Walking Lib experts, Grade the Walker on strike marks luster eye appeal

Baley · September 19, 2003 6:35PM

What is your opinion this of this coin's separate grades for:
Strike
Marks
Luster
Eye appeal

please be specific for each, I'm trying to learn what to look for on these coins before buying a scarcer date in Gem. What does it grade overall? Does the coin have positive eye appeal? Is it "PQ"??
also, do you prefer any marks on the coin to be on the devices or the fields?
Thanks in advance

islemangu · September 19, 2003 7:25PM

TTT
Thanks for this post Baley for I need walker help as well.
Beautiful coin
strike not qualified to comment on this issue
marks I see nothing except something probably on holder maybe to upper left of T on obverse, tiny hairlines on obverse sun?
luster looks all there
eye appeal all there

stman · September 19, 2003 8:15PM

Hey Baley. tough for me to try and grade these by image.

Strike... thumb look like it's all there as well as the head. Skirt lines look like they are probably there but interrupted by some chatter. Rev eagles breast feathers look good.

Marks... chatter on skirt lines left leg, looks like a couple light hits on Liberty's left breast, maybe a couple frost breaks in open obv field as well as the sun. Rev looks good, maybe a couple hits tucked away in the wings. Luster looks like it's pretty nice.

Eye-appeal is too subjective , I used to like this type of look years ago. These days my taste has changed.

Grade? I'm always confused as to what folks are looking for. Are they asking what we think it is slabbed, what it will slab, or what we think the grade is in our opinion?

I'll take a wag and say 65/66. Skirt chatter looks like it might have a couple deep digs? These days I like to find coins like this one which are tough to find. Nice thick white skin that looks like a pearl with some other nice toning. Not a great pic.

This is in a pcgs ms67 holder.

Or this one with a ton of color that is very rare to find. In a pcgs ms66 holder

Or this one with a thick skin and some decent color. pcgs ms66

stman · September 20, 2003 4:13AM

I guess I killed your thread Baley. TTT

billboat · September 20, 2003 4:18AM

For the OP, nice strike--split thumb and nice reverse feathers--great fields--I'd say 66.

jdimmick · September 20, 2003 4:37AM

again trying to grade from a photo!

The strike is solid, beter than average, but then 43=p walkers typically are.
The fields look clean from marks, but I do see what looks like light chatter on the front leg and thigh area, high points.
Luster looks super nice (judging from a photo!)
Eye-appeal is nice

Reverse is solid 65, possibly 66?
Obverse, Il go with 65, dont be upset if it 64's from the obverse marks though, this is a prime focal area on Walkers and point value is high in this area.
jim

Russ · September 20, 2003 4:47AM

Strike - MS65
Marks - MS64
Luster - MS66
Eye appeal - MS66

Overall - MS65

I really like the looks of that one. Normally I'd think the chatter in the skirt and rays would keep this one in a 64 holder, but it "looks", (how's that for subjective?), better so I think it's an MS65. A little less chatter in the skirt and the rays and I'd say it could easily go 66.

Russ, NCNE

Baley · September 20, 2003 5:01AM

Thank You for your replies and thank you especially Russ for answering the question asked regarding breaking down the grade into numerical components.

The reasons I wanted to talk about this coin, some of you have touched on, is that the grade varies for the components. the marks are indeed right at Liberty's hip, and a reed mark at the third wing feather, places where they are noticeable, but also blend into the design a bit. Certainly better than having them at Liberty's head or arm or on the sun, or on the eagle's breast. the fields of the coin are exceedingly clean and the luster is, if possible, better than the picture protrays. this is one of those coins I would grade as follows:

Strike 65.5
Marks 64.5
Luster 67.0
Eye Appeal 66.5

and overall about 65.5.... Not quite a full 66, but a really nice 65.

the holder just says MS65, it is up to the seller and buyer to determine any "PQness"

Baley · September 20, 2003 5:19AM

Steve, you're liking them toned, nice coins!
guess I should mention I was looking for luster when shopping for this coin and the peripheral toning is a nice plus because it's getting broken out and put in an album to replace a lackluster MS63.
Had originally got this coin for the purpose but decided to leave it PCGS66:

If someone has a standout WL half maybe they could post a pic and explain why either the strike, luster, color, freedom from marks, or eye appeal are exceptional. sometimes I think all people think about are marks and wear and don't pay enough attention to superior strike, luster, balanced eye appeal, etc.

BigD5 · September 20, 2003 5:55AM

If that was a different date, it would be in a 6 holder, and may end up there someday for someone. There is some chatter, but the overall look of the coin is excellent. Strike and luster (seemingly from the pic), look above average. I would imagine that the chatter is heavier than what I can see in the image, or the coin would be in that 6 holder.
It's PQ for the buyer that relishes strike and luster. If marks drive the buyer crazy, it's a no go.
I can't post a pic on this board, but this is a Walker that I recently sold (it has been returned and is available

) that I would say has excellent eye appeal, better than average luster. The head detail is as good as it gets, although the hand detail is good, but not outstanding.

stman · September 20, 2003 6:23AM

<< <i>sometimes I think all people think about are marks and wear and don't pay enough attention to superior strike, luster, balanced eye appeal, etc. >>

Baley, I pay attention to all of the above. I even tried for a while to go along with market grading but went back to grumpy technical grading. These days if I buy a nice piece with great eye-appeal, strike, luster etc..... I still want it to meet the assigned grade (technically speaking) on the holder. Now don't get me wrong I will and have paid big premiums for nice coins, but I want to determine what a coin is worth to me and not the services giving a bump for color and such. I do agree strike, luster and eye-appeal are all part of the Grade though.

The first coin I posted (41P) is in a 67 holder. IMO it does NOT meet the assigned grade as far as marks and strike. But I just don't see them looking like that anymore and the eye-appeal is unreal. Has nice luster. I did not pay any premium on this coin and it will probably go to my grave with me.

Now the 2nd coin (42D) I posted is in a 66 holder. Paid a hefty premium for it at the San Jose show. I gave it the evil eye to make sure it met the assigned grade and IMO it does. If it didn't I would not have paid what the guy wanted for it. Don't know if I'm making sense, but just trying to explain myself a bit.

puff · September 20, 2003 7:28AM

I agree with "Russ's" grading, though it's next to impossible to accurately grade coins from photos.

Unfortunately I don't know how to post photos of my Walkers, are I would have posted them with my current # 1 late date set. I specialize in collecting Walkers, and only collect Walkers that have "original" color with great eye appeal. I do have some killer Walkers in my set. But always looking to upgrade where it's possible.

I would "KILL" for "STEVES" Walkers!!!

Baley · September 23, 2003 11:31AM

Well, I cracked it out of the slab today, and it's a lot easier to take pictures of without the plastic!

Stuart · September 23, 2003 12:07PM

Baley: That's one beautiful walker! I wieght my personal coin grades on Strike, Luster, and resulting eye appeal. I am not as critical about bagmarks, probably because I'm primarily a Silver Dollar collector.

However, I think that Weinman's design is one of the most beautiful on any U.S Coin -- right up there with the St. Gaudens $20 and the Morgan Dollar.

Walking Lib experts, Grade the Walker on strike marks luster eye appeal

Comments

Leave a Comment