The FlyingAl Collection of 1936-1942 Proofs
FlyingAl
Posts: 4,535 ✭✭✭✭✭
This set is most certainly a work in progress, but I find myself to be rather picky. I love the chase more than the having at times, so these coins represent years of looking for just the right pieces to fill holes at the right times.
This group of coins represents my real collecting passion, and the series that I will always claim to be a specialist in. All of my other pursuits stem off of this one, so this is the original passion if you will. I started this set (if you will call it that, lol) when I was 14 with the 1942 5c in PR67 and it has since grown into what it is today. Until I got a job at 16, this set was funded through sheer creativity and luck. I would use school snow days to shovel driveways, and on a good day be able to scrape together $60 to buy two 1964 Proof sets. I chose wisely, and bought Accented Hairs. I would grade those AH halves, send them to GC, and reinvest the proceeds. The coins for this set were chosen even more carefully during those early years - I made bigger purchases later on with funds from my actual job. Even then, the big purchases were careful ones - some of the coins in this set are cherrypicks themselves. Of the coins shown, 17 were not bought as is grade wise, and the what I've sent from the group has went 11/12 at CAC (still think that 1938 5c deserves the bean).
1942 happens to be my favorite year, since more of those coins seem to have survived to the current day in the condition that I seek out. I dislike 1936s in general, because that year was a very rough year for the mint and I just can't seem to find the coins that I really like.
I prioritized several factors in my searches:
1) Detail/contrast. I tried not to settle for poorly detailed coins. Most of the examples in my sets are of high quality and strong detail. This can take some time, since a significant number of Proofs from this era come poorly detailed.
2) Original surfaces for certain examples. Non-contrasted coins must have some form of originality. Blast white coins for this era appear "stripped" to my eyes, even sometimes when they are frosty. The coins with original color have some wonderful character and are absolutely lovely.
3) No major spotting. This is more of a problem with Buffalo nickels, but can be an issue for the whole series. Ironically, the one coin rejected from CAC (the 1938 5c) was rejected for obverse spots.
Anyways, here is the entire group!
1937 1c, NGC PR66RD CAM. Lovely, has not been to CAC can won't go because I don't believe it is truly RD (don't care if it is, I prefer the original surfaces). The best CAM die pair for the year, and the die polish on the reverse is a fun touch. The reverse of this die pair put out the best contrast of any die for the series in my opinion. 
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1938 5c, NGC PR67, FS-402. Originally an ANACS PR66 to NGC PR66 to NGC PR67, this coin is my profile picture and for good reason. It is, in my opinion, equal to or better than the existing NGC PR67CAM. The obverse is a full DCAM, and a sight to behold. The reverse has some frost but just misses, but the average appearance is that of contrast. This coin is the reason a PCGS PR67CAM coin was removed from the market as an altered frost example. 
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1939 10c PCGS PR66 CAC. Frosty, but the reverse misses. Coins like this often find their way into CAM holders, 
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1939 50c PCGS PR65 CAC. Also from the CAM die pair, and I like it better than the PCGS PR64CAM on CoinFacts. Feel free to judge yourself if you'd like. 
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1940 5c NGC PR65CAM CAC. The grade is a good description of this one. 
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1941 25c NGC PR67 CAC. Bought early on in an older NGC holder for a steal, later reholdered it and had it beaned. Great detail and super clean, a beautiful original example. 
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1942 1c NGC PR64RD CAM CAC. One of the first contrasted examples I bought, and one of my favorites. Standard for the date and type, but 1942 1c CAMs are such a lovely type coin. 
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1942 5c NGC PR66 CAC. Tried for the CAM on this one and will try again one day. Was originally PCGS PR65. 
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1942 5c PCGS PR67. The first of all of these coins, and one that holds a special place in my heart. Beautifully detailed and egregiously overgraded, this coin is a fun one. 
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1942 25c PCGS PR64 CAC. As frosty as 1942 quarters come. These are exceedingly rare. 
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1942 25c NGC PR67. Another frosty 1942. I snatch up as many of these with frost as I can when I see them. 
