Did I get a bargain, or is it the economy?

CertifiedGoldCoins · August 14, 2011 7:06AM

I saw this on Heritage a few days ago, at $500, so I bid $550 ($632 with B.P.)
No other bids, and the same for the Live Auction that followed.

This is only the fourth PCGS F15 Heritage has sold, and the two most recent sales were in 2008, for $747 and $805.
So why a 20% drop for a key in one of the most popular coin series?

Moldnut · August 14, 2011 7:10AM

Looks like a pretty good deal.

GoldenEyeNumismatics · August 14, 2011 7:25AM

The final sessions always have deals that slip under the radar.

jhdfla · August 14, 2011 7:32AM

<< The final sessions always have deals that slip under the radar. >>

like this

1899 10c MS65

someone thought 67 on that Barber, eh?

BTW, good deal on the walker.

LindeDad · August 14, 2011 7:38AM

I missed that one.

But I only stayed with it threw the Seated halves last night and when I was prebidding buget ran out there.

Flatwoods · August 14, 2011 8:00AM

Nice looking coin. I think you did well.

ricko · August 14, 2011 8:05AM

Great bargain.... Cheers, RickO

llafoe · August 14, 2011 8:15AM

Very nice for an F15!

lordmarcovan · August 14, 2011 8:28AM

I dunno Walkers, really, but know enough to realize that's a better (if not key?) date. And a very handsome coin. Sounds to me like you got a bargain. Congrats!

DennisH · August 14, 2011 8:41AM

<< Nice looking coin. I think you did well. >>

I'll second that!

airplanenut · August 14, 2011 9:02AM

No idea on the price, but that's a mighty fine looking circulated half.

Unknown · August 14, 2011 9:08AM

This content has been removed.

Elcontador · August 14, 2011 9:52AM

<< 

<< The final sessions always have deals that slip under the radar. >>

like this

1899 10c MS65

someone thought 67 on that Barber, eh?
BTW, good deal on the walker. >>

Now that's funny. Five years ago, I got a 92 P in a PC 6 holder with toning as nice as that one for less than half the price.

Agree re the Half; that's a better-date, problem-free Walker.

Walkerguy21D · August 14, 2011 9:52AM

I scrutinized the images on Heritage, and the coin you won is superior to both of the 2008's F15 coins you mentioned.
Fine Bid is $430, VF Bid is $700. Like Realone mentioned, the next bid would have had the buyer in VF territory.
I would like to think the market is a little more price conscious now, but looking at the NGC coin in F12 (and that coin is only a VG10, with the date partially blended and some rev rim weakness) that sold right at Fine Bid money. And the way many of the other coins sold the past few days at auction, I can't say the economy is affecting coin prices a whole, or that the market is more price conscious!
So I don't have an explanation, but I think you got a very good value on a coin that is legitimately tough to find in (true) Fine and higher.
Enjoy it!

SaorAlba · August 14, 2011 10:00AM

Nice piece.

keyman64 · August 14, 2011 10:42AM

Nice Job on the 21-D F15!

stockergreen · August 14, 2011 10:46AM

Groiny · August 14, 2011 10:53AM

u got a bargain !!

BaseballAbs · August 14, 2011 12:46PM

Though I have not collected that series. I do like the design. It looks like a nice example to me.

CertifiedGoldCoins · August 14, 2011 1:58PM

Since I',m not a serious collector of WLHs (yet), I appreciate all the comments, but especially Walkerguy21D's, who wrote

<< "I think you got a very good value on a coin that is legitimately tough to find in (true) Fine and higher." >>

Since posting this question, I took time to look around Heritage some more, and feel better about taking a stab in the dark on this coin. He's right on about the toughness of the grade -- in fact, two-thirds of the PCGS Population are lower than F15.

I also read Heritage's comment about this date, from a description of an MS gem: "1921 was a recession year and there was a notable reduction in business activity due to the end of World War I. This resulted in a reduced demand for smaller denomination circulating coinage, all three mints were now concentrating on Silver Dollar production at record levels.
One of the widely recognized keys to the Walking Liberty Half Dollar series, the 1921-D has the lowest mintage of its type with a mere 208,000 pieces struck. Breen's research indicates only two die pairs were used to coin '21-D Halves. The first pair produced 165,000 examples, the second pair 92,672 for a total of 257,672 pieces. Apparently 49,672 coins never left the mint and were subsequently melted, resulting in the stated net mintage figure of 208,000."

It's hard to comprehend workers melting down 49,672 of these, but I can't help thinking that the silver wound up in a bunch of 21-D Morgan dollars.

Thanks to all who replied.