Expert comments:

Once again we have the great pleasure of recognizing the spectacular accomplishments of the PCGS Currency Set Registry participants. As life-long currency enthusiasts we understand the tremendous effort and time that goes into building such extraordinary collections. What this year's winners have accomplished is deginitely worthy of high praise. The PCGS Currency Set Registry has seen tremendous growth again this year. The judges were amazed by the quality of the sets registered in 500 compositions. From these sets, 11 were selected for top honors. In addition, 207 sets will receive “Best of Registry” certificates for being at least 75% complete and ranked number one in their category. So, to all winners we say, "Congratulations!" And to all participants in the PCGS Currency Set Registry we say that we admire your passion and hope that you continue to enjoy your pursuit of numismatic excellence. Because of your passion and accomplishments, we are motivated to work even harder on the PCGS Currency Set Registry. Thank you for sharing your wonderful collections with us.

Laura A. Kessler
Vice President, PCGS Currency

Best Collection of 2012

Ron Foley (cccurrency)

Ron is a repeat winner in this top category, having won last year and in 2009. He continues to set the bar extremely high for other collectors to aspire to, in terms of both the number of registered sets and his weighted GPAs. Ron holds the number one position with dozens of his sets. Among the secrets of his success are his continuous quests to not only acquire new additions to his collections, but also upgrade his existing notes. The majority of the sets within the “CCCurrency” collection are 100% complete, leading to an amazing collection that continues to expand each year through Ron’s diligent pursuits. Our sincerest congratulations are extended to Ron for this well-deserved award.

Best New Set of 2012

Robert Phillips (BabyBinions)
1918 $1 Federal Reserve Bank Note District Set

Due to the number of new sets registered each year, this is always a challenging category to select a winner for. Robert has amassed an impressive district set of twelve notes, with nine of the notes serving as the “top pop” and four of those nine the only representatives in the Population Report for their respective Friedberg numbers. The collection includes one 68PPQ, six 67PPQs, two 66PPQs, two 65PPQs and a 63PPQ. Robert’s 100% complete set carries a weighted GPA of 68.250.

Best Large Size Currency Set of 2012

The Gopher State Collection
$1 - $20 Large Size Denomination Set

The “Gopher State Collection” is the winner in the Best Large Size Currency Set category for the second year in a row. The set is now 97.92% complete, an impressive feat given the scarcity of some of the notes needed to complete the set. The collection now lacks only two of the 96 notes needed to complete the collection, the 1861 $20 Demand Note and the 1861 $20 Interest Bearing Note, as the $20 National Gold Bank Note was added to the set within the past year. The weighted GPA increased from 46.2 last year to 47.293. This phenomenal set will become even more competitive as the collector continues to search for the two notes needed to complete the set and as existing notes are upgraded.

Best Small Size Currency Set of 2012

Kraig Tripp (SDCSD)
1934-1953B $5 Silver Certificate Set All Blocks 

Another repeat winner, Kraig lacks a mere 8 notes from having this 75 note set 100% complete. Of the eight notes Mr Tripp still needs, PCGS Currency has never graded four of them. The set currently stands at 89.33% complete. An astounding 54 of the 68 notes are  finest known with 21 being “top-pop”.  Mr. Tripp has carefully compiled the most impressive sets of small size Silver Certificates ever recorded and his future efforts will no doubt further solidify his collector ranking as he searches to acquire the eight notes he is lacking in order to establish the collection as 100% complete. You can see why Mr. Tripp was the first "Hall of Fame" inductee.

Best Small Size Modern Currency Set of 2012

Richard Gore (R.S. Gore)
$1 Federal Reserve Notes 1963-Date District Set with Stars

This is one of the largest sets possible, as there are over 500 different notes comprising a complete set of small size $1 Federal Reserve Notes by district, including Star notes. Not surprisingly, most notes are very common even in high grades so the only real test for most collectors is one of patience, not of funds. A few rarities make a complete set somewhat of a challenge, as some of the Web-fed printed notes produced in the late 1980s and early 1990s are difficult to locate in top grades. With help from fellow Set Registry participants, Richard has created a set that would make anyone proud.

