How I Found Joy in My PCGS Slabbed Type Set Journey After 6 Months of Being Ignored

I’ve spent months wrestling with this. Here’s what actually helped – the real story behind my PCGS slabbed type set journey, and how I found joy after six months of feeling completely ignored.

The Loneliness of a Passion Project

It began with a simple idea: build a PCGS slabbed type set of American circulation strikes. No proofs. No bullion. Just the coins that real people used in real life. I thought, “This’ll be fun to share!”

Boy, was I wrong.

My excitement met blank stares. Family nodded politely. Friends changed the subject. I’d show them my new PCGS 65 Morgan dollar, and they’d ask if it would cover dinner. (Spoiler: it probably could, but that’s not the point.)

Why This Hurt More Than Expected

The silence was crushing. When you invest time, money, and heart into something, you want someone to *get* it. But most people don’t care about:

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• Why a Type 2 design beats a Type 1

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• How a half dollar tells a century’s story

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• The magic of a perfectly centered strike

I hit 64 coins in my set. 79 to go. And I was starting to wonder if any of it mattered outside my own four walls.

The Turning Point: Finding My Tribe

The lightbulb moment? My community wasn’t next door. It was online, waiting to be discovered. This changed everything:

1. The Power of Niche Communities

I stopped trying to explain FBL on Franklin halves to my cousin. Instead, I found forums where people *celebrated* these details. The response? Immediate. Enthusiastic. Finally, people who understood why a die crack on an 1806 half cent wasn’t damage – it was history.

The big lesson: **Passion is contagious, but only with the right audience**. My collector friends get excited about my finds. My non-collector friends? They get excited about my vacation. Both valid. Both different.

2. Documenting the Journey

I stopped seeing coins as transactions. I started seeing them as chapters. Each piece got a story:


// My collection tracking system
{
"coin": "1916-D Mercury Dime",
"grade": "PCGS MS64",
"story": "Three months of searching. Key date? Yes. Premium? Not paying it. Found at a local show, dealer who knew his early 20th century coins. Got a fair deal because he knew I was building something real.",
"learning": "The patience muscle gets stronger with practice."
}


Suddenly, my collection had heart. Other collectors responded to that.

The Technical Hurdles: Photography Struggles

Early photos? Let’s just say my coins deserved better. Glare. Shadows. Colors that looked nothing like real life. It took trial, error, and a few frustrated evenings to figure out what worked:

The Phone Photography Setup That Works

The cheap, effective solution that finally clicked:

• Stabilization: A clear glass (free, stable, lets light through)

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• Lighting: Two lamps at 9:30 and 2:30, slightly above
• Background: Plain white paper (no color cast, shows contrast)
• Pro tip: Wipe that phone lens – dust ruins shots

The real breakthrough? **Controlling light beats eliminating it**. Position lights to show luster, strike, and toning – without turning your coin into a mirror.

Composition Matters More Than You Think

Different angles tell different parts of the story:

• Direct overhead: The big picture – condition, strike quality

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• 30-degree angle: Luster flow, contact marks in detail
• Edge shots: Full reeding, planchet details – don’t skip these

Now I post all three. It’s my thing. Collectors notice.

Expanding the Type Set Concept

Three months in, I hit a crossroads: stick to the “rules” or make it mine? I expanded. Added:

• 8 commemoratives (classic and modern)
• 16 blank planchets (one per denomination)
• 2 US medals (early and modern)
• 14 foreign/US issues (Hawaii, Philippines)
• 1 error coin that tells a story

The “Crazy Collector” Paradox

First reaction? “That’s not a type set!” Some purists rolled their eyes. But here’s the surprise: **the “crazy” version got more attention than a textbook set ever would**.

Why? A blank planchet isn’t blank – it’s the raw material of history. Philippine coins? They’re American history by another name. The error coin? It’s a reminder that perfection isn’t the only interesting thing.

The Results: After 6 Months

The change wasn’t overnight. But it was real:

1. Quantitative Wins

• 116 coins in the set (expanded categories included)
• Comments on every post. Questions. Trades. Real conversation.
• Upgrades through trades – not just purchases
• Invited to speak at a local coin club. Me? On a stage? Who knew.

2. Qualitative Wins

The numbers don’t tell the whole story. I also:

• Found a network of collectors who feel like old friends
• Got sharper at spotting details through discussion
• Built a set that feels like *mine*, not just a checklist
• Rediscovered the joy in the hunt, not just the finish line

Lessons For Fellow Collectors

Six months ago, I was frustrated. Today? I’m having fun. Here’s what shifted:

1. Your Audience Isn’t Who You Think It Is

Don’t waste energy explaining PCGS grading to your in-laws. Find your people. The validation, advice, and friendship from fellow collectors? Priceless. Polite nods? Not so much.

2. Document Everything

Keep records of:

• Each coin (where, how much, the story behind it)
• Photo settings (what works, what doesn’t)
• Grading details (notes, comparisons, questions)

This isn’t paperwork. It’s your collecting superpower.

3. Invest in Presentation

Good photos aren’t a bonus – they’re essential. Make yours consistent. Make them good. Your coins deserve it.

4. Define “Completion” on Your Terms

No secret rulebook says your type set must look like everyone else’s. My version has more heart because it’s *mine*. Your version should too.

5. The Long Game Matters

This isn’t a sprint. It’s a lifetime. I’m pacing myself. Focusing on quality. The joy is in the collecting, not the checklist.

Conclusion: The Collector’s Mindset

Six months ago? I felt invisible. Today? I feel connected.

The fix wasn’t changing my coins. It was changing my perspective.

For anyone building a set: **Your passion is valid, even if it’s not everyone’s cup of tea**. Find your people. Tell your stories. Enjoy the ride.

My PCGS slabbed type set? It still won’t come up at family dinner. But now I have a community that cares as much as I do. And that makes all the difference.

Related Resources

You might also find these related articles helpful:

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• Fix Your PCGS Slabbed Type Set Visibility in Under 5 Minutes (No One Cares? Now They Will) – Need a fast fix? I found the one method that actually works—and I use it almost daily. If you’ve spent years building a …