Dr. Duckor is selling his top ranking Walkers at this year's Winter FUN Show 2018!!!

He is ranked #1 both for current AND for all time finest for his early dates (1916-1933). His 19-D MS 65 is just unreal.......nicest on the planet imho and fully struck, needle sharp with original toning.....Never saw this coin before and don't know where it came from..........possibly John Albanese's personal collection, as that is what the pedigree states??
He is ranked #2 current and #4 all time finest for his full set (1916-1947).
It will be sold through Heritage and are ALL PCGS/CAC.
He put this set together very quickly and is selling it right after he won the 2017 PCGS registry award.
Personally, I would have trouble letting go of something that I love, so much, but in an article Dr. Duckor states that he derives just as much pleasure from selling as from buying.
Some of his prior sets (Barbers and Saints) were held for 30 years while others were sold after just a few.
The bidding will be FIERCE; I'd imagine and I will be watching with the popcorn! lol.
Sometimes, itβs better to be LUCKY than good. π πΊπ
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
Comments
Sell your house, buy a tent...
and get in on the action!
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Looking forward to seeing them.....I wonder how many are pedigreed to Jack Lee?
I like a roof over my head. But I can live with one kidney.
Anyone need a kidney?
I find it a bit odd the James Pryor set isn't listed anywhere on the all-time list.
jom
Thanks for posting this - I did not know and a few of my former coins are in there. It is interesting that he decided to note former pedigree on some. The 19-S that he bought out of my set he has labeled as Schultz- Duckor. But that coin was a GBW before Schultz and the GBW set was probably the finest put together since PCGS started, with the possible exception of Forsythe.
I would love to lot view this set. The 19-D looks spectacular. That strike is unfathomable for that date.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
His set was sold long before REG SET fever hit. And most of his coins were slabbed very conservatively in the 1987-1996 era. I'd imagine a very significant percentage of his choice/gem halves upgraded. I know the 2 ogh's I ended up buying went from 65's to 66 CAC on the first regrade...moving up into pop 1 or pop 2 slots. I don't know if the REGISTRY keeps track of those upgrades. Probably a majority of his coins are no longer pedigreed....which would be shame.
Odd that Dr. Duckor was able to put together the TOP Walker set in a very short period. Does that suggest the coins are not so hard to get....or.....he was able to pick up a few partial sets in quick order?
Breakdown's set was recently sold as well as the Cajun collection. Both these collections featured very high end low population early dates, such as the GBW 1919-S discussed earlier.
That would be an amazing set to view in person.... That '19D sounds amazing..... I am sure pictures will not do it justice. Cheers, RickO
Here is his 1919-D:
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I went into Heritage to look at that 19D - phenomenal strike, and not just for that issue. It looks like a later date Philly-struck coin.
I did note quite a few little marks and scuffs on the obverse, so I'm guessing the strike and toning helped carry it a bit.
What ever happen to the days of collectors keeping their collections?
I think top uncs are easier to find than nice AU's. All you need is $$$. Same with top Barber Halves.
Well I can't speak for Dr. Duckor, but it took me about twelve years to put my Walker set together and I only sold because I simply couldn't afford to continue tohave that much money in coins. Hated to do it and even today, the first thing I do when I go through an auction catalog is look at the early Walkers.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Dr. Duckor has stated in interview articles that he has taken out second mortgages, in order to be able to buy quality coins, b/c if you know what you are doing.....it's worth it in the end.
His 1919-D in 65 is now up to $ 144,000 with 5 days left. Someone may be imbibing in some Cristal this New Year in celebration of a fine, new, acquisition.....Imho it is the finest in existence.
Sometimes, itβs better to be LUCKY than good. π πΊπ
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Seems like he is having alot of fun building amazing collections, selling them (apparently for a nice profit) and then moving onto the next challenge
I'm starting to understand the Registry "game".
Using some free cash, put together a top set quickly and rise to #1 (admittedly tough to do for many series). Once at #1, brand it with a pedigree and sell it for megabucks. Far more bucks than originally invested.
Many of us do this all the time with stocks and other investments. Why not coins?
But is saddens me that this appears (at least from the outside) that this is all about the return on investment and not about the love of collecting and enjoying the coins themselves. Someday I hope to meet Dr. Duckor and pick his brain.
Note to self: If I win one of the $300 million lotteries this weekend, I will try this strategy.
βIn matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
He is still collecting money, just in a different form.
Dr. Duckor has stated that selling is just as exciting to him as buying.
Me.....I have a tough time parting with something that I love so much and have worked so hard to achieve.
I guess that someday we will ALL be sellers and, hopefully, get to watch and appreciate the fruits of our labors.
Sometimes, itβs better to be LUCKY than good. π πΊπ
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
A few could use a heart.
Some are collectors of registry sets. Itβs similar, only a little different, and, fun and fulfilling nonetheless .
I can't see this set being profitable. You just can't go out and slap something together and bingo! A profit!
Dr Duckor got what he deserved on his Saints-a serious profit. He bought great coins and held. His Walkers are nice coins but he has not held them. No collector can beat this market doing that. Good luck to him.
