Walking Liberty Short Set
Pontilhaze
Posts: 33 ✭
I am new to collecting coins, I have always appreciated their beauty thou. I have started collecting Walkers, in a short set. I would really appreciate any advice, do’s/don’t’s, in building a short set of Walkers. Thanks to everyone. Chris
1
Comments
The short set you should build is the 1916 - 1933 issues. The later issues are just common coins.
Welcome Chris! One of the most important things to consider, especially with the later date S mints, is strike. Look for a thumb or possibly a full hand on the obverse, along with good head details ... and breast feather details on the reverse.
The longer short set (33 or 34 to 47) is more challenging, for sure, and you might want to consider that. 33-47 is 40 coins total. While they may be common to some extent, finding a nice, well matched set is still challenging.
If you are collecting Uncirculated pieces I would suggest to stick with PCGS or NGC until you understand grading better.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
You can take your time building it. Thats my main advice. All the coins needed for the 41-47 set are available in extremely nice condition so you can take the time to find one that has a nice strike, nice surfaces and is mark free and solid for the grade. When I started I was a little to buy happy on some of the more common dates and the result is me upgrading a few coins.
I also recomend learning about each date and mint. There are some coins, like the 1941 S that suffer from a weak strike. You can read more about them on coinfacts. There's also a book I used to learn about each coin you may want to check out:
Again take your time, look for distracting marks, spots, PVC residue and anything that detracts from eye appeal. Most come nice so be picky. Welcome, good luck and enjoy the pursuit.
Thank you for everyone’s comments, I really appreciate it. I do have some graded by ANACS, with the curved tops. Should I stay away from ANACS?
Nothing wrong with ANACS, but, in grades above MS63, you'll want to be more cautious, in my opinion. There are going to be discrepancies, and unless you have a well trained eye, you may not see the differences.
From what I've seen, our host is usually the most stringent on MS Walkers.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
I like the short set idea. Beautiful coins. Highly Recommend.
The short set is a super WLH set to work on and a really affordable, doable deal especially if on budget. These seem undervalued vs generic dollars. I would go for pieces Minimum grade PCGS MS64 (if budget permits, otherwise VF fills the hole) and then look for upgrades down the line. Issues with super luster, good strike, lots of blast always did well for me. Super investment potential on these.
I would try to get all PCGS.
There are plenty of nice coins in ANACS holders. In my opinion your best bet is to really learn the series and just select the coins you like regardless of TPG. However it is understandable if you dont like the look of the holder as the orange holders do not appeal to me. All of ANACS other holders do and I'm a fan of their small white holders.
My thought was to try to get a short set in MS65, then move back to the earlier dates, in the best grades I can afford. Is eBay typically a good place to try to make any deals on coins? Any suggestions on other places to look for Walkers?
My thought was to try to get a short set in MS65, then move back to the earlier dates, in the best grades I can afford. Is eBay typically a good place to try to make any deals on coins? Any suggestions on other places to look for Walkers?
I would also say to stick with the TPG coins until you become more knowledgeable in what to look for in each date and mint mark.
An MS 65 short set would be a great start for most of us.
I am slowly putting together a PCGS set in MS 66.
Best in your endeavors.
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
Thank you to everyone that has posted on on my first forum thread. I really appreciate it.
34-47 is very challenging in 65 with a fullish thumb, I had a set but sold it for my Two Cent Piece collection.
Like POL has said, any "s" mint after 1940 with anything like a "full thumb" is very challenging and can be pricey.
Would it be possible for someone to post “s” mint post 1940 full thumb versus not full, or tell me where to look on the internet for the difference. Thank you.
Typical non full thumb example https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/1117149/1935-S-Walking-Liberty-Half-Dollar-PCGS-MS-65.
I hope this works and its tough finding these with decent strikes https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/1114832/1946-S-Walking-Liberty-Half-Dollar-PCGS-MS-66-CAC.
