Thoughts on this 1934 Walking Liberty Half Dollar

Interested to hear what you think this would grade. Found hiding in a pretty decent album at the LCS (they've asked me to consign it for them.) In a "better than most I've seen", this coin was by far the nicest in the bunch. Once we hit 10 votes I'll reveal both my opinion and that of the LCS.

Thanks!

 

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If those photos are accurate, it looks like it is dripping with luster. The surfaces are very clean. I see no reason not to assign a premium gem grade. If you had included MS67 in the poll, I would have been tempted.

 

Well, I like the sound of that. What do you think about the area in the obverse fields between R and T of LIBERTY? And yes, I have it over a bucket because the luster is overflowing.

 

I wanna know what the person that voted 64 was thinking.
That's AT LEAST a 65 or 65+.

 

Just for fun, here is a 1946 S NGC MS65 to compare...​

 

MS66. Great pictures by the way!

 

Beautiful coin - gotta go MS 67!!
UGH MS 66 ? No

 

Walkers are so damn hard to grade!!!!

 

Okay, so thanks to everyone who has put their two cents in so far! Since we have over ten votes, I'll say that the owner of the LCS and I agree that it's at least a 65 with a good chance of a 66 (depending on what the grader ate for lunch that day.) I took a look at about twenty slabbed MS65's...and this coin was definitely a notch above them. Note: I'm not saying I've only seen 20 coins in my lifetime... Ha ha

So, since they would like me to consign this, do you all think it will have to be in a slab to sell for anywhere near 65/66 money? I'm of the opinion that it will...but the LCS doesn't want to "splurge" on the fees and decrease their profits. Do you think the photos are good enough for it to sell without a TPG opinion?

 

I think that is very reasonable. The coin is a strong 65 with a very real shot at 66, if your photos are accurate.

In order to get anywhere near 65 money, you will absolutely 100% need it in a TPG slab. Don't even think about 66 money without it. There is a very large jump in price from 64 to 65, and most collectors would not chance it (for a variety of reasons: they don't know how to grade, they aren't confident in their grading, they want an already-slabbed coin for their set, etc). Raw, you might get $200, if you are lucky. Slabbed, its more like a $400 (for a 65) or $600 (for a 66).

 

This is EXACTLY what I am telling the LCS owner. Just so you know...I agree with you on this...

 

Did they dip it by chance?

 

As far as I know, it has not been dipped. I haven't done anything to it but photograph it. Why?

 

I agree with your grade assessment 100%. It's well struck with just a touch of weakness on the stars near the arm. No serious hits on the skirt, clean fields, nice luster and toning (even looks like the eagle is wearing a little hat with that dark spot above his head). I don't see any evidence of dipping, either.

If it comes back 65, I'd just try CAC rather than resubmitting.

 

I think your pic needs just a tad more light, other than that, I'm being conservative at MS65.

Ehh, it doesn't look dipped...?

 

The brown toning looks very much like a coin that was heavily toned and then dipped. I've seen it several times... Not saying that is the case but that is what it reminds me of.

 

Eh, could be. But, if so, it looks like it was properly done. I see gobs of luster in those pics.

 

Matt, just for clarification, you are talking about the dark brown toning in the protected areas of the devices and lettering right? Not the light gold/tan toning that covers most of the coin. I think that you might be right, but as long as the luster is consistent with what the photo is showing, I don't think PCGS will punish the grade of the coin simply because it was dipped at one point, do you?

 

Even the tan... I think it's those micro pits you see with terminal toning.