PCGS 2026 Set Registry Award Winners
More than 60 collections earn honors during PCGS’s 40th anniversary year, with elite U.S. rarities, world coins, die varieties, toned coins, and even Low Ball sets sharing the spotlight.
One Registry. Nearly 200,000 sets. More than 60 winners.
Professional Coin Grading Service has announced the winners of its 2026 PCGS Set Registry Awards, marking one of the largest recognition programs in the Registry’s history.
At the top stands “Elite,” a St. Gaudens $20 Gold with Major Varieties set spanning 1907 through 1932. PCGS selected the collection as its 2026 Set of the Year.
However, the awards reached far beyond Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles.
Collectors earned recognition for everything from Half Cents and Lincoln Cents to Trade Dollars, California Fractional Gold, U.S. patterns, Australian coins, Mexican 8 Reales, and Chinese silver dollars. PCGS also honored specialized collections built around die varieties, Full Bands, Full Steps, Full Bell Lines, chop marks, toned coins, and heavily circulated “Low Ball” pieces.
In other words, the 2026 winners illustrate just how broad competitive coin collecting has become.
PCGS Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary at the ANA
PCGS announced the awards during its Cocktail Reception at the 2026 American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburgh.
Stack’s Bowers Galleries sponsored the reception. Meanwhile, an exclusive display of coins from the famed Tyrant Collection headlined the event.
More than 130 collectors, dealers, and guests attended.
PCGS recognized Set Registry winners during the reception and presented crystal awards to collectors who attended. Guests also heard company news and other announcements.
The ceremony carried added significance in 2026. PCGS is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
PCGS President Stephanie Sabin said the company expanded the awards program for its anniversary year. More than 60 sets and collectors earned recognition. Winners also received commemorative plaques, vouchers, and other benefits.
Sabin also emphasized the role of the free PCGS Set Registry. Collectors can organize coins across multiple categories and devices. They can also pursue achievements, compete for points, and build highly rated sets that qualify for annual awards.
Why the 2026 Winners Matter
The awards also offer a snapshot of where advanced collecting stands today.
Charles Morgan, PCGS manager of numismatic research and programs, noted that PCGS recognizes only one winner in each U.S. denomination and series category.
That makes several categories especially competitive.
Morgan pointed to Lincoln Cents as one example. According to PCGS, competition in that category reflects growing collector demand for exceptional-condition 20th-century rarities.
Classic U.S. coins create a different challenge.
Judges sometimes must compare collections filled with finest-known coins against highly specialized sets that require collectors to locate hundreds of difficult die pairings.
That contrast defines modern registry collecting. Grade matters. Rarity matters. However, completeness, specialization, and difficulty can matter just as much.
2026 PCGS Set Registry Hall of Fame
PCGS inducted four collections into its Set Registry Hall of Fame:
- “Monsters of the Midway” – Mercury Dimes FB Complete Variety Set, Circulation Strikes (1916-1945) – MADHATTER
- “An Ohio Collector” – Standing Liberty FH Quarters Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1916-1930)
- “RSD” – Barber Quarters Basic Set, Circulation Strikes and Proof (1892-1916)
- “HALFDOME” – Indian Head $10 Gold Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1907-1933)
2026 PCGS Set of the Year
“Elite” – St. Gaudens $20 Gold with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes (1907-1932) – Elite
The selection puts one of America’s most celebrated gold coin designs at the center of the 2026 awards.
