barber dime (PCGS MS67), the finest graded 1902-O Barber dime (PCGS MS66), and a 1903 Jefferson gold dollar in PR63.

Specialists in early quarter eagles will enjoy considering an 1829 Capped Bust $2½ gold in PCGS MS63, the finest graded 1840 $2½ Liberty in PCGS MS64, and an outstanding 1847-C $2½ Liberty in PCGS MS64 that is tied for the finest graded. Kingswood will exhibit all of the lots from this upcoming sale at the Long Beach Coin & Collectibles Exposition from February 21-24.