Collectors arenβt keeping their sets anymore because the drive for quality is simply costing too much money. That urge to finish a set causes them to spend more than they really wanted to do and then reality sets in - they can sell and stay in the game or they can sit and twiddle their thumbs. Add in a dose of constant gradeflation to erode the value of their set while they hold it and the choice becomes even clearer
Strange times.
Happy New Year.
The opportunity cost for holding on to a 5 million dollar collection for ONLY 2017 was 1.25 million dollars, assuming you would have otherwise owned a stock index fund, or double that if you had some minimal stock picking skills and had just bought the 4 tech biggies that were recommended on Jan 1; AFGA.
So you have to assume that people with big bucks like Dr Duckor understand how much cash they are leaving on the table by holding non-productive investments like gold or coins.
Commems and Early Type
Bitcoin !!!!!!!
That's all true. It's part of the quandary we collectors probably balance regularly.
It definitely puts coin collecting into a "luxury" status as it involves considering our pleasures before our "profits."
I usually hear "opportunity cost" from stockbrokers or fee financial planners.
I can use it to argue that renting is more efficient than owning a home, too.
The important part to remember is that we can simply "TIRE" of some coins and just change direction.
It sure demonstrates how one must be able to ...afford... to "miss" some opportunities from time to time.
That won't apply, however, to those whose happiness is only their balance sheet.
@topstuf said:
The important part to remember is that we can simply "TIRE" of some coins and just change direction.
Yes, for some of us it's more about the hunt.
Earlier posters were asking what happened to this or that provenance, remember that there are dealers who still systematically obliterate provenance. It's up to the sharp-eyed collectors here to keep that stuff straight. Some dealers just don't want to hear about such and such a coin being an MS-64 three years ago and now it's a 66.
How much of collecting is the acquisition side and how much of it is the hold. My SDB doesnβt care what is in it.
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little βBig Easyβ set
Most or all of them are already known and identified. All one needs do is find out who has em, how much and show up mit da dough.
In the end, coin collecting with the goal of set building should never be seen as purely an investment. Buying and selling random pieces with upgrade/profit potential is not the same as systematically putting together a set. Sure there can be profits to be made if your eye is good and your purchases are smart, but in the end forming a collection is a labor of love.
Congrats to Dr. Duckor for doing what he enjoys, putting together a quality set over a short time (no easy task), and deciding he'd like to buy something new now that he's finished with that set.
wonder what his next set will be?
That's more like collating or "rounding em up" than collecting IMO.
What are the chances that there are raw coins out there that are better than any of the "finest knowns" that currently exist?
Dr. Duckor's 1919-D 65 hammered for $240,000 with juice.
Other Walker notables:
The 1920-D 66 previously sold from the Cajun collection for $54K went for $87k!
17-DObv. 66 went for $78K
16-S 66 $43K
17S Rev. (also Cajun) 66 went for $66K
18d (also Cajun) 66 went for $108K
20-S in 66 went for $60K
21-D in 66 went for $168k
and 21-S in 65+ went for $120k.
I think that the good Doctor did quite well.......I am in amazement.
Sometimes, itβs better to be LUCKY than good. π πΊπ
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I was too, despite the short hold times on the big coins he still made $$. I didn't check on the late date stuff but all of those coins saw pretty spirited bidding also in the day session.
Andrew Blinkiewicz-Heritage
@breakdown your former 1919-S 66 that you liked so much went for $33,600. Really nice coin.
Sometimes, itβs better to be LUCKY than good. π πΊπ
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Thanks, Jeff. Glad I wasn't following because I would have been tempted to bid. His other coins did very well. Early date high end stickered Walkers have held up well in this market.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Great coins/collections bring great prices. Especially when you have the key dates in highest grades known. That's where the real money goes. Steve Duckor met that criteria and more....and there were multiple bidders, 3-4-5, on the major components.
I see a bunch of these ended up in the D. L. Hansen set.
I could not have said this any better:
Great coins/collections bring great prices. Especially when you have the key dates in highest grades known. That's where the real money goes. Steve Duckor met that criteria and more....and there were multiple bidders, 3-4-5, on the major components.
D.L. Hansen has ton's of great coins and is getting more every day!
Mr. Hansen has done an amazing job of upgrading when possible---his collection will be/is legendary
Knowing what Jack Lee had............there has to be some.
a 65 1919-D? I guess the world IS ending..........................
Pete
Call me old school. I have kept most of my collection since 1993 and 1983 including the Jack Lee 1921 PCGS/CAC MS-66 walker since 1997 which I bought from Jay Parrino.
@oreville I admire that in you and I was going to commend you on it. I am the same way. I like what I have and plan to keep it. I worked too long and hard to just sell it off. I guess that I am old school, too.
There are others like us....I know a few. However, I am NOT criticizing those who quickly sell......We all have our reasons for what we do and that is just fine. It is just refreshing to see a collector who is in it for the long term. I think that you will be handsomely rewarded, in the end.
Sometimes, itβs better to be LUCKY than good. π πΊπ
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/