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Putting Together a PCGS MS66 Short Set of Walking Liberty
Halves
We have explored putting together sets
of Mint State (MS) Walking Liberty Halves in MS63, MS64 and
MS65. Putting together any of those sets are achievable and
within most budgets. But if you want some real GEMS and
want a spectacular set, then a MS66 set can be a good
challenge. Going higher to MS67 will be next to impossible
as several dates have certified populations less than 10.
But in MS66, each coin has at least several hundred
available. Completing this set should give you an excellent
set of coins that you can be truly proud of. Of course that
pride will cost you. The lowest cost coin will run around
$275 and the highest cost coin will be around $1,800. These
are without PCGS + designations.
Unlike some of the lower MS coins, each coin in this range,
with a few exceptions, should have great strike, great eye appeal and will be
problem free. Otherwise they would not be MS66. As always though, buy the
coin, not the holder. You may very well find non worthy MS66 coins in MS66
holders.
As with the other sets I have written about (MS63,
MS64 and
MS65) 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)
As mentioned in other articles, mintages of Walking Liberty
Halves for this set are quite low compared to mintages of today. This is
especially true for the D and S coins. But despite having low mintages,
putting together a set in MS66 condition is quite feasible, with time and
patience. Some of the coins may not come available for months. A complete set
might cost you nearly $10,000. That is a lot of money for 20 half dollar coins.
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. These would
be 1941-S, 1942-S and 1944-S. Each of these has a population report of less
than 400 examples. The 1943-S has less than 500 examples in PCGS certified
condition so it could be almost as tough to get. As you look for the tougher
coins, you are likely to come across better examples of the more common dates
and you can then afford to be pickier. The collectors who are holding on to the
MS66 coins are probably collectors not looking to sell so this is a set you will
not complete in a short order of time.
Below is a chart for each coin in this series in MS66 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.
Good luck on your challenge on completing this set.
|
Date/Mint |
Mintage |
Notes |
Est |
Est |
|
|
|
|
Pop |
Cost |
|
1941 P |
24,207,412 |
In MS66, this coin is readily available and is the 2nd most
common grade certified. Look for bright coins with a good strike as
survivors will vary in quality. With many examples available, you can
afford to wait and be picky. |
Over 2500 examples have been certified. 2nd most of any
other grade for this date |
$275 |
|
1941 D |
11,248,400 |
In MS66, this coin has over 1,300 examples. Not quite as many as the
1941-P, but enough to go around. Look for bright, well struck coins as
most coins from Denver in this year are not well struck. |
Over 1300 examples have been certified by PCGS. |
$275 |
|
1941 S |
8,098,000 |
While not the lowest mintage of the series, the MS66 grade for this
date is the 2nd lowest in terms of total certified population
at MS66. It is also the most expensive. 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 and MS66 candidate coins simply
did not make the grade. If you find a nice example in an auction,
bidding could bring the cost well over the listed retail as a +
certified coin retails for over $2,850. You have to believe there are
some MS66 coins that will get the + cert. |
Only 370 or so examples have been certified by PCGS. |
$1,800 |
|
1942 P |
47,839,120 |
This coin has the 2nd highest mintage in the short set, and
as such is readily available in MS66 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 2,300 examples in MS66 have been certified |
$260 |
|
1942 D |
10,973,800 |
In Mint State, including MS66, this is around the 5th rarest of the
short set. Still, it is readily available. Many coins will exhibit
weakness in the right hand, skirt lines on the left thigh and head. |
Fewer than 1,000 examples exist in MS66. |
$400 |
|
1942 S |
12,708,000 |
The 1942-S is very rare in high grades (MS66 and above). In MS66, it
is the coin with the lowest certified MS66 population. Not as expensive
as the 1941-S, but not cheap either. 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. |
Only 325 coins have been certified at this grade. |
$1,100 |
|
1943 P |
53,190,000 |
The 1943 is the highest mintage of the short set. While it has the
highest mintage, it comes in 3rd place for the number of MS66 certified
examples. When looking at coins in this grade, there are many to choose
from, so you can be picky and find a well struck coin. |
Nearly 2,700 coins have been certified as MS66 |
$260 |
|
1943 D |
11,346,000 |
There was considerable strike variation for this year. Be sure to
select a coin that has a better than average strike. |
Around 1,450 examples of MS66 coins have been certified |
$300 |
|
1943 S |
13,450,000 |
In this grade, this coin has the 4th lowest certified PCGS
population. Despite a higher mintage for the S coin compared to the
D examples for 1943, S coins graded MS66 are less available. Like
the 1942-S, it is usually a weaker struck coin, especially near the
center. |
Over 470 examples have been certified as MS66 by PCGS |
$700 |
|
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 1,000 examples have been certified by PCGS as MS66 |
$285 |
|
1944 D |
9,769,000 |
Despite less than 10 million coins minted, the certified MS66
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 1,500 examples have been certified by PCGS as MS66 |
$285 |
|
1944 S |
8,904,000 |
While only less than a million difference in mintage compared to the
1944-D, the 1944-S is a much tougher coin to get in MS66. It will be
the 2nd or 3rd lowest certified examples for
MS66. Far more examples exist in MS64 than MS65 and above MS65 are
exceedingly scarce, like due to the typical weak strike. |
As of this writing, only 342 Walking Liberty Halves with the 1944-S
date have been certified PCGS MS66 |
$1000 |
|
1945 P |
31,502,000 |
Another plentiful P mint coin. This coin should be easily
obtainable in MS66. Bold and full strikes are available so do not
settle for the 1st MS66 you see. |
Nearly 1,400 examples have been certified in MS66 condition |
$275 |
|
1945 D |
9,966,800 |
Despite a total mintage of only 1/3 of the 1945 P, certified MS66
population is actually more than the 1944 P making this coin easy to
obtain. Unlike other D coins before it, most examples of this date
and mint should be bold to full strikes. |
Over 1,700 examples have been certified as MS66 by PCGS |
$275 |
|
1945 S |
10,156,000 |
While total mintage is greater than its D counterpart, certified
MS66 examples are much lower. Around 1000 examples fewer, while more
available than its S counterparts, this coin could still be a tough
one to fine. Strike will be a little weaker. |
Over 730 coins have been certified as MS66 for this year and mint |
$500 |
|
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 slightly
more available that the D and S coins. Coins will typically be
boldly or fully struck. |
Over 840 examples have been certified by PCGS |
$400 |
|
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 a high total of
MS66 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 1,400 MS66 certified examples have been graded |
$260 |
|
1946 S |
3,724,000 |
Despite a lower mintage than many other S coins, and well lower than
P coins, it has a healthy population of MS66 certified coins,
relatively speaking. While not the worst struck coin in the series, most
examples will exhibit poor strike. |
Over 1,400 examples have been certified. |
$325 |
|
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 860 examples have been certified in MS66 |
$425 |
|
1947 D |
3,900,600 |
Despite its lower mintage compared to the 1947 P, there are more
certified examples available in MS66 than the 1947 P, but not by that
many. Enough examples exist that finding a well struck MS66 should not
be a problem. Strike is better than the 1947 P counterpart and
examples exist of well struck coins. |
Over 900 examples have been certified in MS66 condition |
$350 |
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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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