Thanksgiving and numismatic GRATITUDE

Walkerfan

The below quote from one of our best, valued members has given me an idea for a thread:

@pursuitofliberty said:
Sometimes I feel like I must be living right … as certain opportunities and experiences just seem to come my way … and even if I have to calculate how to make them happen, they usually work out wonderfully.

I remember, back in early 2005, I wanted to complete a certified MS or mostly MS Walking Liberty Half Dollar set. I was the ripe old age of 38. I abandoned the idea, because I believed it would be too difficult and would've taken WAY TOO LONG...DECDADES, to be exact. I first joined the NGC Registry that year and joined the NGC boards later, in 2009. Later, in 2011, I joined the PCGS Registry and PCGS boards. Well, 2009 was significant, for me, because that was the year that the urge to complete the Walker set had completely overtaken me. I simply HAD to do it. I had no choice, in the matter, as it was in my blood.

I became friends with a Walker specialist a few years later. Circa 2012. I was not even halfway through my set, yet. I had only a handful of MS early dates and NO middle or late dates other than the 1938-D. that's all. I expressed to him that I STILL felt LUCKY. I wasn't sure what his response would be but he agreed 100%! He said that the longer that he worked, on the series, the more that he realizes how LUCKY that he is, too. He had a lovely COMPLETE set in VF-MS with many original pieces. He said that he had spoken to other collectors, dealers and specialists about it, too. We both LAUGHED, when admitting that we REALLY thought that it would be a lot easier than it truly was!

When he was a boy growing up; he could remember the Walker coin still being in circulation and collecting Walkers in 1955. He told me this, in 2012, and that it was hard to imagine a coin that you grew up with already being "extinct" but the Walkers are now a rare item of numismatic history. He showed his collection to a dealer friend of his who never collected the Walker but who knew enough about numismatics to truly understand what he was looking at and couldn't believe his eyes.

He also said to me that he understood where I was, at that moment in time, and also understood my sentiment of NOT wanting to have to start over and find what I already had, even though I wasn't as far along as he was. The attrition rate is HIGH and grows every year for MANY various reasons. The coins in the grades he collected simply were not out there. Many of the good pieces were held in TIGHT hands and wouldn't hit the market anytime soon. Many have also been messed with. All of the serious Walker folks, out there, KNOW what we were talking about. They knew in 2012 and they know today in 2023.

When Bruce Fox (who wrote the Walker Bible) talked about building sets over the years; he was speaking, in 1993 terms, and BEFORE. I'm sure that his thoughts would have been different, in 2012, and CERTAINLY, RADICALLY DIFFERENT TODAY, in 2023, 30 years later. I often wonder what my old coin comrade would say to me, NOW, in 2023. It would be interesting to hear his thoughts, today, on Walkers, the market, in general, and on my progress and ultimate completion.

P.S. I am sure that this concept is universal and can also certainly relate to other series. Please feel free to share your collecting experiences and instances of coin gratitude.

Anyway, I am truly LUCKY, BLESSED & THANKFUL! I have always seemed to be at the right place at the right time to find and afford that special, rare and unique Walker! I thank God for family, friends and for all that is good in my life!! It is my hope that others feel the same. I believe that they do.

I raise my beer to you all, today. Stay Blessed. And be grateful for what you have.

pursuitofliberty

What a wonderful post about gratitude and the pursuit of our desires ... and, frankly I am humbled by the call out.

I raise my glass to you too 🍻

Too all of us ... the crazy caretakers of coins ... Happy Thanksgiving! 🌞🦃🇺🇸

pcgscacgold

Nice story @Walkerfan .

My collecting had evolved into gold coins only (sold off my high grade SLQs, Walkers and Peace Dollars 8-10 years ago). When I wanted to venture into CBH land I was fortunate to come into contact with a CBH Nut Club member before my very first purchase. He has offered guidance, some excellent coins, a book and friendship. For that I am very thankful. Todd (@pursuitofliberty) has been great and his time and efforts much appreciated.

Walkerlover

Happy Thanksgiving 🍁🍽 to all my fellow collectors. I am grateful for PCGS making available certified authentic coins for us collectors. Also CAC for verifying and weeding out overgraded and problem coins.

