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A BIG day to celebrate!!
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Started by Walkerfan,

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Walkerfan

Walkerfan

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The most important day for me as a Walker collector has arrived.

The 16 YEAR enterprise has been realized.

Well, I never thought that this day would ever come but I have, FINALLY, completed my Full (1916-1947) Walker set!!

This saga began in the summer of 2005, when we were all quite a bit younger and I was MUCH more driven and fearless!! LOL I had a couple of inactive years but decided to totally commit, in Fall 2009. So much did I learn along the way. The hours, days and years spent on this series. Searching and researching. Studying and comparing. All the while never giving up. It feels soooo GOOD to have reached my goal. I can FINALLY kick back and relax, now.

The last piece of the puzzle and the rarest coin in the ENTIRE series.....The fabled 1921-S, has been added. It is an NGC XF 45, so it is not a mint state example like the rest of my set. HOWEVER, I feel that this piece matches well, in quality, with the rest of my set and, more importantly, it is solid for its assigned grade. I may or may not try to upgrade it to AU or even MS, because at this point, I really like this coin.

I was underbidder on THREE 1921-S coins before this one: A PCGS MS 62 from the famous Western Reserve set, a PCGS AU 58 CAC and a PCGS AU 55 (this one wound up in the #1 NGC set). All went for money that shot WELL BEYOND THE MOON and, at least, TWO of these set new price records.....

When I saw this piece, it spoke to me, almost immediately. It has, IMHO, great detail and separation, no rim dings, with smooth, original, gray surfaces and also traces of mint luster with no spots or deep abrasions. So, after examining it, as quickly and thoroughly as possible, I jumped on it, as I really didn’t think I would find one that would please me more, anytime soon. Sooooo FEW of these ever trade hands, as they are FAR rarer in XF/AU than in MS and MANY are of very POOR quality. NGC Census is just 27/152. I did an archive search on both Heritage and Great Collections and there’s almost nothing like this. The one or two that did sell are not quite as nice as my coin. I am pleased as punch with this example. To me, It looks like the old XFs, of yesteryear---before gradeflation was rampant.

I ended up in the #8 spot, at NGC, which I feel is rather respectable. Especially, given the growth and resurgence of the NGC Registry, in the past couple of years. There have been a TON of new sets created, in that time period. I should be #7, as Big Tex is a phantom set that was sold off years and years ago (September 2006), but that is inconsequential to me.

Thanks, and I can't wait to hear your thoughts!!

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Edited by Walkerfan
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Tarmack

Tarmack

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I love US half dollar coins and the Walking Liberty coins are easily my favorite. I have a lowly 1933 to 1947 ungraded set which are mostly MS with a few AU and it is my favorite collection. I really loved looking at your set. Your 1936D and 1937D coins are amazing - I don't know if it is just extra good photography of those two coins, but those are the nicest strikes I've ever seen on a Walking Liberty and those are hard to find dates - very nice! Congratulations on finishing your set - beautiful!

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RWB

RWB

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Congratulations on completing a very difficult set!

It might be of interest that on Dec 7, 1922 30,000 new haves were transferred from SF to St. Louis, 50,000 new halves from Denver to Boston, and 100,000 new halves from Denver to New York. With no new halves made in 1922 it is likely these coins were either 1920 or 1921 date pieces. If dated 1921 it means that Denver transferred 2/3 of its total mintage to Boston and NYC -- where they almost certainly entered holiday circulation. [RG50 E-89A Vol 1. "Transfers of gold, silver and minor coins."

Here's the Denver Cashier's statement showing the transfers ($75,000). I don't have the SF statements.

321918205_PagesfromE-330Box6Folder2of4.thumb.jpg.a25def221408ec4c93a5303761dd7d3f.jpg

Edited by RWB
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Walkerfan

Walkerfan

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On 12/14/2021 at 3:42 PM, RWB said:

Congratulations on completing a very difficult set!

