Walking Liberty Half Dollars book by Ambio - opinions
Strat
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I'm considering putting together a middle date set of Walkers in MS 65 to MS66. Not looking for ultra high grades or getting into registry frenzy mode. Just searching for solid coins, and reading through Collecting and Investing Strategies for Walking Liberty Half Dollars by Jeff Ambio. What are your thoughts on this book? How useful/relevant is the information? What sources do you use to learn about this popular series? Thanks!
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Comments
Walkerfan and others that focus on the higher end of the market should chime in shortly and give you better insight.
I don't know if the book will be very valuable to you for your current collecting goal(middle date set) but it may give you ideas on a few coins that you could splurge on in building your set and ones that you should save your money on. I bet that the bug bites you and you will expand your collection one day.
I have heard some Walker guys criticize the book but, personally, I liked it. Ambio does focus on the higher end MS segment of the market. I can tell you that it is 1000X better than QBD's latest book about WLH, SLQ & Mercs---that book is just awful. I was sooo excited, when it came out, but it was a HUGE let down. It looked like he wrote it in 2 days. I didn't even buy a copy.
In any event, if you are focusing on MS 65 & 66 middle dates, then I think that Ambio's book will be of some use to you.
Don't forget about Bruce Fox & Anthony Swiatek's books---they are essential, as well, despite being very outdated.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
The Swiatek book (assuming we're talking the same one, small format thin paperback issued in '83) I felt was rather light on info, but as it was inexpensive and a quick read, not a bad reference book. I am a Bruce Fox disciple though - I love that book and have referred to it hundreds of times, along with adding my own notations. I even corresponded with Bruce a few times many years ago. I would really like to work with someone like Supertooth and a few others from the forum and issue a second edition someday. Still I feel its strengths are with circs through low MS grades.
Thanks for the heads up on the Bowers, book, Jeff - I'll skip it, even though I generally really like his writing.
To the OP - eye appeal is key in that area of the market - strike, blazing luster, and some light attractive toning would be the coins in 65 and 66 I would be seeking. Please feel free to post some you see that you want opinions on.
The Swiatek book (assuming we're talking the same one, small format thin paperback issued in '83) I felt was rather light on info, but as it was inexpensive and a quick read, not a bad reference book. I am a Bruce Fox disciple though - I love that book and have referred to it hundreds of times, along with adding my own notations. I even corresponded with Bruce a few times many years ago. I would really like to work with someone like Supertooth and a few others from the forum and issue a second edition someday. Still I feel its strengths are with circs through low MS grades.
Thanks for the heads up on the Bowers, book, Jeff - I'll skip it, even though I generally really like his writing.
To the OP - eye appeal is key in that area of the market - strike, blazing luster, and some light attractive toning would be the coins in 65 and 66 I would be seeking. Please feel free to post some you see that you want opinions on.
Greg--yes same Swiatek book. I'll agree it is not as good as the Fox book but I would still call it 'required reading'. Amazing to me that he wrote it before TPGS even existed!
Bruce Fox and Golden West Numismatics is what sparked my Early Walker interest in the early 1990s. Great Stuff! I remember fantasizing about his Walker selections from those early 'Coin World' advertisements.
You're welcome--I usually like his writing, too. I think that you and I and a few others could write a much better book.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Not to hijack the OP's thread, but in the late set(41-47), with populations exploding as they are, which coins, if any, do you think will appreciate the most in MS65 or better? Which are most overvalued??
I'd go after all of the S minted coins of the 1940s and try to find examples with a good strike in MS 65 or better. You won't find them fully struck but I believe that the ones with good separation and emerging definition are undervalued and will do well over time.
Coins such as the 1941 P, 1942 P, 1943 P & 1946 D are extremely common even in MS 65 and 66 and are not likely to do that great over time.
Although, I have noticed that superb gem coins (MS 67 or better) seem to be undervalued, right now, even for those aforementioned common dates. Look for them to increase in the future.
That is my market forecast for the Short Set.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Tough question, Jason....I'm prepared to listen to others - I guess the only thing to seek for appreciation would be differentiation from the mainstream coins - sharp strikes on the 'S' mint coins (if you can find them!), and attractive toning.
