The OGH Walker I wish I had kept
breakdown
Posts: 2,313 ✭✭✭✭✭
One of FlyingAl’s threads made me think of one of collecting regrets: selling my 1917 Walker that was in an OGH.
In 2016, I decided to sell my Walkers in Heritage ANA to focus on other things. I was tempted to hold onto one or two of my favorites but in the end thought it better to sell the whole set. The one I really wish I had kept was the 1917.
Sure enough it was purchased and immediately the cert went bad as someone tried for a + to be a top pop of 1 (the coin is a shared top pop at PCGS). Here’s the coin in the OGH:
Wish I still had that coin, wish I still had that holder.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
35
Comments
That coin is awesome. Graded in an era before they had pluses. No doubt it would have plussed back then - look at that skin!!
You can always crack out an old holder. You can usually cross an old holder. You can sometimes upgrade an old holder. You can never replace an old holder.
Some people like the grade and will always chase the upgrade. Others like the holder or pedigree. Quite a few like the whole package. Coins in old holders are stable and can’t be replicated.
Your story is a lesson for the future. Thank you for sharing it.
Yep, you should have kept it.
That 1917 Coin is so wholesome! I remember seeing a 1937 D CAC OGH 65 that I wish I had bid on. It had original golden and russet toning around the perimeter with a great strike. It eventually wound up in a 66 holder. If I would’ve bought it, I would’ve kept it in that old holder. Like you, I am sentimental and like them a lot.
Your Walker set was one of the best ever assembled. I like how you focused on the early dates and strived for originality as well as high quality. I also have a fascination with the early dates and, when I was building my set, I went after them first..knowing that they would only become less available and more cost prohibitive, as years went by. I had a strange sense of vicarious remorse, when you sold yours, since you and I are fellow Walker collectors and also friends.
So many nice Coins in that set. Your 18 D in 65 OGH CAC was also very nice. I hope that one didn’t get cracked, as well.
Not sure if you’re aware, but your 1919 D 64 CAC is now a 64+ CAC and is for sale on Rare Coin wholesalers website for $55,000. The strike is typical for the issue, but the originality and color are uncompromising.
I know you were quite partial to your 1919 S 66 CAC Charles Schultz pedigree. Yet another nice Coin.
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 know, I am slightly crazy. I want them in old holders. I want them with Gold CAC stickers. I want the history.
Others say I should "shop them around the bourse" but no. They need to stay where they are.
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
Glad to see my threads make people think some times.
I have a 1940 half in OGH that I love, and it will stay with me for some time. Sometimes we let coins go, it's how it goes. In this case, maybe you'll have a chance to get it back.
It might not be OGH, but it's the same coin. And at the end of the day that's what matters.
That's a beautiful coin regardless 🙂
If you retired your set, I’d love to have a link to it.
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."
Yep, you messed up, should have kept it.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/half-dollars/walking-liberty-half-dollars-major-sets/walking-liberty-half-dollars-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1916-1947/alltimeset/77792
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Love it! I've let too many great coins go, turned into cash, and then the cash invariably vaporizes, spent on whatever......and the coin is gone. Keep the great one's, that's my motto now.
Some of the comments will make the poster feel bad, even more, fact is, many just need to sell when we need to sell, and years later of course there is remorse, but at the time, some of us, most of us, had no choice but needed to free up funds for whatever took precedence. Just sayin.
Your Walkers were fabulous! Still kick myself for not buying your 1921P. Many great coins.
My 1866 Philly Mint Set
Thanks for all the great comments, a lot of friends checking in on this thread.
Walkerfan, that 19-D was on of three or four of my early Walkers that got a plus after the 2016 sale.
Nic, that 1921 is the other one I would have kept.
I collect gold now and enjoy it as a new challenge. But the toning of silver, including the specific toning patterns of Walkers, is something special that certainly doesn’t translate to gold.
Hope all of you have a great Thanksgiving.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Just loved the originality of such beautiful specimens. I tried to choose which one was the most compelling and struggled. Finally, I picked the 33-S for the shades of green!
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."
That’s one of my favorites, too! I also like the 1918 D, 1920 and 1935 S.
His set reminded me of the Cajun collection. Both epic and original.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Beauty
I've sold more than one that I have regrets about.
I was fortunate enough to meet breakdown several times as well as possibly the only PCGS poster to view Breakdown’s 1917 walker in person. It was an amazing coin indeed! Saddened when he told me he sold his set of walkers to finance his foray into gold coins. I am sure he did quite well with his gold coin purchases but it always emotionally hurts to let go of a one of a kind coin. I managed to hang onto my walkers including my 1921 walker which breakdown was the only PCGS poster to view it in oerson. I too made the same mistake selling my one of a kind 1875-S $20 in PCGS/CAC MS-67 so I cannot look down on his decision to let his walker go. I just got lucky that I sold my 1875-S $20 to help hang into my 1921 walker.
I hope we see each other again at the FUN show in January,
We all have a coin (or two….or 5) we wish we never sold.
I would rather have the old holder, they just look classy in those green holders!
My YouTube Channel
Not a cheap coin: 67
$23,000,
$36,000 (CAC) $19,000,