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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,242 |
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Valued Member
United States
193 Posts |
I'm very interested in beginning a collection of Walking Liberty half dollars and am looking for some of the best references to use in the accumulation and grading of these coins. I'm currently comparing uncirculated Silver Eagles as a reference point for the obverse view to judge AU and MS coins but am not sure of the reverse or what to look for in less than AU specimens. Is there a book that would point me to exactly what to look for in each state and how to approach the grading? I don't know whether to start with a suspected grade and then downgrade or start with a suspected lower grade and then attempt to upgrade. Are there photo guide that would be very explicit to a beginner? Thanks Edited by jewellge
12/26/2008 2:32 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1179 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
I suggest that you pick up a copy of the "Photograde Coin Grading Guide". It will give you photos and textual guidance for Walkers (and most other issues) in grades AU-50 to AG-3.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
812 Posts |
Welcome to the forum! If there is one grading guide for U. S. coins that is the "standard," it would be 'The Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards for United States coins' by Kenneth Bressett. Another guide I like that has excellent pictures of coins in various grades is 'Making The Grade' by Beth Deisher. Amazon will have both of these, and I'm sure they can be purchased many other places. They both cover Walking Liberty halves nicely (though the latter has more and bigger pictures). Edited by Bilbo
12/26/2008 1:27 pm
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Valued Member
United States
402 Posts |
The Walker books - The top two are hard to find but do come up for sale on ebay sometimes. The 2nd one by Bruce Fox is a must have for a Walker Stalker.  And the newest  |
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Valued Member
United States
270 Posts |
I agree with 50cents. I have the 2nd one! also go to coin shows the old timers will help you, I did that a meny few years ago(10) and I still buy coins from the guy who spent 10 min with me!
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Valued Member
United States
402 Posts |
My favorite XF Walker image.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3342 Posts |
I like Making the Grade the best, but the photos are not sharp enough. They're good in a general way, but I have difficulty distinguishing an F15 from a VF30. I'd suggest looking at lots of graded specimens in the Heritage Auctions archive, which have much higher magnification. Also bear in mind that coins from the teens do not grade the same as the rest of the series, due to the weakness of the skirt lines.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1882 Posts |
Wow, the Fox book goes for $179 used on Amazon. I'd love to have a peek at that book. |
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Valued Member
United States
270 Posts |
Has that coin been cleaned? why are the sun rays so weak?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4541 Posts |
Quote:
Has that coin been cleaned? why are the sun rays so weak? My guess is if it had been cleaned you would know b/c it would be scratched up and that coin does not look scratched up! |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,242 |
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Posted 12/26/2008 1:19 pm
