Missed Opportunities and Second Chances

JBN

This wonderful PF68 CAC half dollar was offered to me (in 2012) by Kathleen Duncan of Pinnacle Rarities.

Several of my (now sold) WLH proof set were sourced from Pinnacle. The offer price was twenty eight five and I could not swing it. There were copious contemporary ‘dammits’. This half dollar is among the very best for 1937 proofs; certainly comparable to the Schultz/Forsythe piece and one of three CAC examples. A second chance - the half dollar came up for auction in 2020. I was unable to acquire it again; as the underbidder driving the sale price to sixty and a smile for the consigner. The half dollar is in a great set, WICKED WALKERS, in the registry for CAC WLH Proofs. My retired set is shown also.
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/half-dollars/walking-liberty-half-dollars-major-sets/walking-liberty-half-dollars-proof-1936-1942-cac/7587

The second coin in AU50 and gold CAC was up for auction in 2015.

Sold for over sixty four hundred. I was not the underbidder, as I felt at the time that the gold CAC status over-inflated the price and remember wishing the coin had a green CAC only. No other desirable example of the date has appeared since. The mid-fifties dates for silver dollars are very challenging. No CAC XF example exists and this coin represents one of the two or three CAC AU examples.
The coin reappeared for auction recently. I was the winning bidder at twenty six four - substantially more than the 2015 sale price. Congratulations to the consigner. The successful acquisition of the dollar completes the 1853 thru 1857 dates for my set.

I have to bear in mind the crazy consequences involved with passing on special coins. When the great coins come up, acquisition costs may seem extreme, but should be borne. Very costly otherwise – if you are lucky enough to get a second chance.

Catbert

Great post. I'd have had a hard time releasing that WL half!

It seems the larger denominations in the seated series have seen explosive demand in recent years. I don't know why that is the case. Unfortunately, I've got the tail end in paying more so I look back on these from not long ago and dream of having the ability to acquire coins at much lower prices (even if adjusted for recent dollar inflation).

breakdown

Great job acquiring it, JBN! Great coin worth the wait.

You and I bought a lot of Walkers from Pinnacle in those days. Katie was a great dealer of Walkers and always great to work with. She knew where the black holes were - where the best coins for particular dates had gone, in part because she had dealt with most of the major Walker collectors from the nineties and aughts (however you spell that decade).

Anyway, love the Seated half. A collection is never done...

RobertScotLover

Here is another example that sold about 4 years ago, an ms60 in an old ANACS holder on ebay

FlyingAl

My first thought on seeing the 1937 was "Damn!" which takes a lot for me to say for a 36-42 Proof. Certainly among the best for 1937 halves eye appeal wise.

Congratulations on the dollar!