1918 S Grimmy Walker - Advice Needed & Grade?

captainkurt · January 15, 2012 5:04AM

Hello Everyone!

Been reading you all for over a year now and finally decided to join in...well ask for your insight I sould say.

I have this 1918 s Walker that is really grimmy. I have asked other forums if it should be dipped and most advise that it would not be advisable. I also have no experience in dipping a coin so I could not do it anyway. I am getting really close to a financial situation where I will need to unload a large portion of my collection and I am getting it cataloged to do so. I guess I want to know what I should do to maximise the value of this coin hidden under all that grime. What say the experts here? Does anyone like the look of this coin? Can anyone give a grade or value? Thank you so much! -Kurt

sorry about the links - still trying to figure out the navigation on this board and where is the spell checker?

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/2672/20110310obv.jpg

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/766/20110310rev.jpg

TomB · January 15, 2012 5:07AM

Howdy and welcome. I believe you would be mighty foolish to dip that coin. It appears AU and, if dipped, you will have not only an odd looking coin, but it might be tremendously ugly. If you are not pleased with its look then you may do well to sell the coin and buy one that you like better.

comma · January 15, 2012 5:07AM

I wouldn't dip it...it has a nice original look. Either way, it's not worth a ton of money...but IMO dipping it would definitely take the value down.
For posting pictures host them on en external site like photobucket.
And I don't know of any forums that have spell-checkers...your browser should underline misspelled words in red.

magikbilly · January 15, 2012 5:07AM

Hi and welcome,

I don't see anything in need of a dip.

Best,
Eric

BAJJERFAN · January 15, 2012 5:19AM

One man's grimmer is another man's glimmer.

LanLord · January 15, 2012 5:21AM

<< <i>

>>

If this is the coin in question, do not dip that. I like it as is. JMHO

captainkurt · January 15, 2012 5:32AM

I am so glad everyone says not to dip this coin! I'm guessing everyone will say to just leave it be, but what about an acetone bath? Is there anything that would help the look at all? Am I the only one who is not thrilled with all that grime?

JupitarCoins · January 15, 2012 5:33AM

Welcome to the forum.

Yukoncornelius1 · January 15, 2012 5:47AM

That coin has character, it is a fairly high grade for a 1918-S walker plus it had original skin on it!
Most higher grade walkers have been dipped and have a washed out look to them which IMHO is not attractive, you could try acetone and a quick rinse in distilled water but I doubt it would change the look that much.

LanLord · January 15, 2012 5:54AM

<< <i>I am so glad everyone says not to dip this coin! I'm guessing everyone will say to just leave it be, but what about an acetone bath? Is there anything that would help the look at all? Am I the only one who is not thrilled with all that grime? >>

I can't tell for sure, but none of that looks like organic grime, it looks like aging and colour on the metal. Acetone won't change that, if it is organic grime, acetone will removed it, but you may find what's beneath is not what you wanted either.

DennisH · January 15, 2012 5:55AM

That Walker is gorgeous. Try to put together a complete set that looks anywhere close to as nice and it will drive you mad.

magikbilly · January 15, 2012 5:55AM

Hi again CaptainKurt,

what don't you like about this appearance? It seems many here like it; what do you not like and why? Grime, tarnish, tone, crust and dirt - good words to elucidate!

Best,
Eric

yellowjacket · January 15, 2012 5:57AM

Welcome to the boards! I'm with the rest...don't dip this original coin. Those buyers interested will see that it is well-struck for a notoriously weak-struck date/mm. What are your plans for liquidation?

Garrow

captainkurt · January 15, 2012 6:01AM

Thanks for all the welcomes! I guess I need to get over the idea that 'something needs to be done' to this coin. Maybe I will just have to spend some time and get some really great pictures to try and maximise the value hidden within - or should I send it to be graded? I really do not want to sell it but as I said I think I will be forced to sell soon so I really need to maximise what I can get for each item or I may just have to sell everything I have! Which would not be good given the silver prices these days.

Plans for liquidation : well, I see there is a BST forum here soooo.... and I think some other sites have some too soooo.... LOL! I will try and place things in the right collector forums to avoid the Ebay thing, but I am sure most stuff will end up on the Bay.
- First, I will try and sell the things that are not tied too tightly to silver spot and hope my financial situation improves by summer (if not then I hope spot will inmrove by summer) So, I think my proof set run from 1954 - present will be the first to go. Then, my wheats will end up heading for the block (mostly lower grade pre-1930's with some MS - 20's). Then the, oh goodness, I hope it doesnt have to get there... my grandfathers buffs. (a few nice ones but not too much value there), then my really nice mercury's, oh man this is killing me just thinking about it... I can't go any further.

Unknown · January 15, 2012 6:04AM

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BBN · January 15, 2012 6:26AM

Nothing looks worse than a non MS coin that's been dipped. A worn coin, even slightly worn AU58, looks horrible without original skin. Not to mention any hairlines or flaws would be exposed in a dipping.

Broadstruck · January 15, 2012 6:30AM

Adjusting the white balance of the white marble tile I guess it looks close to like this in hand

ricko · January 15, 2012 6:36AM

Welcome aboard captainkurt....Cheers, RickO

captainkurt · January 15, 2012 7:50AM

Can anyone give me an idea of grade and if I would get the grading fees back out of it if I were to send it in? Thanx again

coinkat · January 15, 2012 7:57AM

Well, it is a minimum of AU and likely toward the high end. It is not possible to offer an opinion on a grade with any degree of accuracy based on the images. It is even possible the coin is MS- I do not think dipping will get you the result you expect-

Justlooking · January 15, 2012 7:59AM

DO NOT DIP! Many (if not most) serious collectors like originality. Crusty ... it's a word to live by.

captainkurt · February 15, 2012 10:21AM

So I decided to do an acetone bath. I have posted before and after photos. What do you think?

Before

After

thatoneguy · February 15, 2012 10:33AM

I would've left it the way it was...:/

Walkerguy21D · February 15, 2012 10:39AM

Looks like it got smaller - how long did you leave it in there!?

Seriously, can't really tell much difference, although maybe a tad more luster is now peeking through.

relicsncoins · February 15, 2012 10:40AM

I think it was prudent to do an acetone dip. It only removes organic contamination including PVC and will not remove "real" toning. The first set of photos from January had a greenish look to them which may well have been PVC.

TomB · February 15, 2012 2:31PM

Most folks likely would not care or might think there is a slight improvement, but my thoughts are that it was better before the acetone. If it were offered to me as a sale, you would have lost money by your actions.

DIMEMAN · February 15, 2012 2:56PM

It also turned it into an 1918-D according to b4 and after pics.

MFH · February 15, 2012 2:59PM

For an old man, Jon, your eye sight is fantastic !!

Amazing what an acetone bath will do.

DIMEMAN · February 15, 2012 3:02PM

If you look real close at the b4 pic you can see the S and D.

Why would anyone want to change an 18-D to an 18-S....when the D is worth 3 times the amount!!??

Turns out that bath was a good idea.

captainkurt · February 15, 2012 9:47PM

Here are some better after pictures. The right wing shows the most improvement from the acetone bath. The link shows the before and after photos a little better.

http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=111018#943060

secondrepublic · February 15, 2012 10:28PM

don't play with this coin. you're not adding any value and are more likely detracting from it.

shorecoll · February 16, 2012 1:43AM

I think if you had listed it on the BST in it's original state at a reasonable AU price, it would have sold in 10 minutes, now it will likely still sell quickly, but I wouldn't do anything else to it or you are risking losing a lot of it's value.