Best National Bank Note Set of 2012

Godot
Large Size 15-Note National Bank Note Territorial Set

A 15-note Large Size National Bank Note Territorial Set is a set for the advanced/territorial collector. One note is required from each Territory: Arizona, Colorado, Dakota, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma (both Oklahoma and Indian), Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Also required is one note from each Territorial District or Possession: Alaska and Puerto Rico. Territorial notes widely vary in their availability to collectors. They range in scarcity from the more common such as Hawaii and New Mexico (over 100 notes each), to extremely rare, such as Idaho and Nebraska (less than 10 notes each). Weighting is assigned based on the current census of known notes. Dr. Shiva’s passion for National Bank Notes is well known among the collecting community and it is no surprise that his enthusiasm and diligence led him to assemble such an extraordinary collection of Territorial National Bank Notes. Of the fifteen notes forming the set, thirteen of the pieces are “top pop.” Congratulations Godot on another outstanding Registry Set of National Bank Notes.

Best Fractional Currency Set 2012

Ron Foley (cccurency)
Fractional Currency 24-Piece Design Set

As the winner of the Best Collection category, it is no surprise that one of Ron’s sets would also take top honors. Ron has now won the top award for Fractional Currency sets for the fourth year in a row. Among Ron’s many sets, this is truly his shining collection. All 24 pieces comprising a design set are present in the collection. Last year, the weighted GPA for Ron’s set was 68.15. Not one to rest on his laurels, Ron’s diligence paid off, as he was able to increase his GPA to 68.593 this year. The vast majority of the notes carry grades of 67 or 68 PPQ and seventeen of the Fractionals are “top pop.”

Best Military Certificate Set of 2012

Jeff Smith (Stars & Stripes Collection)
Military Payment Certificates Complete Set

Not surprisingly, Jeff took top honors again this year for his Military Certificate set, once more setting another record as well by having the only five-time winning set in the Military Certificate category. The “Stars & Stripes Collection” is 100% complete and upgrades led to an increase in the weighted GPA over last year- from 65.98 to 66.828. The collection includes many “top pop” notes and a number of rarities. We salute Jeff’s efforts for continually seeking to improve upon a very notable collection.

Best Block Set of 2012

Marc Fontes (mfontes)
1928 - 1957B $1  Complete Silver Certificate Set All Blocks 

Marc won in 2011 and 2010 for his 1957B $1 Silver Certificate Block Set QA-B* and has gone on to win top honors this year for this even more impressive grouping. Assembling a set that requires 471 notes for 100% completion is no small undertaking and two collectors are currently vying to be the first to register a complete set. Marc’s set currently ranks at 92.78% completion, with a weighted GPA of 65.48 and a set rating of 53.30. This will be an interesting category to watch in the coming year.

Best Low Ball Set of 2012

Cliff Andrews (Cliff’s Incredibly Low Ball Large Size Design Set)
$1 Large Size Design Low Ball Set

Arguably, the most interesting of the set categories to many, it takes real dedication to build a collection of this type. Although it could be considered a grouping for budget minded collectors, the desirability of adding a low grade note to a low ball set often drives the winning bid for this type of material up far beyond market value when the notes are offered at auction. Assembling this type of collection is more challenging than it might seem and the fact that Cliff has managed to continue to win in this category each year is quite impressive. Last year he managed to lower his weighted GPA to 2.87 and he further reduced it this year to 2.298. Congratulations once again, Cliff!

Best Exonumia Set of 2012

Ronald Aubry (The disneyland_ohio Collection
1987 - 2011 Complete Disney Dollar Set

 A number of “top pop” notes are included among this 100% complete collection within the Exonumia Set category. Disney Dollars have continued to increase in popularity among collectors, with 60 pieces of one variety alone having been submitted to PCGS for grading to date, although only small numbers of many varieties have been seen. Ronald’s collection is the envy of many collectors of all ages young and old.

Best of the Registry Certificate Winners of 2012

(#1 set in each category with at least 75% completion, 4/29/12 1:00am EST)