38d Walker

I am thinking Fine as well, probably not cost effective to have it graded.

At 490,000 minted, THATS a key date. That is NOT over rated. Just because some dealer has rolls of them doesn't make them any less a key or any less valuable. It just makes that dealer lucky to have them.

My local dealer that I buy from all the time has several rolls of unc 09S VDBs. Does that mean I can call them "so called keys"? I hardly think so.

Like I said, I like to have my key dates graded. Its not about the cost for me. So it is NOT a waste of money to get it graded. I see at least a dozen 32D quarters at every show I go to, but the G 04 I had graded was not a waste of money. And the grading fees are not that horrid for ANACS. Certainly not like those crooks at NGC and PCGS.

IMHO, over-rated more simply translates to over-priced. Most 20th century "keys" are plentiful in the marketplace; this, but for some notable exceptions like the 1901-S, 1913-S Barbers and 1916 SL quarters. These and some others are genuinely rare, KEYS.

Low mintage figures don't necessarily reflect a limited availability in the marketplace. As a guy who attends many coin shows and has followed the coin market for forty years, I can attest to the abundance of 1938-D's now laying dormant in dealer stock. If the price of silver drops, I expect that the price of the 1938-D's will rise. Why? The telemarketers and bigger dealers will then, once again, drive it up as they assemble thousands of sets for their promotions.

A prime example of how low mintage does not make a "key" coin is the 1926-S nickel. It's the only regular issue Buffalo that's under a million made - lowest of the entire series. Check out the price guides on this coin! In higher grades with full horns, this is a far more difficult coin to obtain than the lower grade 1909-S VDB's that are hyped to more than twice the value of a VF 1926-S nickel.

Getting back to the 1938-D half, that coin has repeatedly been hyped by telemarketers over the years as the key coin in the second Walker album, the later years. My observation has long been this particular coin is often over-rated, over-priced in comparison to other so-called key coins. It pays to shop around for this date, as there are $20-$40 swings in the prices which dealers are now asking.

AND/OR someone that just pretends to have something he wishes he had. When I hear that type of fable, I just ask to see them or it.
Now back to playing with my Uncirculated roll of 1894S Liberty Head Dimes.
I keep it right next to my Uncirculated Roll of 1943 Copper Cents.

nod, it does not make them less valuable. Those 18 rolls are part of the only 490,000 minted. As I said, that dealer just happens to be lucky to have those rolls.

I dont give two shakes what some telemarketer says or does. They do not define a key date. Mintage numbers define the key dates. At what point did I say that it being a key date made it an uber valuable coin? I didn't. I wasn't talking about how much the coin was worth. I have been doing this a long time as well. I am aware that you can get 38Ds fairly easily. Not as cheap as you are saying, at least not at any show I have gone to. But maybe you have found better deals than I have. Who cares? NOT at all the discussion going on.

As I said, I can go out and get as many 09S VDB's uncirculated as I could manage to pay for. All at one place in a little over 20 minutes. That fact does not make them any less a key date. For that matter I could also grab 2 85CC Morgans in AU ( I have drooled over those two several times) and an 89 CC that pushes AU (drooling does not describe it) if I had the money. Easy to get my hands on. I have also seen both of those on a regular basis at shows. I guess because they are readily available they arent real keys then. For that matter I can get every last coin you have mentioned at the same time and place. The only thing stopping me is that I am not a millionaire.

Oh, and as to the wasting of money grading it.... WE FOUND IT. I paid .50 for it. I hardly think spending another 20 bucks to slab it is a waste of money. That makes my total investment in the coin 20.50.

To ME, for MY purposes and wants, yes, slabbing it is worth the money to ME. As I have said from the start thats what *I* like to do with my key coins. And as I paid 50 cents for that 90 dollar coin, I am pretty sure 20 bucks to slab it and certify it is genuine is not a waste in MY opinion.

I think having $20 in a coin that is worth $90+ or more dollars and you purchased it for 50 cents. Would you like to double your money? Triple your money? Once you get it back from ANACS, remember I offered.

So, you entomb this "found" coin in plastic. Are you worried it's not real? Or worried that someone else might not think it's real?