Owner Comments:
Total Graded: 189927
Total Prooflike: 4 + 2*
Percentage: 0.0026%
Prooflike Walkers are astoundingly rare, as evidenced by the incredibly low percentage slabbed. The design of the coin generally prevents the fields and devices from being polished properly, to the extent needed to achieve the gorgeous mirrors of prooflike coinage. This is why there have only been 4 graded for the entire series – and as expected for this era, all of them are S mint coins from the 40’s.
The 1943D Walker is one of the highest D mint mintages of the 1940’s, but it also has one of the highest premiums of coins of this era. It generally comes well struck, and is usually overall is a well made coin. My present example misses the full PL designation just by a hair, hence the * awarded. This coin is the only D mint of the series (and one of the only D mint coins of the entire era) with prooflike surfaces. The strike is incredibly strong, the fields and devices smooth and flawless, and it is just a few small tick marks on the Lady Liberty’s thigh that prevent this coin from a 67. Yes, this coin is that nice. I fully believe that it should be a 66. While it exhibits some die polish, it is nowhere near the extent of the San Fran prooflikes. The obverse especially has the most amazing textured surfaces I’ve ever seen. They are beautiful!
I also have a 1940S walker graded 63* which exhibits strong prooflike surfaces, although again not quite enough to garner the full PL designation. This one possesses the characteristic strong die polish. I bought it in an ACG 65PL holder (fully expecting a point or two downgrade), and when I submitted it to NGC the guy working in the receiving department called me and tried to talk me out of submitting it. He said the coin had been harshly cleaned with a brillo pad, and was quite concerned that I was not going to accept a details holder. I told him I knew what I was doing, and sure enough the coin came back with a star! Oh, if only it had gotten the coveted PL!