2026 PCGS Set Category Winners
The BEST U.S. Type, Copper, Nickel, and Silver
U.S. Type Set: Complete Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set, Gold Page (1796-Date) – “Winesteven,” Winesteven
Half Cent Set: Half Cents with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes and Proofs (1793-1857) – “The High Desert Collection,” The High Desert Collection
Large Cent Set: Large Cents Die Variety Set by Newcomb, Circulation Strikes (1839-1857) – “D.L. Hansen Large Cents by Newcomb (1839-1857),” D.L. Hansen
Small Cent Set: Lincoln Cents Complete Variety Set, Circulation Strikes and Proof (1909-Present) – “The Cotgreave Collection of unCommon Cents,” AlterityCoins
Two-Cent / Three-Cent Set: Shield Two Cents with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes and Proof (1864-1873) – “winesteve1,” winesteve1
Five-Cent Set: Jefferson Nickels FS Complete Variety Set, Circulation Strikes and Proof (1938-Present) – “Quantumnavy,” Quantumnavy
Half Dime or Dime Set (to 1891): Liberty Seated Dimes with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes and Proof (1837-1891) – “The Jason Feldman Liberty Seated Dime Collection with Proofs, 1837-1891,” Jason Feldman
Dime Set (1892 to Present): Mercury Dimes FB Complete Variety Set, Circulation Strikes (1916-1945) – “Monsters of the Midway,” MADHATTER
Twenty-Cent Set: Twenty Cents with Branch Mint, Proof (1875-1878) – “Black Cat Twenty Cents with Branch Mint Proof (1875-1878),” Black Cat
BEST Quarter Sets
Early Quarter Set / Best Bust Quarter Set: Capped Bust Quarters with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes (1815-1838) – “The Link Early American Silver Capped Bust Quarter Variety Set,” Dr. Charles Link
Liberty Seated Quarter Set: Liberty Seated Quarters, Proof (1858-1891) – “Chugum,” Chugum
Barber Quarter Set: Barber Quarters Basic Set, Circulation Strikes and Proof (1892-1916) – “RSD,” RSD
Standing Liberty Quarter Set: Standing Liberty FH Quarters Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1916-1930) – “An Ohio Collector,” Z20014
BEST Half Dollar Sets
Early Half Dollar Set: Capped Bust Half Dollars Prime Die Variety Set by Overton, Circulation Strikes (1807-1836) – “Bhnco54,” gpeters
Liberty Seated Half Dollar Set: Liberty Seated Half Dollars Basic Set, Proof (1858-1891) – “chughum,” chughum
Barber Half Dollar Set: Barber Half Dollars, Proof (1892-1915) – “laxdive,” laxdive
Walking Liberty Half Dollar Set: Walking Liberty Half Dollars with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes (1916-1947) – “Gerald Forsythe,” Gerald Forsythe
Franklin Half Dollar Set: Franklin Half Dollars FBL Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1948-1963) – “LDR,” lradabaugh
Kennedy Half Dollar Set: Kennedy Half Dollars with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes (1964-Present) – “RickJones,” RickJones
BEST Silver Dollar Sets
Early Dollar Set: Early Dollars Complete Variety Set and Silver Plug, Circulation Strikes (1792-1808) – “MJ Sullivan Collection,” MJ Sullivan Collection
Liberty Seated Dollar Set: Liberty Seated Dollars Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1840-1873) – “American Girls,” SeatedCrazy
Trade Dollar Set: Top 37 Trade Dollar Varieties – “The Concord Collection,” keoj
Morgan Dollar Set: Morgan Dollars Complete VAM Set, Circulation Strikes (1878-1921) – “Andy Hansen,” Andy Hansen
Peace Dollar Set: Peace Dollars, Circulation Strikes (1921-1935) – “Giovanni Peace Dollar Set,” BS91367
Modern Dollar Set: Eisenhower Dollars with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes (1971-1978) – “The Band is Back,” James Sego
BEST Gold Coin Winners
Gold Dollar Set: Gold Dollar Date Set, Circulation Strikes (1849-1889) – “Diana L Hansen,” DLR87
Quarter Eagle Set: Liberty Head $2½ Gold Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1840-1907) – “No End in Sight $2 ½,” OldGoldIsMoney
Half Eagle Set: Indian Head $5 Gold, Circulation Strikes (1908-1929) – “HALFDOME,” Legendnumis1
$3 Gold Set: $3 Gold, No 1870-S, Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1854-1889) – “Witter Coin, ‘Lima Lake Collection,’” Witter Coins
Pre-1933 Gold Proof Set: $4 Gold, Proof (1879-1880) – “Tangible Investments, Inc.,” Tangible Investments Inc.
