So hopefully everyone reading this knows what I am talking about when I say WOW Coins. This coin is a perfect example of a TRUE WOW! Coin and UNDERVALUED (but in no way can I afford): This is the only example of the Walking Liberty Half that has a fully defined left hand and a fully detailed face...absolutely stunning This jewel is a proof 1916 Walking Liberty half dollar (J-1994) of which only two others are known. One is impounded in the Smithsonian and the other is a circulated example whose whereabouts are unknown. This example (a rarity 8) is graded PR64 by NGC and is pedigreed to the Lemus collection where it realized $115,000.00 in January 2009 at Heritage Auctions. This specimen is in a wonderful state of preservation with opaque caramel hues over silvery lustrous surfaces that adorn both the obverse and reverse. The strike is crisp and bold with no marks worthy of mention. At first glance this trial piece appears to be quite similar to the production issue of 1916, but the obverse date is smaller and grouped tighter together. The obverse 'LIBERTY' lettering is setback further from the rim and the designer's monogram, AW, is missing from the reverse. Further scrutiny reveals heavier typeset on the obverse lettering and serif variances for the numerals that make up the date. Provenance: King Farouk "Palace Collection" (Sotheby's, 2/1954); William Mitkoff (4/1974); James Bennett Pryor; Congressman Jimmy Hayes Collection (Stack's, 10/1985), lot 69; The Lemus Collection (Heritage, 1/2009), lot 1964.
I mostly deal with heavily circulated 90% coinage, sadly, sometimes I forget how visually stunning these pieces are in more perfect examples. They don't make 'em like they used to.
What a beautiful coin. I totally agree that this coin is undervalued. I mean according to what you said this is the only uncirculated 1916 proof available to collectors. Also, it is one of the most beloved, if not the most, designs of all US coinage. I'm really surprised this didn't go for more than the 115K.
Of course we'd all love to own such a coin, but it is not realistic for the vast majority of us. I'd much sooner spend $3,000 for the PCGS MS65 certification #15431579 in the CoinFacts photo gallery . . . while not a proof, the strike on that coin would be a far better value.
Toughcoins: I agree with you. For most collectors a $3000 piece will always provide more value as the above piece is simply not affordable to the vast majority of collectors (myself included). That being said I still think that in terms of ABSOLUTE VALUE the R8 PR-64 1916 Walker Specimen is currently being offered for a mere $135,000, a great price. I think bsowa1029 hit the nail on the head... I mean I dont think you could really find a more perfect and/or rare (absolute terms) artifact of 20th century Americana, the Walking Liberty Half was prehaps one of the most beloved and "vintage" American coin designs extant. We are talking about a coin that is essentially unique, and a design that is so wonderfully and perfectly "American." @ $135,000 I would say there is plenty of room for this coin to realize and blossom into its real identity as a real important piece of American Numismatics.
Exceptionally cool? You bet. Undervalued? I don't know about that. This coin has been on the market for quite a while with no takers and it has been marketed aggressively. That tells me that the larger market doesn't think it is a value that should be snapped up immediately. The fact that it is a pattern instead of a regular issue coin likely reduces the pool of potential buyers and, thus, the demand. I'm not slamming the piece at all as I think it is great history and am not writing anything negative about the seller, whom I know well, because they are a great company with which to work. You may also want to give a reference to the extensive use of cut-and-paste text in the first post.
Good point Tom, I wasnt sure if posting a link was Kosher but I am going to anyway: http://www.pinnacle-rarities.com/in...king-liberty-pattern-j-1994-50c-ngc-pr64.html
To moderators . . . The above post from guzuuxonvz sure looks like unrelated gibberish, baiting happy clickers to venture into the unknown, and potentially unsecure. Might you consider removal for the safety of all concerned?
Funny how I went to the link and noticed I have an account there. I bought a $350 coin off them a few months ago and I felt like I was in a penny ante poker game compared to the rest of their products. They treated me well considering I am not their normal client profile.
ToughCOINS: Seriously??? Please see TomB's post directly above mine. He correctly suggested that I ".... may also want to give a reference to the extensive use of cut-and-paste text in the first post." Which, is why I proceeded to simply post the direct URL link to the original information regarding the coin that I make reference to. I am in no way associated with Pinnicle and am not attempting to "bait happy clickers to venture into the unknown, and potentially unsecure."
Agreed. There was no doubt a spammer post in between ours that was removed upon notification of the moderators. No one else in this thread made any spam posts.
Well it really could be called a pattern and the coin is available as a business strike, not so sure about it being undervalued.
Please don't take offense WierdFishes . . . if you read my post more carefully, I referenced a post from "guzuuxonvz", and not from you. You assumed I referenced your post because it now immediately preceeds mine, however the Moderators did remove the post by guzuuxonvz, which is theone I wrote about. Yours was previously two before mine. - Mike
These guys crop up from time to time. The best thing to do is just don't respond to them...but click the "report" button on the post. We get a message and will take care of it.
my apologies everyone, especially toughCOINS.... Thank you to all Mods for being ontop of this forum and removing SPAM posts with incredible speed. ... I must go now and take my foot out of my mouth.
No offense taken . . . you shouldn't have to deal with both the feelings of guilt AND the aftertaste.