Why did I post a1935? I don't know!
Im currently building a short set (41-47) PCGS 65 or higher. I think im only 4 away from complete.
The last 6 months or so, its been really hard to get them at a good price. People a really overpaying for nice coins. Be patient, but if you see a nice one, prepare to pay a bit. My 41-S is a 65 with a CAC. Did some digging and got a good deal on it. Good luck!
Derek
Chris, these are not Gem examples, but ...
this first one has reasonable thumb and hand detail ... as well as a decent head, skirt and drapery lines, etc., IMO. The separation of the thumb and hand is clear, and this one even has the "trigger finger"
.
.
.
this next one, not so much, where the thumb and hand kind of disappear. I consider this one kind of my own minimum ... and, while I don't have any ... they can come with a LOT worse strike (including the '35 link from @Raybo )
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
@Pontilhaze .... Welcome aboard. The Walking Liberty Half Dollar is a great coin. Images on both sides are representative of good U.S. coin art. Good advice above....Get a Redbook, study grading. Do not buy raw coins until you become competent in grading. Best of luck and show us your acquisitions as you go along. Cheers, RickO
My approach to the short set was to buy them at shops and shows. For me it was the best way to find “the look” without missing something hidden in a two dimension picture.
When a coin is graded by PCGS or NGC, do they take in to consideration for details like having a fuller thumb when determining the grade? Would it be something they would add to the label on the slab of the coin? Again thank you to everyone for posting comments.
Since you are new to collecting and like to appreciate the beauty, the short set in 65 is a fine place to start, and you've already gotten plenty of good advice here. There are lots of coins to choose from, you can hone your eye, and price spreads are likely narrow so you won't get hurt selling them down the road if you choose nice coins in PCGS/NGC holders.
That said, I really have to agree with the @291fifth post. I've been collecting walkers for nearly 50 years, and very early on I gravitated to the earlier dates. It's a very dichotomous series. I dodged the boom and bust the late dates experienced in the gem and mega grades, as to me there was little to differentiate them and I preferred to spend my money on genuinely scarce coins. I've witnessed the early dates in VF and higher disappear from bourses, while stacks of the late dates piled up in dealer cases.
As much as I love walkers, even to this day a post-1940 coin won't get a glance from me unless it has beautiful toning or an amazing strike. But I'll always stop to appreciate (and perhaps buy!) an early date in true original VF/XF/AU.
But the late dates are fine to start with. You can view plenty of coins, and make quick progress on a set, which is great for a beginner. But if you determine you REALLY like walkers, I'd keep an eye out for the earlier dates in grades you are comfortable with and can afford, and grab them when you can. You might only add a few of them a year of course, while you continue your progress on the later dates.
Best of luck to you, and please post some of your coins here for us to check out!
Thank you Walkerguy21D
I've seen plenty of gem walkers with a softly stuck thumb. No its not noted on the label like full bands for mercury dimes and full steps for jefferson nickels. With walking liberty halves its somewhat on the collector to seek out fully struck examples. This one has a good strike. I may upgrade it as it is one of two 64s in my short set but for now I like it.
This is a fun set to work on and is achievable too. Lots of good advice already given here, be patient and stick with the nice eye appealing coins, white or toned. Nice strikes are a plus too, but it's pretty tough to find those on the S-mints.
Here is a link to my PCGS registry short set, all graded MS-66 or higher. I managed to get most of these when this series was in a slump, some of the prices have moved a bit higher now than they were before.
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/140787
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
A 40-s with a solid strike. These are generally much worse.
Thank you for sharing the link to your registry!
Beautiful coin, thank you.
I like the blazing luster on these short set coins...Some are really spectacular. Strike is important to be sure, but I also really look at luster, and the right obverse field for cleanliness/lack of marks.
Here's a couple blazers just for fun:
Lady Liberty and the eagle both look like they want to pop off the coin, beautiful