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1942 50c NGC PR65 Star CAC. Will try again for the CAM one day, this absolutely deserves it.
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1942 Set 1 - Original, all PCGS/CAC. PR66RD, 67, 67+, 67+, 68. A monster set, one of the finest original sets for the entire era. The coins really just speak for themselves, but the half is a stunner. Everyone who has seen the half absolutely loves it, and offers to buy it are quite frequent. This is one of the gems of my entire collection, and for good reason. 
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1942 Set 2 - PR66RB, 65, 67, 67, 67. Needs another submission, the silver is under-graded IMO and the cent is probably over-graded. A tiny patch of hairlines on the half missed my eye until right before I shipped these to PCGS, which was unfortunate because I thought it blew away the PR68 above technically. With the hairlines I can see it as a 67+ or low 68. They are not visible in the below image but are on the breastplate of Liberty. 
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Honorable mention - 1942 25c, raw (est. PR64). It follows a pattern, what can I say. 
Comments
Great coins and an awesome post.
My personal favorite is that blue 42 WLH. I remember when you showed that to me and my jaw dropped (although I had the good taste to not try to buy it from you 😂).
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
Superb examples! You found a great niche.
Superb collections are built more by omission than by addition.
Amazing coins!
Very impressive......
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7 JWP BruceS bigjpst
JWP PROMETHIUS88
Spectacular coins, story and journey!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Gorgeous, my fav is the 1942 BLU 50c, that one is stunning.
Thanks for sharing your passion and your coins
Great coins and photos!
WS
I’m jealous of your patience. Mine is nowhere like yours.
You have a GREAT eye, superb knowledge, a wonderful passion, and the talent to take phenomenal photos!
While my 1936 - 1942 U.S. Proof Set is Current Rank #3 at PCGS (and 100% CAC), your set is absolutely nicer and better!
Congratulations, and Happy Hunting!!!
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set! Winner of the 2026 PCGS Registry Award for “The Best U.S. Type Set”!
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
Much thanks for taking us on your journey! All superb examples!
I absolutely love it. The coppers really pop out for me. Beautiful set of coins 🪙
Maybe you could test NGC's guarantee and see if it will give you a small payout and downgrade it to RB CAM if you don't think it is RD.
Why?
Coin Photography
You suggested your were resubmitting the 1942 NGC star WLH to NGC for a cameo designation. I figure you could piggy back and see if they would compensate you for the cent. If it is not RD and you paid RD money, you may have overpaid despite it being an attractive RB example. You have the coin in hand and are in the best position to know whether it should be in a RB holder.
Nice selection of outstanding pieces.
I won't pursue that for two reasons:
1) The NGC guarantee does not apply to "coins made of copper, bronze and brass, or are copper-plated can change over time. Therefore, this Guarantee does not apply to such Coins whose appearance changes after encapsulation."
2) I would have simply passed on the coin if I did not like it as is or cared about the color designation. The color designation is highly arguable anyways, and I have PCGS RD cents that are less RD than the 1937.
Coin Photography
It's your coin, and I am in no way arguing with your choice. I'm just curious at to #1. I thought the NGC had a 10 year copper color guarantee from the date of encapsulation. That's the way it use to be at least from the early 2000s onward through at least earlier this year.
beautiful coins
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
@FlyingAl may I ask you were you were able to locate your 1942 set?
I am constantly searching but I have yet to find one I want to buy. Ive seen a couple but the price is always too much of a stretch.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7 JWP BruceS bigjpst
JWP PROMETHIUS88
An excellent and very strong start to the set!
As someone who also specializes in '36-'42 proofs, it's always nice to see an update on your progress.
Collector, occasional seller
FYI - Folks, please think before you slab.
Every opening of an original capsule or TPG slab exposes the coin to additional contamination. This increases the potential for nucleation on dust or debris particles, and production of "carbon spots" "flyspecks" "milk spots" months or years later.
I also like this thread. Great information and coins.
I also collect 1936-1942 proofs and have acquired some new coins/sets since early June. I really like the beauty of proof Buffalo nickels, Mercury dimes and Walking Liberty half dollars.