Walker Key Dates

Original skin and grades are a few more reasons for the price differences. The early dates (1916-1933) that have the right color and grade will go for more than book value. The strike of the Walker also plays a big part for me, I like a full head and hand with split between finger & thumb and a nice looking eagle's breast. This makes some other dates Keys for me like the 35D, 40S and the 41S and I will pay more to get a great strike.

ebay is not that bad if you know what your looking for....

And that is the key. But each day here is a learning experience, and that's not a bad thing.

Here's a perfect example of what I'm talking about:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1919-D-Walking-...ne_W0QQitemZ300223884051QQihZ020QQcategoryZ41100QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This coin grades good and is severely scratched, yet the seller describes it as a fine. The bidders recognize this and the coin sells for $12.50, not much above bullion at today's silver prices. I found one today in better condition than this for $8 in a coin shop.

The 1919-D is a semi key date, yet survival of all of the walkers is high in low grades. When you look through the population reports, they're scarce and expensive only in the uncirculated grades. I'd argue that the low mintage "rarities" are overpriced in the low grades - especially the 1938-D - because the survival is high. Yet you still have a lot of people competing for them because it is a set that everyone can complete. The situation is similar for the 1921 and 1928 Peace dollars. Big money buys an ugly and not very rare coin.

You can look at any of the key dates on ebay and find plenty, in grades claimed to be as high as VF-XF, but in reality most are F or lower, or with major problems. As you've noted, it's hard to find 1916-1921 above F. The last semi-key VF walker I picked up was from Harlan Berk - a no-problems 1923S in VF20 - but in general Berk's early walkers are G to F. Brian Greer gets some - I recall seeing high grade 1916's and 1919's on his site recently. You might try combing through Allens' list, too, but as I recall there was no high quality early material there. I haven't checked Dick Osburn's walkers - if anybody has the high quality stuff it will be him - but don't expect it to be at ebay prices. One last thought is to hit the coin shows if you have anything near you.

I've seen a lot more of the 1938-D's in VF-XF and problem-free, mostly in coin shops. For a while it seemed like everyone had 5 or 6 of them. One dealer that had over a dozen was in Downey CA. I dickered a VF out for under $100 a year ago.

Here you go. They had the stock a year ago, hope they still do.

Southern California Coin & Stamps
(562) 927-4014
7635 Firestone Blvd, Downey, CA 90241

Just for the heck of it I checked out the sites above. The prize is an AU 1921-D at Allen's - if you have $3375. And Dick Osburn doesn't carry walkers.

I like his refund terms read them* . but the only post mark is when you ship it not when you get it stay away from fool like that! 15% restocking fee?