1942 Walking Half

mids1999

Can someone guess a grade on this 1942 Walking Half.
Does it look XF or more AU to MS?
1942Front
1942Back

FC57Coins

From the picture it looks MS - I can't detect any wear on it - certainly not XF.

Frank

darktone

It looks uncirculated to me but coin appears to be lifeless with no luster- it could be the scan though. mike

mids1999

The coin actually is has high luster. the pic doesnt show that though.

nwcs

I'm going with Proof 66/67

mids1999

How could I tell if it is a proof or not?
I can tell on modern coins because of the frosting
but how can you tell on older coins that are not frosted?

nwcs

I was looking at the sharpness of the details, especially around the rim. The rim doesn't look like a business strike rim, it's too sharp. The subtlety of detail in key areas (hands, flag stars, hair) is quite sharp and detailed. The field is quite nice. Could be a really awesome business strike, but just makes me think proof. The reverse... same thing. It is a P mint, so proof is ruled in and not ruled out. The fields look awesome. The breast feathers are quite remarkable. The detail is sharp and squared off. I still think proof.

mids1999

thanks
Mike

mids1999

btw: what would happen if I sent this coin into pcgs and it was not proof what would they do?
would they send it back as a ms coin or not slab it?
I am not that familiar with pcgs policies as you can tell.

nwcs

If you marked down that it was proof or MS and they thought it was the opposite, they would mark what they believe it to be. So they would switch it if necessary and continue to grade it. Where did you get the coin from?

mids1999

It was in a set of W.L. half dollars that my grandmother gave me when my grandfather passed.

nwcs

It is a nice coin, and I'm sure it has extra meaning to you. Since it was in a set of WL coins, it may not be proof and instead be a high quality business strike. Still, a nice one! Very good strike which is unusual for the series.