I got back into collecting during the pandemic and am grateful that I could assemble a high grade 20th century type set for under $2000. MS 65, 66, 67 coins for under $200 are incredible deals for today’s budget minded collector. Plus I snagged a couple of coins that turned into gold stickers which practically paid for my collection, Thanks to CAC for making this all possible. Lots to be thankful for😊

Also and very grateful to have clear vision without any serious cataracts at 72 to be able to see and enjoy these numismatic treasures

Catbert

I am very grateful for this hobby since it was a source of pleasant distraction as I battled cancer over the last couple of years (now overcome!). My collection has certainly deepened and evolved and the passion burns as brightly as ever.

I’m also thankful for this forum of fellow enthusiasts. It is an important avenue to share our coins with each other and I’ve gained many friends from my participation. Thank you to all!

renomedphys

I am numismatically thankful that a wonderful chain cent practically walked up to me at Winter FUN this year. Thanks Charmy Harker for calling me over and Ricky Gross and Steve Fisher for selling me the coin. I am also thankful that PCGS was kind enough to cross it over equivalently from NGC. I am thankful to be able to continue to own it, and to not have to mortgage my house to do so.

Walkerfan

@renomedphys that is an ultra nice chain cent! Certainly something to be grateful for! Better than most people will ever see much less own! Congrats!! 👍

breakdown

Walkerfan is a great guy and a true collector. My Walker collecting journey and his started around the same time, and he and I are about the same age and certainly compared notes many times. I sold my Walkers back in 2016 at the Summer ANA but any time I get a new catalog from Heritage or Legend or Stacks, I always go through the Walkers to see what is available.

I have a lot of to be thankful for, including meeting some great folks here and elsewhere in the hobby. The coins have been fun too!

Walkerfan

@breakdown said:
Walkerfan is a great guy and a true collector. My Walker collecting journey and his started around the same time, and he and I are about the same age and certainly compared notes many times. I sold my Walkers back in 2016 at the Summer ANA but any time I get a new catalog from Heritage or Legend or Stacks, I always go through the Walkers to see what is available.

I have a lot of to be thankful for, including meeting some great folks here and elsewhere in the hobby. The coins have been fun too!

Thanks, buddy 😊 I really appreciate the kind words. Your set was one of the best ever assembled. The grades were technically outstanding and the color and originality was superb. You’re a great friend and Walker colleague. It’s been a pleasure sharing opinions and advice with each other over the years.

Eldorado9

@Walkerfan What a great thread buddy. I am also a hugely interested in the Walker's as you are. The design, and the fact that (being born in 62) I can remember having worn versions in my little 10 year old hands just takes me back in time. Fast forward 60 years, and I get to marvel at coins I never could dream of in my youth. Gleaming with mint luster, and color. Times may change, but the appreciation, awe, excitement, and fascination with the series is stronger than ever....and yes, the gratitude to be able to follow your dreams, and make them reality.....what magic that is....Gratitude indeed.

Walkerfan

@Eldorado9 said:
@Walkerfan What a great thread buddy. I am also a hugely interested in the Walker's as you are. The design, and the fact that (being born in 62) I can remember having worn versions in my little 10 year old hands just takes me back in time. Fast forward 60 years, and I get to marvel at coins I never could dream of in my youth. Gleaming with mint luster, and color. Times may change, but the appreciation, awe, excitement, and fascination with the series is stronger than ever....and yes, the gratitude to be able to follow your dreams, and make them reality.....what magic that is....Gratitude indeed.

Thank you, my friend! You are another great collector who I have always really enjoyed interacting with! You have always been so supportive and favorable toward me. You have a super eye and some amazing coins! I know that I'm probably biased, as Walkers are not only the best series, but Walker collectors are some of the BEST people.

Barberian

Wow! You spring this post on me as I wait to sign for the delivery of what has been a numismatic dream of mine for 18 years. Something way beyond my dreams as a child, searching through rolls of pennies and dimes for hours for keepers and silver.

