Satin Can Be Nice Too posted by Jackson

[CSJournals-migration]

I wanted the toner, but this is far from "settling"

 

Okay, so Stacks and Bowers continued in this recent Whitman Coin Expo in Baltimore to sell off the monstrous hoard of high grade, short set years, Walker Halves. The first 2 times they had parts of this hoard at auction I didn't see any of the 3 coins that can still be upgraded in my set. I did make the "lateral upgrade" of my 1942. I say lateral upgrade because, if you remeber, I purchased the same date in the same grade-I just switched for a more colorful and distinctively unique coin.

 

Well in this auction I saw a really unique and colorful 1945 ( one of the final 3 coins that I can afford to upgrade to MS67 from a 66). Most of these coins are selling below normal auction prices for MS67's. I figure with dozens of these high grade coins at auction at a time of the varying dates that the bidders for Ultr-high grade Walkers is thinned among the hoard.

 

Unfortunately it appears that a group of us all had our sights on this coin. The other 3 1945's all ended up selling between $750 to 800 but this one- which I was sure I'd win with a hefty bid of $1100 ended up getting a lot of action. I cut on the live bidding at work ( it was lunch time-don't get the wrong impression) and discovered my bid was already getting clobbered so I decided not to chase it.

 

I went back to the other 4 coins and 1 of them had a superior satin luster and very clear surfaces. Although I have grown to seek toners or coins with unique traits for my collection this one was very attractive--not to mention I'd actually be saving a few hundred dollars to boot!!

 

In the end I ended up winning my satiny prize at below normal FMV by quite a bit-and in hindsight I'm actually very glad for my set to have this example of a satin finished Walker so that the set displays the diversity in luster that this series encompasses.

 

On a side not: I also won a champagne and sky blueish 43-D so I got 2 of my final 3 upgrades. My last 3 upgrades for my set cost me a pretty penny and I actually have dropped 2 spaces in the rankings from #7 to #9. Once these 2 additions arrive and are then registered ( I always wait until I have the coin in hand to register them) I will jump all the way to number 6 !! I never dreamed that I could get my set up that high. This is one of the top 3 or 4 sets in popularity of design and to think that after all of these years that I am now solidly entrenched in the top ten is amazing to myself.

 

Anyhow, this is my satiny 1945--far from settling I am now re-visiting this coin over and over on-line to drink in its watery surfaces--

 

See more journals by Jackson

[coinsbygary]

Jackson

 

That coin is amazing, such luster and not a spot on it, practically perfect in every respect. I know once you get your coin in hand that you will spend lots of time just taking in the beauty. I know by just looking at the picture, that I have a hard time taking my eyes off your coin.

 

Congratulations, and all the best!

Gary

[Walkerfan]

Jackson--Thanks, for such a great story. That was a TRUE Journal entry writing, as they are intended to be and I really enjoyed reading it. I can see both satin AND brilliant characteristics in this coin and it would almost have to be seen, in hand, to get an honest view of the luster, which I'm sure is just amazing----that much I CAN tell by the images. It is sharp and crystal clear, as well. Is it a NGC or PCGS coin----I'm just wondering? Congrats to you!!

[RWB]

Nice coin! I picked up some half dollar proofs and a couple of doubled die 1946s in the bulk lots.

[jackson64]

Walkerfan, it's an NGC slab OH..and yes, I also noticed some of the flowlines toward the periphery fields as well as the satiny areas close to the central devices.

 

By the way, as a fellow Walker enthusiast maybe you can tell me if you know anything about something I noticed. The reverses of several of the 1945's appear to be either very weakly struck with edges of lettering and the wings just melting into the fields while others almost look like clashed dies..definitely some kind of striations in the upper L rev.

 

I'll post examples when I get a bit more time...

 

and congrats on the 46 double dies, RWB--I've been looking for a nice MS64/65 grade one for a while but haven't seen many higher grade ones come around. I want a nice example but at the same time I don't need one in rarefied grade either.

[Walkerfan]

Jackson--I haven't noticed any weakness on the reverse of 1945 P coins, at all, especially, at the MS 67 level. All the ones that I have encountered have been extremely bold in all areas of the reverse.

 

You have one heck of a coin. Two PCGS examples sold, most recently, a 67+ in 2011 for over 8000 and a 67 in 2004 for 4600. Although, those two are extreme examples, neither were as nice as your coin. Congrats again!! Superb gems are selling very low, recently, and you got yours for a good price it sounds like. I have thought about bidding on some, myself, too.

[mkman123]

is this a NGC coin or ? Its beautiful

[nunfa0]

Awesome looking coin Jackson, congrats!!