Collecting Walkers

Kareemofwheat

Your thoughts please...
I finally decided what I want to collect...not only to just collect, and for the beauty,but to have something that might be worth something on down the line that I can pass along to my son. My choice is a complete short set of Walkers to start. My question is this. Do I concentrate on 64-65's or be patient and try for 66-67's?.
Thank you all for all the great info I have found here since joining, most of you are a class act.
Thanks
Jon

AU58WALKERS

If you have the cash, I think you could complete a pcgs ms65 short set in about 20 min.

Be patient and go for yhe pcgs ms 66 set

Newcomp103

Correctly graded 65s would be my choice...let the high roller investors pay the big bucks for the higher grades....(65 is still an amazing looking coin) JMO of course!

Shawn

Russ

<< <i>Correctly graded 65s would be my choice... >>



I agree. I also think it's a pretty good time to build a set. Prices have softened considerably from their peak four years ago.

Russ, NCNE

rjsriv

COLLECT THE PROOFS!!!

They are truly rare and are very undervalued. It is only seven coins but be prepared for the 36.. A Proof walker is something to behold

Mowgli

The 65's would be easy to assemble for a short set. They would be considerably cheaper than 66's and 67's and would look pretty nice. It seems to me that if you want to pass along something that will be worth something to your son you would look at the other end of the walker series. They are more challenging to find and more expensive but likely to appreciate more than the short set. Prices are falling for the 65's in the later years so you might find some bargains but they are so easy to find that I do not see them being the investment lower grade, earlier dates would be.

Cladiator

It's been my experience that if you focus more on the eye appeal of the coin than the numerical grade on the slab your collection will be exponentially nicer. A set of MS67 Walkers would be incredible but a set of truely eye appealing gem mint state Walkers would be breathtaking.

My advice would be to find individual coins that make you go, "Damn, that's sweet!". Give less importance to the MS number than the coin itself.

50cents

The first thing I would do is buy some books on Walkers and the next thing I would do is start looking at a lot of Walkers online, shows and shops.


Some books on the series:

-Walking Liberty Half Dollar by Dean F. Howe 1989

-The Complete Guide To Walking Liberty Half Dollars by Bruce Fox 1993

-The Walking Liberty Half Dollar by Anthony Swiatek 1983

-Treasure Hunting Walking Liberty Half Dollars by Kevin Flynn and Brian Raines 2001


Set of 10 CDN Monthly Supplement Back Issues covering Walking Liberty Half Dollars - $25

-Walking Liberty Half Dollars- an in-depth look Nov. 1977

-The Walking Liberty Half Dollar Series-Part I Mar. 1983

-The Walking Liberty Half Dollar Series-Part II Apr. 1983

-Walking Liberty Half Dollars And Their Bid Movements Over the Last 35 Years Jun. 1987

-Early Walkers: Today's Precious Gems Sep. 1993

-Key Date Walkers: The Classics Apr. 1994

-Generic & Gem A Look at the Walker Pop Profile Sep. 1994

-Walking Liberty Half Dollars: Analysis Of Dates 1916 - 1918-S Part I Oct. 2001

-Walking Liberty Half Dollars: Analysis Of Dates 1919 - 1936-S Part II Nov. 2001

-Walking Liberty Half Dollars: Analysis Of Dates 1937 - 1947-D Part III Dec. 2001

roadrunner

Many walkers have become somewhat generic even in MS67 grades now.....at least the more common short set dates. I know I wouldn't bother with common dates in 65, 66 or even 67. I'd much rather concentrate on superb eye appeal coins or coins just back of the pop tops (like a well struck 1940-s in 66 for examplel). The best value in the early key dates is probably in MS62/63 coins. Most are rarer than the 64's.

There are a ton of walkers around so they aren't rare by any means.
One thing I could have fun with is building a killer S mint sent from 1940 to 1946....the finest I could find....condition census pieces. Then start going backwards from there as the early dates become available. This should satisfy anyone's lust for the design yet still limit a set to a manageable number of 20 coins or so.

roadrunner

Rollerman

Well, here's different slant. I'm working on a short set (well, actually all of them in the 40's) but have elected to collect MS64's for the most part as there are some price jumps for some of the dates and MM that I don't want to pay for. The MS64's I have most would say, "might go MS65" and they make a nice set.
I guess it would depend on where you lived, but I haven't found it overly easy to put togther this slabbed set even in MS64 (and I do have a couple of strong 63's in there as well).
If you are looking at investment primarily, then the 65's are the way to go, except I'd bet my set of mostly 64's has better liquadity but I could be wrong.
Whatever you do, go slow and enjoy it.
Pete

coinkat

First, have fun.

