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Putting Together a PCGS MS65 Short Set of Walking Liberty
Halves
Putting together a short set of PCGS MS65 Walking Liberty
Half Dollars should give you a set you can be proud of, but will cost you much
more than a MS64 set (LINK HERE). Each coin will cost over $100 with many
costing several hundred and one coin going for over $1000. The good news though
is that each date has at least over 2000 PCGS MS65 examples and in fact most
dates in this grade have more certified examples than lower or higher grades.
The main differences between MS64 and MS65 will be strike. Coins in both grades
can have exceptional eye appeal, but the MS65 will have better strikes and
obviously very little scratches.
As with the other sets I have written about (LINK), we will
define the short set as 1941 through 1947, including all 3 mints. Some will
argue that a short set may include more dates, but that is the beauty of coin
collecting. You can define what you want to collect. The set that runs from
1941 through 1947 is convenient from the perspective that is contains 20 coins
and represents all the dates of Walking Liberty Halves from the decade of the
40s. (Technically, a decade starts with year 1, or 1941)
One thing you will notice right away from the chart below,
is that compared to mintages of today, the mintages Walking Liberty Halves are
quite low. And they are, especially for the D and S coins. But despite
having low mintages, putting together a set in MS65 condition is quite
feasible. A complete set might cost you $6,300, but it may even be easier to
obtain these coins in MS65 than a MS63 or MS64 set as there are far more
certified coins in MS64 and MS65 than in MS63. When I say easier, I do not mean
financially, but in availability.
When looking to complete this set, you might be tempted to
buy the coins you find first, which might typically be P coins. I would
instead encourage you to start looking for the tougher coins first. Similarly
to the MS63 set and MS64 set, but not quite, these would be 1941-S, 1942-D and
S, 1943-D and S and 1944-S. As you do this, you are likely to come across
better examples of the more common dates and you can then afford to be pickier.
Below is a chart for each coin in this series in MS65 and
my opinion as to the difficulty in obtaining each one, the estimated certified
PCGS population and what you might expect to pay for each coin. Oddly enough,
while this set will be more expensive to put together than an MS64 set, it may
not be any more time consuming than it would take to put together a MS64 set.
Far more examples exist in the middle grades (MS64 and MS65). Again, this set
will just be a more expensive to put together.
Good luck on your challenge on completing this set.
|
Date/Mint |
Mintage |
Notes |
Est |
Est |
|
|
|
|
Pop |
Cost |
|
1941 P |
24,207,412 |
In MS65, this coin is readily available and is the most common grade
certified. Look for bright coins with a good strike as survivors will
vary in quality. May have scratches but they should not be very
noticeable for this grade so look for high-end MS65 coins. |
Over 4500 examples have been certified. More than any other grade for
this date |
$160 |
|
1941 D |
11,248,400 |
In MS65, this coin is readily available. Look for bright, well struck
coins as most coins from Denver in this year are not well struck. May
have light scratches in this grade, so look for better examples of MS65
coins. |
Over 3300 examples have been certified by PCGS, more than any other
grade. |
$180 |
|
1941 S |
8,098,000 |
While not the lowest mintage of the series, the MS65 grade for this
date is the toughest and most expensive to get. Most, if not all coins
will be weakly struck, especially near the center of the obverse. Far
more examples exist in MS64 condition for this date. A true full strike
coin in this date may not exist. The weaker strikes have likely resulted
in the higher population in MS64 as MS65 candidate coins simply did not
make the grade. |
Only 2000 or so examples have been certified by PCGS. |
$1,025 |
|
1942 P |
47,839,120 |
This coin has the 2nd highest mintage in the short set, and
as such is readily available in MS65 condition. You can be picky as
there are plenty to go around. Most examples are nice, so be sure to
wait to get a good example as the price differential may be minimal. |
Over 6,000 examples in MS65 have been certified |
$160 |
|
1942 D |
10,973,800 |
In Mint State, including MS65, this is either around the 5th rarest of
the short set (There are several D and S coins that are around the
same certified population, give or take a few hundred). Still, it is
readily available. Many coins will exhibit weakness in the right hand,
skirt lines on the left thigh and head. |
Over 2,500 examples exist in MS65. About 700 more than MS64. |
$325 |
|
1942 S |
12,708,000 |
The 1942-S is very rare in high grades (MS66 and above), and in M65,
is the 2nd rarest of the shortest and the price you may have
to pay will reflect that. Coins in this grade will typically exhibit a
weak strike. Most, if not all examples will be flatly struck in the
center of the obverse. Libertys Head and eagles breast will be softly
struck. |
Over 2,100 examples to choose from |
$610 |
|
1943 P |
53,190,000 |
