what a strange odyssey

I hope that my collecting friend "Electric Peak" forgives my play on his title. I also attended the Baltimore Show this weekend (Saturday) yet my story starts a few days prior to that.

You see, about a week ago, while browsing a few more of the obscure coin sites on my "Favorites" page--I came across a 1939-S Walker graded MS67 that really caught my eye. The price was substantial for my modest collecting habits so I thought I'd solicit some opinions from other collectors. I posted images from the website on the NGC Chat Boards to see if others also thought it was solid for the grade. The majority guessed the grade as it was posted on the slab so I decided to pull the trigger....and this is where the Mis-Adventure begins...

When I went back to the website to seize my prize--it was listed as SOLD...ugh !! I had hesitated and lost, however the story does not end there. So off I go on Saturday morning to the Baltimore/Whitman Coin Expo. I decided to take with me one blank check and $500 cash. Well I walked from table after table on the bourse, casually glancing at the Walkers in the cases. Most were actually in lower collector grades than I was looking for but each time I'd see one that I needed for a slot and in the grade I want to fill that slot with I would ask to see it...

I patiently and methodically continued on...keeping in my mind the 2-3 possibilities that I may go back and take another look at. All the while I was determined to search each dealer's case before I jumped on anything ( after all, I had only brought one check). Well the best laid plans as they say......I came across a beautifully golden-toned and supremely struck 1940 MS67. The coin has a bold thumb, full trailing leg feathers on the reverse, seperated face/hair/cap lines..and nary a contact mark to be seen...seriously, I'm very conservative with my Walker grading and even I could see this coin in an MS68 holder...I flipped it over and the price was actually VERY fair...I asked the dealer how firm the price was and he quoted me another price $125 less than the sticker...I asked him if he'd take a check !! And so the deal was done--yet the story was not over !

My newest prize tucked safely away, I figured I'd walk around and check out some circulated but slabbed Barber Halves for my Fine to Very Fine grade set ( after all, I still had my cash). Well about another 10 tables down I came across the dealer who had previously listed on his webpage the 1939-S I had wanted. It turns out that the coin was not actually SOLD at all...grrrrr...he had removed it from the webpage in order to bring it to the show and prevent the chance of double selling it.

I mentioned to him that I was about to pull the trigger on the purchase when I discovered that it was not for sale anymore--well we exchanged numbers and I hope to contact him when he returns home from Baltimore and negotiate a deal on the 39-S..but as of now it has been very discombobulat5ed..and all my own fault because I mistrusted my own eye and sought others opinions....

So once again I learn the same lesson again...collect what you like and even if you pay a few extra bucks it is worth it if you'll love the coin. And conversely, I shouldn't buy a coin I don't like even if the price is cheap...

But, it wasn't a total loss...I may still end up with my 39-S and I got a 1940 that I will treasure for as long as I own it...

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