How do you break down early Walkers vs. late date Walkers?

ElmerFusterpuck

Just curious how the forum crowd views this important Monday poll question. I find it interesting that the PCGS registry has the 1933-S in both sets.

ricko

Early: 1916 thru 1933 Late: 1934 thru 1947

'16-'33 has been my thought.... Never really looked for a formal demarcation. Will see what others say... Cheers, RickO

291fifth

Early: 1916 thru 1933 Late: 1934 thru 1947

I've always considered 1933 to be the demarcation line. I like the early Walkers but have little interest in the later ones. The same thing holds true for "Mercury" dimes except the demarcation line for those is 1931.

clarkbar04

Early: 1916 thru 1933 Late: 1934 thru 1947

33 is as scarce as either of the 29 issues, maybe slightly more scarce than the 29-d even.

CoinHoarder

Early: 1916 thru 1933 Late: 1934 thru 1947

As I understand, coin collecting became very popular in 1934. So starting in 1934, uncirculated coins of the new releases were saved by dealers and collectors alike. So, from 1934 on, a good supply of these dates were and are available to dealers and collectors.

Prior to 1934, very few rolls of uncirculated issues were set aside. So, a large percentage of these coins entered circulation and became worn, lost or destroyed over the years.

And I also remember when uncirculated rolls were commonly sold in coin publications years ago, they started with 1934 to date. It was very rare that uncirculated rolls prior to 1934 became available.

And I also believe that it was always documented in coin magazines that early Walkers were always 1916 to 1933. And late date Walkers (short set) were 1934 to 1947.

This is just my understanding, but not necessarily fact. Just an opinion based on my limited knowledge.

MarkInDavis

Early: 1916 thru 1929 Late: 1933 thru 1947

As no Walkers were minted in 30, 31 & 32, it seems like the natural break would be 29 and earlier vs. 33 and later. Also with the decade break 30s and 40s as late and 10s and 20s as early makes sense. Further this leaves exactly 40 date/mm combos in the late set (no I don't count the 46 DDR as separate). A nice round number.

Walkerguy21D

Early: 1916 thru 1933 Late: 1934 thru 1947

I always considered the short set to start in 1941, as that’s what the major album producers decided.

As for speculation when roll hoarding became popular, certainly the minor varieties were acquired prior to 1934. ‘31S cents immediately come to mind. Of course it was less costly to save rolls of cents than halves. Rolls of ‘38D walkers were certainly saved in quantities; I’ve also seen documentation about other dates and mm’s starting in 1936.

I’ve also long contended that both issues of 1929 were held back in quantities by the fed reserve. Perhaps because of the crash of ‘29, etc. I do know that both issues are far more available in XF- MS than the issues of 1927/28, despite those years having higher mintages. My guess is all the earlier issues circulated continuously, while many new 1929 halves sat in vaults, to be released in the mid-30's when coining of halves resumed.

Ah, back to the question at hand….1934 is a fine demarcation line, but I’m comfortable with 1933 as well. I prefer to think of the 1934-1940 years as middle dates, and perhaps a bit under appreciated. I recall it taking quite awhile to assemble this set in true AU, uncleaned with decent strikes. But that was pre-internet, and perhaps these are now more available.

Justacommeman

This is how I always collected them and yes predicated by albums

Short set 1941-1947

Long set 1933-1947. Anything prior early set

I think it's how the registry is set up as well

m

BillyKingsley

I don't. It's just one series.

Walkerfan

Early: 1916 thru 1933 Late: 1934 thru 1947

I've always considered 1933-S to be an Early Date.

So, this is how I break it up:

1916-1933 Early Date Set
1934-1940 Middle/Intermediate Date Set
1941-1947 Short/Late Date Set

Whitman Folders go from 1916-1936 (Part 1) to 1937-1947 (Part 2) but I've never paid much attention to that.

DisneyFan

Early: 1916 thru 1929 Late: 1933 thru 1947

PCGS has graded a total of 2069 1929-D, 1737 1929-S, and 2462 1933-S Yet the 1933-S is the more expensive coin because of the demand from late date Walker collectors. Rather than spend the money on a 1933-S, I'd rather concentrate on the pre- 1933 coins. Thus my vote for Early: 1916 thru 1929 Late: 1933 thru 1947

Raybo

@Walkerfan said:
I've always considered 1933-S to be an Early Date.

So, this is how I break it up:

1916-1933 Early Date Set
1934-1940 Middle/Intermediate Date Set
1941-1947 Short/Late Date Set

Whitman Folders go from 1916-1936 (Part 1) to 1937-1947 (Part 2) but I've never paid much attention to that.

This /\

coinkat

1916-1923

1927-1933

1934-1947

While I understand the 1941-47 short set concept... It just does not work for me. And if one examines the number of quality 1934 examples, it should be reasonable to go 1934 to 1947 based solely on design and to a lessor degree surviving population

oreville

@Walkerfan said:
I've always considered 1933-S to be an Early Date.

So, this is how I break it up:

1916-1933 Early Date Set
1934-1940 Middle/Intermediate Date Set
1941-1947 Short/Late Date Set

Whitman Folders go from 1916-1936 (Part 1) to 1937-1947 (Part 2) but I've never paid much attention to that.

i agree.