I've been looking to put together a proof set of 1939, 40, 41 or 1942 {one year only}. Decided to start on the half dollar but get out bid every time I try to buy one. The sets are not as popular as they once were. So if I keep trying, possibly sometime during the next 10 years I should snag one?
Dang it, I knew I shouldn’t have opened this thread, because now I have another thing I want to spend my coin money on! Very nice coins posted so far.
A well-detailed 1941 Walker. Most of these have missing detail in the flag, skirt, wing, and most famously, the initials.
Very nice '41 proof half. There is a price jump [for me] at PF-68 levels and higher: at least for the more common date Walkers. Thus I'm looking for something less expensive; particularly since I generally don't collect USA coins. I bid on occasional pieces at auctions: the majority always seem streaky or problematic. Also Heritage photos seem to portray PF Walkers as looking like regular business strikes. Great Collections have generally poorer, or more over-exposed photos of these, but they show mirror like surfaces. They always seem to realize higher prices.
I have seen a slabbed proof 1941 Walker where the dies were lapped so extensively that: - Liberty's outstretched hand was obliterated so that only the extreme tips of her fingers were visible. - Adolph Weinman's initials were gone (typical of this date for lapped dies). - The lower half of every letter in United States of America was completely gone. - The foliage in the tree branch to the left of the eagle was almost gone. - The feathers between the eagle's legs was gone. - The obverse rays were only about 60-70% there. And many other weaknesses. I kind of wish I had bought this one now, as an example of the most extreme die lapping I think I have ever seen. Hard to contemplate when you consider that Proofs were supposed to be produced for collectors as high-end examples of the type.