According to Professional Numismatist David Hall, 1941 & 1942 proof Walking Liberty half dollars are considered type coins, though the 1941 is marginally the rarer of the two. There are quite a few Superb Gems known for each date. There are no known Cameo or Deep cameo 1941 proof half dollars though there are very small number of 1942 Cameos known.
Although a few satin proofs have been rumored to exist for 1916 and 1917, the first true Proof Walking Liberty Halves were struck in 1936. Proofs were struck at Philadelphia and sold individually or as part of a proof set.
Production increased for each year. The lowest mintage occurred for the 1936 Proof at 3,901 pieces, while the highest occurred for the 1942 at 21,120. Although these figures are extremely low when compared to the production for circulation strikes, proofs were purchased by collectors and dealers and retained within collections. This preserved a large portion of the mintage for future generations.
Striking characteristics are generally strong, with only minor weakness in select areas. More often detail is lost from excessive polishing of the dies, which can eliminate details such as Liberty’s hand and the rays of the sun. For 1940 and 1941, excessive polishing resulted in the the designer’s initials “AW” being removed from some. The “no AW” variety is believed to be scarcer, but not all collectors are aware of the varieties.
Hairlines are a persistent problem for these early proofs, often clearly visible because of the reflective fields. Pieces exhibiting cameo contrast are in the distinct minority and command a significant premium.
Негізгі бет 1941 Proof Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS PR 61
Пікірлер: 51