Second, don't spend stupid money for a short set.

Third, buy coins within the short set that you like and represent quality for the grade. These are available... be selective and look.

Fourth, expand the search and look for quality circ examples from 1916-1929. These are the ones that are overlooked in part because grading is an issue.

edited to add: After seeing a picture of Bix, I wish there was a way of having sound here so folks here could appreciate what a talent this cornet player really was...

Kip

I am almost finished with a short set in 66 and I have a few real nice ms64-65 in the 1930's
It may take a long time for me on the earlier ones.
Good luck my friend, they are a nice coin

ricko

Thanks for the listing 50cents... Cheers, RickO

garsmith

A short set of 65's can be put together pretty quickly, watch Heritage auctions.

My short set is all 66's and 67's with one 65 that I will eventually upgrade!

originalisbest

Beautiful coins but utterly generic on the late dates, practically no matter how nice they are. Thus MS-63's/64's fit the bill for me for all the short dates - the earlier ones in appealing, "not ugly" circs are a much greater challenge, and more fun - to me. If you can see your way to mint state examples of the early stuff, so much the better, but be sure you have a fat wallet first!

To me the greatest Walker bargain I own is a PCGS F-15 '21-S, problem-free, that is anyone's "raw VF" I got about 5 years ago. Heck of a lot more coin for the $ than a VF, XF or AU, though a problem-free example at that level would really be tough.

Kareemofwheat

Thank you everyone for the information and great input regarding the Walkers.
I appreciate everyones time and effort to answer this question.
Now its information, information, web sites, coin shows.
You all are great
Jon

BBN

so what exactly is considered a short set? 1940-47?

JimDepot

<< <i>so what exactly is considered a short set? 1940-47? >>



I would also like to know.

Cladiator

<< <i>so what exactly is considered a short set? 1940-47? >>

PCGS defines the Walker Short Set Registry as 1941-1947 PDS.

garsmith

BBN

thanks

Rollerman

edited to add: After seeing a picture of Bix, I wish there was a way of having sound here so folks here could appreciate what a talent this cornet player really was... >>



coinkat, I wish that too!
By the way, the short set is actuallu '41 thru '46, but I choose to do all of the 40's instead, got a good deal on a real nice '40-S in MS64 so decided to get creative with the "short set".
Best wishes,
Pete

RonLJr

<< <i>edited to add: After seeing a picture of Bix, I wish there was a way of having sound here so folks here could appreciate what a talent this cornet player really was... >>





coinkat, I wish that too!
By the way, the short set is actuallu '41 thru '46, but I choose to do all of the 40's instead, got a good deal on a real nice '40-S in MS64 so decided to get creative with the "short set".
Best wishes,
Pete >>



I thought it was 41 through 47

THE "SHORT SET", 1941-1947

Total number of coins in the set: 20
Total number of sets that can be assembled in PCGS MS65 or better: 1,138
Total number of sets that can be assembled in PCGS MS66 or better: 83
Total number of sets that can be assembled in PCGS MS67 or better: 0
Keys to the series in order of rarity in MS65 or better: 1941-S, 1944-S, 1942-S, 1943-S. The key date in MS66 is the 1942-S. The only dates not available in MS67 from the "short set" are the 1942-S and 1947-D.

What is the "short set" all about? Originally, the coin albums of yesteryear divided the Walking Liberty half dollar set into two different books. The first book (or album) covered the years of 1916-1940. The second book contained the coins of 1941-1947. These final 20 coins became known as the "short set." The fact that the PCGS coin boxes also hold exactly 20 coins hasn't hurt the perpetuation of the "short set" as a favorite collecting option.

morganbarber

Sorry, I am a jerk, but, to me, "complete short set" is an oxymoron.

RonLJr

<< <i>Sorry, I am a jerk, but, to me, "complete short set" is an oxymoron. >>



I'm sorry :-D

Rollerman

My bad, of course the Short set is considered to be 1941 thru 1947, NOT 1946 as I wrote. Guess I should take more time when I post or just shut up!
Best wishes,
Pete

originalisbest

I don't consider a "short set" of Walkers to be "complete" either - but a full set - and it need not be all uncs (I wish), just "nice" - is an enviable undertaking.

I guess what I'm saying is, if not interested in it only for type - and it is a beautiful type coin - why not consider the "whole" set?

DIMEMAN

Isn't there also a mid set that starts in 34 or so. Or is that just in the Merc Dimes?