Finished my Walker Short Set (1941-1947).
Walkerfan
Posts: 9,438 ✭✭✭✭✭
It was my year end goal and an enlightening experience.
While I was building my early set; I had hit a roadblock and was getting burned out looking for good coins, in the right grades, so I decided to work on the short set, as a relaxing diversion----a way of keeping me involved, while still looking for the really rare and expensive stuff. It was just some cheap fun.....at first! It also had some overlap with my one per date set that I was also working on, as I had almost all of those early coins already filled out except for one and I needed to start finding coins dated from 1934-1947.
At first, I thought that it would be 'easy' to build a short set and I had always believed in buying the keys first, which I still advocate and am very glad that I did with my early set, so this is another reason and the WHY that I waited, until now, to complete the short set. BUT little did I know how challenging the S minted short set coins would actually be. I always knew that they were difficult but I have learned a completely new respect for the Walker short set, now, by actually putting one together. Even the D minted coins can be struck softly and it's not easy to find lustrous, smooth and original examples but, with some diligent searching, nice ones can be found that are worthwhile and that meet those requirements. The eye appeal can also be off the charts for the short set imho. The Walker is, after all, a beautiful design.
It took me 2 years and 8 months to assemble it. My weighted GPA is about 66.10. I have two MS 65s (1941-S OGH and 1942-S rattler), three MS 67s (1941, 1942 & 1943 Philadelphia coins), two MS 66 +s (1946 & 1947 Philly coins) and the rest are all MS 66s. It is almost split right down the middle between the two grading services, too, with 45% PCGS and 55% NGC coins, as I buy the coin and not the holder. I also look for older slabs, when I can find them. Finding ones that have CAC stickers are nice, too, if I don't have to pay a hefty premium for them. I was lucky to find some fully original pieces, as well, that have some rich color (1945-D, 1945-S & 1947 P), I wound up ranked in the 17th position at NGC and I am done with the short set. I am very happy with those grades and with those particular coins, so I will NOT be upgraded anything, at all, unless something really extraordinary comes along and at a decent price.
My last two coins were a 1946 P PCGS MS 66+ (my mom's birth year) and a 1945 P PCGS MS 66---both of which I purchased yesterday. Both of these are CAC green stickered and the 1945 has a PCGS 30th anniversary green label, which I think is kind of cool. I thought that I paid a little too much for the 1945 P coin but after research (Heritage & some other major auction archives) I have found that other CAC'ed PCGS MS 66 examples are going for a premium, so I am very happy with that price and I like the green label AND the green bean. But most importantly I like the coin.
Cheers to all and have a great weekend!!
WF 
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
Comments
This is a great accomplishment and I agree that if strike is a major buying factor then the S-mint short set coins can be an absolute bear. Also, yours is a good example of patience and buying the right coins.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Congrats!
I agree regarding the S-mint coins. My MS65 short set still needs just one coin (1943-S) and one upgrade (1941-S).
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Wonderful news. Your 46 is very very nice. Weird - I also had problems with the 1945.
Congratulations!
Nice, congrats on finishing your set.
Andrew Blinkiewicz-Heritage
Great job! That 46 looks very nice.
Short set has some tough ones -I never did find a 42-S that I liked.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Let me add my congrat's Walkerfan!!! Well done!
J,
I still don't have a 42-S for my toned set and I've been looking for 11 years
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
A big congrats, well done and I gotta say you have some real beauties too.
Congrats on completing a set made up of such high quality coins! There is a lot of useful information in your write-ups about each coin, too. Well done!
Nice set and write-up.
The hunt is more fun than the coins.
Congratulations on a great set...the Walkers are beautiful coins... your '46 is really nice. Cheers, RickO
Congratulations! Some sweet looking coins.
U.S. Type Set
All of the coins that you have posted show a really good eye for quality of strike. I am missing the 42 S and 43 S on my own Short Set. Congrats on completing. Are you going to continue and expand to earlier dates?
Thanks! The Early dates are actually my specialty and my true passion. I have been working on a MS set of those on and off for roughly 10 years and am 88% complete.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Congrats on completing this set!!! The set is easy if you are willing to accept poorly struck MS coins or dogs in general, but thank goodness you have great taste and patience, that makes it a much better set. I'm working on the same one, trying to get MS-66 or better. The 66's are out there, but there are many (especially the S mints, 44-P, 42-D) that just don't pass muster if you are looking for true quality.
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
I just found my 1943-S this year and the 1942-S is the biggest strike rarity in the short set imho. So, I am not surprised that you are having difficulty finding one to your liking.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Thanks, Erik!
You have a great eye, as well, my friend. I've looked at your 1934-1947 Walker set and many seem undergraded or else very PQ for the grade. Your 1936-S has an amazing strike!
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Thanks.
But I disagree with you about the hunt. It can be long, boring, frustrating and arduous. I get tremendous satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment from acquiring, completing and owning.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I have a lot farther to go on my big set, and collecting them and Mercs has lead me to start the 1930-1939 set of Depression era coins, so my horizon expands and my progress on each subset slows. But I have found that it is the hunt that I value in collecting and completing a set is bitter sweet.
Congrats on completing the set and the journey.