Hey Folks, Happy Father's Day to many of you! Here's a NEWP that I wanted to share. Feel free to throw out a grade, it is raw. My only concern is the eagle's body and breast region. Is that weak strike or wear? All of my MS65 Walkers have more contact marks but better strike on the breast feathers. Also, this coin has very nice sparkling luster with great contrast from the fields. Well, those are my thoughts, let me know yours.
The FOX book about WL Halves states that 1943-S halves are generally poorly struck. That's what I'm seeing. Without the coin in hand I can't tell if there's wear on the high points.
I understand your point. I also read that the 43 S was often poorly struck. Would there be any indication that those are weak spots? I don't see luster breaks, just the little ticks on the the skirt, which I see on my MS65 examples. According to Greysheet, this is a better date for later dates.
Nice walker but I see what you mean about the weak strike on the eagle's feathers. As for a grade I would say (based on the pics) maybe a range of MS-63 to 64
Almost all S mint coins in the 40's show weakness in strike like yours. High point rub is really hard to define in images but I am not seeing the usual break in luster down the front of Liberty seen on most AU coins. I will show images of my AU58 with the shadow line down the front of liberty indicating a lightly worn surface. This second one is a MS66 and shows what I consider one of the better strikes for this date. Note that the hand detail and the Eagles breast and leg are filled much better. BTW for those that care the price difference in the two is about 18x. Clicking on the image gives full screen view.
Great post. I agree with you completely, and you provide great support. Looking at my coin, I can't find a luster break. I think there is only one heavy hit, on the left forearm. The AU example you posted has visible contact marks throughout the surfaces and the slight wear is noticeable, but acceptable and attractive as an AU coin. Are these your coins, they are both beautiful. I am considering sending mine in, but only under a CT consensus that it is MS. I think it would go 64 with a shot at 65, but I have the benefit of seeing it in hand.
Interesting. I would think an average-higher grade AU, considering the amount of "wear" on Liberty's body and on the reverse Eagle's breast/leg. However, after hearing that it is a weak strike, I would then consider it a mid-MS grade (63-65).
creme - Look at your pic of the obv fully blown up. Now look closely at at the neck and head. See how the surface of the high points is somewhat flattened but has a texture to it, how it's kind of rough. That flat, but textured surface is a diagnostic of a weak strike. Same thing is true on the rest of the coin's high points. But if those areas were flat and smooth, instead of textured and rough, then that would be a sign of wear. Look at the same area of the head and neck on LindeDad's AU, blow the pics up all the way. You'll see 3 small hits on the jaw line, but the rest is flat and smooth - a sign of wear. On your coin I see no wear whatsoever. However, grade wise there are more hits than you think, especially on the rev. The rev also has 2 light scratches, and there is a patch of hairlines on the obv. Regarding quality of strike, yes the '43-S is known for being weakly struck. But your coin is even more weakly struck than usual. And based on your pics I would say the luster is somewhat muted. Thus I would grade your coin no higher than 63.
I would not send it in as single coin submission but if you get a group of ten or so coins going economy might be worth the extra value put into it.