Most overvalued? Frankly I think some of the premiums being asked/paid for wild toning is lost on me. I would also would watch out for big price spreads on the mega grade coins, when the next grade down is plentiful. There are bound to be some upgrades, not to mention many (like me) that think the difference between a nice 65 or 66 vs- a 67 is minute.
I've been dabbling in this series (late dates first, early dates later) too and have nowhere near the expertise of both of the "Walkers" above, and I do concur with what they said about the series. When I first started on them in the late 90's/early 00's, I saw a guide price for $1100 on a MS-66 1946-P!!! So I stuck with MS-64's and the occasional MS-65, since they were far lower. Over time, I watched the MS-66 prices for the P mints (and some D's) fall like a rock for the common dates (64's barely changed) and over the past few years I've upgraded the 64's with 66's. I'm not sure what the long term for these are, but they appear as common as dirt. No matter what, if you go for the coins with nice luster and well struck on *both* sides you'll have a collection you'll be proud of.
For the early dates, I've been sticking with nice VF/XF PCGS slabbed examples that haven't seen a dip or a harsh wipe rag. Getting closer to completion, but trying to stay picky on those last few dates!
Good lick with your collection!
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Edited to add that the Ambio book is available on google books: https://books.google.com/books...r.html?id=VgLvJx0eQ2wC
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Greg--yes same Swiatek book. I'll agree it is not as good as the Fox book but I would still call it 'required reading'. Amazing to me that he wrote it before TPGS even existed!
There were lots of people doing independent research on numerous series from 1972-1986, before the TPG's. David Hall was doing series by series analysis in his Inside View from 1982-1986 (ie gem Morgans, Peace dollars, Walkers, Mercs, SLQ's, Buffs, Barbers, etc.). There were many others too I'm sure. They covered luster, strike, availability/price. Hall's estimates were pretty darn good. I did my own studies on dated gem Barber material from 1982-1985 and came up with similar findings to Hall, just by recording what showed up in dealer ads and major auctions.
The CDN was often putting out date-by-date analysis at that time in the monthly supplements. From the time Jim Halperin and Steve Ivy starting pushing the investment coin mark in gem around 1972-1974 information started to flow. By 1978-1980 it was pretty clear what was rare/underrated and what wasn't. Estimates of existing pops in gem started to become a bit clearer. A little bit of research over a couple years, attending auctions and major shows and you knew 10X more than your local dealer while leaving the Red Book in the dust. You didn't necessarily have to attend a major auction to analyze what the coins were as between description, photo, and price, you could tell the majority of the time if the coin was a clunker or an honest gem. I had some information on gem O mint seated quarters published in the LSCC journal in the 1983-1986 range. I wanted to get it out there before I lost it or misplaced it.
It took many years after the TPG's came about where they had enough information to make them useful. There often weren't enough submissions of the gem better date 19th century material to come to an accurate conclusion.
Hey Roadrunner, thanks for the reminder, I'm going to search my archive of monthly supplements for Walker info - a relevant informative resource!
Hey Roadrunner, thanks for the reminder, I'm going to search my archive of monthly supplements for Walker info - a relevant informative resource!
If you don't have them you can purchase them in reprint from the CDN for a modest fee. Last time they offered a deal I purchased half a dozen older 1980's and 1990's Liberty Seated articles for around $2 each. I still have a few dozen David Hall Inside Views from the 1980's....and haven't looked at them in around 10 years.
Make sure you have a clean field on the right side of the obverse.
Indeed, strike is important on the S mints. Not as critical on the other mints IMO.
PM me...I might have an article or two about this.
jom
A great strike on the 41, 42, 44, & 45 S-mints will be the key consideration for your set.
Other than that, go for what you find eye-appealing. You'll have your pick of blast white specimens from saved rolls, mild toning, or (if you are patient and selective) bold/nice toning.
It is a beautiful coin. It is heavily collected and traded. Take a look at the many, many WLH Short Set Registry Sets that feature coin photos for additional input.