The resources needed to purchase this item draw from not only those coins saved nearly 60 years ago, but also bullion silver purchased from recycling almost a half a million aluminum cans riding my recumbent bike along roads for fun and exercise today. Collections from my childhood and my Beltway coin show days ('84-'87) will be sold except for "special" coins. Duplicates, including top cherries, were being sold off when this opportunity sprung on me. The inspection and movement of these coins will be a nice trip down memory lane.

YES! I am thankful for this hobby for the many pleasant memories and the friendships made along the way. This board has been a great hangout for me as it's a giant coin club of interesting characters (many gone or tossed) and numismatic knowledge.

I feel LUCKY as well for the choice I made to collect Seated Liberty halves. The enormous diversity of dates, mms, and die marriages is perfect for me to dig into. The day I downloaded Bill Bugert's SLH die marriage guides was a wonderful day, indeed! Really cool discoveries in my own collection, including an R8 die marriage, followed by a wild, three-month overdate cherry pick fest. My first Heritage auction and landing a choice VF35 1851. Snatching a EF40 46-O Tall date away from another board member, and the wonderful communication that ensued. Likewise, when I'd lose a nuke bid to another poster here and quickly becoming good board friends with them. It's been great fun!

Now, I'm literally minutes away from signing for a small package containing THE BIG ONE.

(I hope.)

Walkerfan

@Barberian Great post and I hope it works out well for you.

Walkerguy21D

Fantastic post, my friend!
Sorry I missed it previously. And yes, we all have much to be thankful for!

My walker journey started far earlier. I started my set around 1975, selling off my Lincoln and Mercury dime collections in jr high because I fell in love with Walkers and just had to build a set. I had the short set in AU/BU and most of the early dates in low grade within a couple years, when I put it away for a long hiatus. After college and attaining gainful employment, I got busy again. Most of my current set was assembled by 2010. Along the way I got sidetracked by Type coins, Buffalo nickels, Barbers, and now completely down the rabbit hole labyrinth of large cents, I never forget my first love,

asheland

@renomedphys said:
I am numismatically thankful that a wonderful chain cent practically walked up to me at Winter FUN this year. Thanks Charmy Harker for calling me over and Ricky Gross and Steve Fisher for selling me the coin. I am also thankful that PCGS was kind enough to cross it over equivalently from NGC. I am thankful to be able to continue to own it, and to not have to mortgage my house to do so.

That is absolutely spectacular!
That’s one of my bucket list coins.

asheland

I am very grateful for the collection that I have put together and the friends that I have…

These forums are the best!

Funny, I kind of started opposite of most people, I started doing just gold coins, and branched out into silver and copper and everything else.

Since walkers were mentioned, I’ll post one. I am a type collector, so technically, I should only have one walking liberty. However, I’ve got two or three I forget, but this one is my best:

GotTheBug

I am grateful for being on the right side of the ground every day and for being able to still collect coins, in modest fashion, going on six decades now.

seatedlib3991

there is a person I once knew you should have met Walkerfan. His name was Mr. Windy.
He was a regular on my paper route when I was a kid. he had two passions, woodworking and Walker Half dollars. (He actually combined the two and made this massive 3 foot diameter wood copy of the Walker obverse. All the decorations on it were coins , mostly halves inset to decorate it). Thing must have weighed a ton.
He told me that the Walker was the only coin America ever struck that truly represented the true meaning of Liberty. He said Liberty is a living moving thing just like us. He also knew a bunch of other facts about what different things on the coin were suppose to represent; most I've forgotten.
I was a smart aleck know it all kid and was quick to point out to him there was a previous coin called a St. Gaudens coin that showed a moving liberty. I will never forget. He said "James, close your eyes, take your time and count up exactly how many St Gauden coins you have personally seen. " I didn't have to , to this day I have never seen one. Then he said, "Every person can see or have a Walker half. and that is the most important thing because if we all can't have liberty than none of us have it."
I know some will roll their eyes or scoff that his views were just old guy crap and meaningless, but he served in World war 1 and his oldest daughter had been an army nurse in Korea where she got killed. I always felt that gave his views some weight. Anyway, like I said you should have met him. james

Walkerfan

@seatedlib3991 that’s a great story.. thanks, for sharing it!! He sounds like he would’ve been a great guy to meet and have a conversation with. A true American hero! His comments make a lot of sense to me. 😉😊