Final piece to the middle date Walker puzzle

Finished my Walker middle date set.

Just before the end of 2016; I had finished my Walker short set (1941-1947), which was not a very easy task, but it was the least difficult of the three segments (Early Walkers-1916-1933, Middle Walkers-1934-1940 and Short Set Walkers-1941-1947) that the Walker series is broken up into. Now, I have finished the next tier up---my Middle date Walker set, which I believe does not get nearly enough credit. The S minted coins of 1934-1940 are all VERY challenging to find nice and are only getting MUCH more difficult to locate and are a good investment, imho. Prices have really come down a lot, since 2005-2008, but despite that, the coins themselves are still relatively pricey and are only getting much more scarce and more difficult to find nice, imho. Much more so, than they were 10 years ago, and much more so than current price levels would indicate. People truly underestimate the difficulty and availability, of the middle date Walkers, and they shouldn't, as they are VERY challenging and rare and tough to find well produced with original skin. Finding one with both is truly rare.

The very last coin that I needed for the Middle Date set was somewhat of an irony----It was the 1936-S. I used to correspond with a veteran, fellow Walker collector who liked all original coins and he searched for many years before finding a nice 1936-S coin for his Walker set, which was the last coin that he needed for the 65 coin full Walker set, as he demanded only original pieces. It turned out to be the last coin that I was searching for to complete my middles dates, as well, which I found peculiar, hence the irony here. So, when I saw this original, sharply impressed 1936-S coin with full thumb and stem lines on the obverse, full eagle's feathers on the reverse & CAC-stickered.....I just had to have it to complete my middle dates! Also, I thought of my old friend....

The only issue that I see is the left-leg (center) skirtlines of Miss Liberty, on the obverse, are not fully struck up and it has some chatter, up the center of that leg, but everything else about the coin is just lovely and the surfaces are very smooth and all original. Although the toning is not richly colorful; I would still call it rather attractive. It is an original, mostly white, lightly speckle toned and not 'mottled' toned coin, of which I feel the latter is a negative connotation. That discoloration on the breast is likely not rub, either---I'm guessing it is as produced and a lightly toned anomaly. The luster is great, too. This coin fits my eclectic set very well, as it is unique and well-produced, which is kind of the theme of my set. I have learned that I had better pick up original Walkers, when I can, and I have also grown to appreciate their distinctive beauty and scarcity.

Sir John Albanese likes this coin, too, as it is green stickered. This is an instance where I feel that CAC is really useful to me. It reassures me that the coin is likely original and has no rub (which I will be able to tell, when I scope it with the loupe), as there are likely no luster breaks or friction areas given the images, the location of the toned area and the condition of the rest of the coin. This is also my 16th CAC stickered coin. However, that is just a statistical, yet irrelevant, fact, as my set was started before CAC's inception, so most of my coins have never even been seen by CAC.

Now, I am also 95.38% complete with my entire mint state Walker Full set (1916-1947) and, of course, 100% done with my short and middle date Walker sets.  I have chosen all gems and premium gems for my 19 coin middle date set. Of the six 'S minted' coins, which are the rarest and most expensive, half (3 coins) are MS 66 premium gems and the rest (3 coins) are MS 65 gems. The Philly coins are all MS 66 premium gems, except for one that is a MS 65 gem (the 1935-P, in an OGH), that I feel would surely grade MS 66, today, if resubmitted, but I am leaving it be, as I like the OGH and the price difference is not worth it to me. The Denver coins are all MS 65 gems with just one MS 66 premium gem (the 1939-D, in an old NGC fatty)---also under graded, imho.

Just three early Walkers to go and I'll fulfill a lifelong ambition. This has been a nearly 12 year journey, in the making, for me. Nearly nine years, of which, I have been actively building this set. I laughed, when I was told from the onset, that it takes about a decade to build a quality full MS Walker set. Well, I'm certainly not laughing, anymore, as I'm finding this to be painstakingly TRUE! I think that you really have to love this series to dedicate this much patience, time and effort to it, which I do. When I am finally done; I am going to just sit back and RELAX and enjoy. WHEW! What a ride it has been up to this point!

Cheers to all!!

WF