It might be of interest that on Dec 7, 1922 30,000 new haves were transferred from SF to St. Louis, 50,000 new halves from Denver to Boston, and 100,000 new halves from Denver to New York. With no new halves made in 1922 it is likely these coins were either 1920 or 1921 date pieces. If dated 1921 it means that Denver transferred 2/3 of its total mintage to Boston and NYC -- where they almost certainly entered holiday circulation. [RG50 E-89A Vol 1. "Transfers of gold, silver and minor coins."

Thank You!!  And, yes, that is an extremely interesting piece of information!!  (thumbsu  

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Henri Charriere

Henri Charriere

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Congratulations 🎊 

I learned two new terms: "phantom" sets, and "holiday" circulation.

Interesting observation re phantoms.  However did you find that out? 🤔  To date, nobody, and I mean nobody, has ever formally inquired as to whether me or my collection exists.  Honor system, I guess.  Well done Walkerfan. Very well done!   🐓 

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RWB

RWB

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On 12/14/2021 at 7:48 PM, Quintus Arrius said:

and "holiday" circulation.

During holiday season-- December through the first week of January -- there was large demand for bright, new coins, and $1, $2.50, $3 and $5 gold for gifts and just for overall "brightness" of the season. Holiday gold largely was paid back into Treasury by mid-January to mid-February. The silver tended to stay in circulation. Up to about WW-I in the US, New Year was the real gift-giving time, and Christmas was family, feast, and faith time. Advertising changed all that, so Christmas is about greed and New Year is the party that the Solstice used to be.

Edited by RWB
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RWB

RWB

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On 12/14/2021 at 3:55 PM, Walkerfan said:

Thank You!!  And, yes, that is an extremely interesting piece of information!!  (thumbsu  

Once NARA gets back to business, I'll see if the 1921-S Cashier's reports are available. The things are a wealth of detailed information about what was produced and in stock.

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Walkerfan

Walkerfan

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On 12/14/2021 at 7:48 PM, Quintus Arrius said:

Interesting observation re phantoms.  However did you find that out? 🤔  

It was a very high profile set. #1 at one point, IIRC.  When it was sold, the auction house marketed the name, so it was not to hard to figure out.  I do a lot of research, so I notice these things.    

Edited by Walkerfan
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Henri Charriere

Henri Charriere

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[Is it just me or does anyone else get that uncanny feeling that @RWB is speaking not from research but personal experience? Either way, he looks great for a guy that's a hundred nineteen years old.]  😉 

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Hoghead515

Hoghead515

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Congratulations on your set!!! That is very cool. I cant wait to feel the joy of what it feels like to complete a set. Are you planning on starting on a different denomination now?  Maybe a smaller and easier one or maybe even another challenging set? Im very happy for you my friend. Would love to see that set. Is it posted in the registry?

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Mohawk

Mohawk

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Congrats, Walkerfan!! That's quite an accomplishment and it has to be a wonderful feeling!  Like my good friend Hog, I'm curious about what you'll do next......any ideas on what your next project may be?

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Mohawk

Mohawk

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On 12/14/2021 at 8:06 PM, RWB said:

New Year is the party that the Solstice used to be.

It still is a party for some of us.....typically some of us for whom Christmas isn't a party :wink:

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Henri Charriere

Henri Charriere

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On 12/18/2021 at 4:14 PM, Walkerfan said:

.... No specific plans, right now.  

If your experience mirrors mine, don't be surprised if you're besieged by collectors for any outgraded coins you may still have including a few dealers masquerading as individuals looking for inventory to sell. I turned down one considerate collector who had something I didn't have, a 66+, because I felt the availability of a 67 was inevitable.  I was wrong then and I am wrong now. No one here on NGC has a '13 🐓 in 67, for one reason only: not because it's uncommon (it isn't) but because none have been submitted.

Your series is exponentially more complicated than mine. And, frankly, your stick-to-it-if-ness shows you have the stuff, the mettle needed of those who see things through to completion. Great accomplishment!!!  🐓 

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