The 1943 is the highest mintage of the short set. While it has the
highest mintage, it comes in 2nd place for the number of MS65
certified examples, just like it did not MS64. When looking at coins in
this grade, there are many to choose from, so you can be picky and find
a well struck coin. |
Over 6,700 examples certified in MS65 slabs |
$150 |
|
1943 D |
11,346,000 |
Unlike MS64 graded coin for this year, there should be plenty of MS65
coins for those who need them. Pricing will be on the lower end of the
scale. |
Slightly under 2,900 examples of MS65 coins have been certified |
$295 |
|
1943 S |
13,450,000 |
In this grade, this coin is about as available as the 1944-S. Despite
a higher mintage for the S coin compared to the D examples for 1943,
S coins graded MS65 are less available. Like the 1942-S, it is
usually a weaker struck coin. |
Over 2,300 examples have been certified as MS65 by PCGS |
$460 |
|
1944 P |
28,206,000 |
As with other Philadelphia coins, this date has high mintage but is
not as available as you would think when compared to lower mintage
dates. Still there should be plenty to go around. Some coins will be
lightly struck so you may want to closely examine examples to find a
better struck coin. |
Over 3,900 examples have been certified by PCGS as MS65 |
$180 |
|
1944 D |
9,769,000 |
Here is another example where the MS65 population exceeds other grades
for this date and mint. And as such, the cost is reflective of its
availability. Despite less than 10 million coins minted, the certified
MS65 population is in the middle of the pack. Quality of strike will be
similar to the 1943-D, but sharp strikes can be found if you have the
time |
Around 3,700 examples have been certified by PCGS as MS65 |
$210 |
|
1944 S |
8,904,000 |
While only a less than a million difference in mintage compared to the
1944-D, the 1944-S is a much tougher coin to get in MS65. It will be
the 2nd or 3rd lowest certified examples for
MS65. Far more examples exist in MS64 than MS65 and above MS65 are
exceedingly scarce, like due to the typical weak strike. |
Nearly 2,360 examples have been certified. |
$575 |
|
1945 P |
31,502,000 |
Another plentiful P mint coin. This coin should be easily
obtainable in MS65. Bold and full strikes are available so do not
settle for the 1st MS65 you see |
Nearly 5,300 examples have been certified in MS65 condition |
$165 |
|
1945 D |
9,966,800 |
Despite a total mintage of only a 3rd of the 1945 P,
certified MS65 population is similar making this coin obtain. Unlike
other D coins before it, most examples of this date and mint should be
bold to full strikes. |
Over 5,200 examples have been certified as MS65 by PCGS |
$150 |
|
1945 S |
10,156,000 |
While total mintage is greater than its D counterpart, certified
MS65 examples are much lower. Almost 2000 examples fewer, but still
plenty available. Strike will be a little weaker. |
Over 3,360 certified examples |
$180 |
|
1946 P |
12,118,000 |
The 1946 P is the second lowest mintage of the P coins in the short
set. But that does not make it rare as its mintage is still higher than
many of the D and S coins. As such, examples should be readily
available. Coins will typically be boldly or fully struck. |
Over 3,200 examples have been certified by PCGS |
$200 |
|
1946 D |
2,151,000 |
Despite its low mintage compared to other dates/mints, and the fact
that it has the lowest mintage of the shortset, it has the highest total
of MS65 certified coins. This date has more examples certified than
almost all others in the short set. Odd. Many coins will have a soft
strike so hold out for better struck coins. |
Over 8,500 MS65 certified examples |
$150 |
|
1946 S |
3,724,000 |
Despite a lower mintage than many other S coins, and well lower than
P coins, it is the 4th most certified coin in MS65
condition. While not the worst struck coin in the series, most examples
will exhibit poor strike. |
Over 5,500 examples have been certified. |
$175 |
|
1947 P |
4,094,000 |
The lowest mintage of all Philadelphia coins in the set. The price
will reflect that as compared to other P coins. Unlike other P
coins, this one is typically not as well struck as other P coins. |
Over 3,200 examples have been certified in MS65 |
$275 |
|
1947 D |
3,900,600 |
Despite its lower mintage compared to the 1947 P, there are more
certified examples available in MS65 than the 1947 P. Enough examples
exist that finding a well struck MS65 should not be a problem. Strike
is better than the 1947 P counterpart and examples exist of well
struck coins. Expect to pay a little more for this coin than for others
of similar mintage. |
Over 4,200 examples have been certified in MS65 condition |
$165
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Total |
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Notes |
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Values are estimate retail prices and will vary according to market
conditions |
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Keith Scott has been a collector for over 30 years. His website has
US coins for sale. He also writes
Coin Collecting Articles for fun. Visit his websites for a history of US coins,
metal market updates and news about your favorite coins.
Want to discuss the Walking Liberty Half? Join the coin forum.
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