Question for Proof Walking Liberty Collectors

erwindoc

As I have become a more seasoned collector, I have become pretty picky about the strike of a coin. I know the proof coinage in smaller denominations is well-known for having the dies reworked due to clashing and this often leads to the noses being polished off on Lincoln, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Washington. Im sure the same issue happens on proof Walkers with overzealous die repair polishing off details. Where on the half dollar would be a comparable spot since it is not a bust style coin? Is this a problem at all in the series?

MarkKelley

The designer's initials. They are incuse on the coin, so they are raised on the die. This is known for several dates of proofs.

FlyingAl

Designers initials, flag, IGWT, and E PLURIBUS UNUM are generally the problem spots.

Here's a near CAM example with full details:

Versus a 1940 with polished details:

P0CKETCHANGE

What's happening here? Die gouge?

FlyingAl

@P0CKETCHANGE said:
What's happening here? Die gouge?

There was a feather there that wore down on the hubs over the years, and I believe in '39 the engravers recut it into the master hub. It generally goes away by '42. It's a super low point on the dies, so you don't really ever see the full original feather except on the very best 1936s.

MS 1939:

Exceptional Proof 1936:

Recut 1939:

P0CKETCHANGE

Great information @FlyingAl —thank you. So if one has a '39 that does not have the recut, is the conclusion that the coin was struck before the re-engraving? In other words, were there '39s minted "pre" and "post" recut?

(this is my '39 reverse)

FlyingAl

@P0CKETCHANGE said:
Great information @FlyingAl —thank you. So if one has a '39 that does not have the recut, is the conclusion that the coin was struck before the re-engraving? In other words, were there '39s minted "pre" and "post" recut?

(this is my '39 reverse)

They may have also done it by specific dies - I haven't looked into it much. Regardless, it does seem to be 39 where the recutting seems to appear.

ChrisH821

The outstretched hand also gets partially obliterated by die polishing.

jfriedm56

I was told that on the 1937 proof WLs, they polished the outstretched hand so extensively that it’s known as the floating finger as seen on my example

FlyingAl

@jfriedm56 said:
I was told that on the 1937 proof WLs, they polished the outstretched hand so extensively that it’s known as the floating finger as seen on my example

Common to all dates.