Eagle Set: Indian Head $10 Gold Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1907-1933) – “HALFDOME,” Legendnumis1
Double Eagle Set: St. Gaudens $20 Gold with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes (1907-1932) – “Elite,” Elite
BEST Commemoratives, Bullion, Colonials, Patterns, and World Coins
Commemorative Coin Set: Silver Commemoratives 144 Piece Mintmark & Variety Set, Circulation Strikes (1892-1954) – “J & L 144-Piece Commemorative Coin Set,” dodgers267
Bullion Set: First Spouse $10 Gold with First Strikes, Circulation Strikes (2007-Present) – “MATTS,” surefoot
Colonial Coin Set: Early American Coins and Tokens Basic Design Set (1616-1820) – “Lafayette Collection,” Earlyhalves
Territorial Gold Set: California Fractional Gold — Complete Collection, Period One & Two (1853-1882) – “Kirk Evans Collection,” kriksnave
U.S. Pattern Set: Complete Patterns, Die Trials, and Experimental Pieces – “The Black Cat Collection,” Black Cat
Vintage World Coin Set: Australian Three Monarchs Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1911-1964) – “Frehley,” frehley
Modern World Coin Set: Canadian Elizabeth II Nickel Dollars with Varieties, Circulation Strikes (1968-1986) – “SPP Ottawa”
Composite Awards — Competitive U.S. Sets
PCGS also recognized collectors in specialized competitive composites.
- “The JDG Trust Collection” – Buffalo Nickels Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1913-1938) – lunagately
- “Pocket Piece” – Complete U.S. Type Set, Low Ball (1792-1964) – colorfulcoins
- “Shipwrecked” – Franklin Half Dollars Basic Set, Proof (1950-1963) – Shipwrecked
- “Huskers” – Jefferson Nickels FS Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1938-Present) – Huskers
- “Alan Gary Tyler Collection” – Morgan Dollars Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1878-1921) – Alan Gary Tyler
- “Tim’s Morgan 50 Set” – The Morgan 50 – Tim
- “Worn Out” – Silver Commemoratives 50-Piece Type Set, Low Ball (1892-1954) – 78saen
- “David Reimer Chop Marked Trade Dollar Collection” – Trade Dollars Chop Mark Set, Circulation Strikes (1873-1878) – DDR
- “The Brodie Collection” – Washington Quarters Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1932-1964) – Dr. John O. Phillips
Composite Awards — World Coins
- Australian Commonwealth Silver Type Set, Circulation Strikes (1910-1964) – “The Diamond Set,” The Diamond Set
- Australian Two Dollars C Mintmark Set, Circulation Strikes (2012-present) – “$2 QUEEN,” $2QUEEN
- British Crown Basic Type Set, Circulation Strikes (1662-1965) – “gigott,” gigott
- Bulgarian Three Rulers Set, Circulation Strikes (1881-1943) – “b.angelov,” b.angelov
- Japanese Non-Gold Decimal Coinage Denomination Type Set (1870-1948) – “Li’s,” JPkosen.com
- Mexican Onza Libertad Silver, Circulation Strikes (1982-present) – “RickJones,” RickJones
- Mexican Branch Mint 8 Reales Type Set, Circulation Strikes (1823-1897) – “libertycoin,” libertycoin
- Republic of China Yuan Sun Yat-sen Dollar Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1932-1934) – “jimmydee1,” jimmydee1
2026 PCGS Collector Showcases
PCGS also honored three Collector Showcases:
- “Wounded Buffalo” – 2026 Box of 20 – lunagately
- “Rainbow Rarities” – 2026 U.S. Toned Coin Competition – Merc Madness
- “Israeli Showcase” – 2026 World Toned Coin Competition – Atom
From 300 Sets to Nearly 200,000
The scale of today’s PCGS Set Registry would have been difficult to imagine when the online platform arrived in 2001.
At that time, collectors had registered only about 300 sets. PCGS also presented just 15 Set Registry awards during that first year.
More than a quarter century later, the Registry approaches 200,000 registered sets.
The growth reflects more than an increase in the number of certified coins. It also shows how dramatically collectors have changed the way they build, document, compare, and share collections.
A collector can pursue a traditional date-and-mintmark set. Another can chase VAMs, Overton varieties, Newcomb varieties, Full Bands, Full Steps, or Full Bell Lines. Others can compete with circulated Low Ball collections or assemble world coin sets that cross continents and centuries.
The PCGS Set Registry remains free to join. Members can organize their collections, build competitive sets, compare rankings with collectors around the world, and compete for annual recognition.
For collectors, however, the 2026 awards make another point clear.
There is no single road to building an important collection.
Some winners pursued condition. Others pursued completeness. Still others took on varieties so difficult that locating every required coin can become a collecting career in itself.
And in 2026, PCGS put all of those approaches on the same stage.
