Options
Franklin Half Instructional Series #1: 1948P Half Dollar.
FC57Coins
Posts: 9,140 ✭
In an effort to contribute something of numismatic value to the boards, I’ve decided to start a series of posts on the subject I know best, the Franklin Half Dollar. Each week (hopefully) I will add an excerpt on one of the coins of the series, and hopefully those of you who are interested in Franklins will add your own observations and pictures. By the end of the series we should wind up with a pretty comprehensive study of the Franklin series, along with some nice pictures as well. And who knows, maybe some other folks will do the same for other series!
Much of what I've learned in this series comes from "An Analysis of Gem Franklins" by Jack Ehrmanntraut and from "The Complete Guide of Franklin Half Dollars" by Rick Tomaska - both of these tomes are must reads for Franklin collectors. I hope I can add a few tidbits of my own - if there's any point of contention as to references I'll be more than glad to clarify
1948P
Born in the spring of 1948, the 1948P half made its debut in Philadelphia at a gala event held by mint director Nellie Tayloe Ross. Generally found well struck and with Full Bell Lines, this issue is one of the few that was stored away by collectors in some significant numbers due to it being the first issue of the series.
Current population numbers from PCGS read as follows:
MS63 and lower - 188 in non FBL and 73 in FBL
MS64 - 586 in non FBL and 886 in FBL
MS65 - 313 in non FBL and 923 in FBL
MS66 - 7 in non FBL and 147 in FBL
MS67 - 1 in FBL
As can be seen, approximately two thirds of the population has been graded FBL. Many of the ones not graded FBL are probably due to distortions on the bell line due to contact marks.
This date is generally found with typical brown/gold mint set toning which may or may not be appealing to the collector, depending on the toning pattern and the amount of toning. White pieces are difficult to locate, and if you can find one in MS65FBL or above you should certainly consider buying it. Monster toned Franklins with extremely vibrant mint set toning of blues, reds, greens, and golds, are known to exist but are extremely difficult to find and extremely expensive. You’ll want to look for a nice clean piece with no distracting marks on Franklin’s face, on the field immediately in front of and behind the bust, or on the bell.
Prices for MS64FBL coins will range in the $35-$50 range depending on eye appeal. MS65FBL’s can range from $100-$250, again depending on whether these are toned with an appealing pattern or white. MS66FBL pieces are tougher to find, but not prohibitive, and will generally start from $350 for the typically toned pieces, to $600 and up for white pieces and attractively toned pieces which are very difficult to find.
Generally speaking PCGS graded pieces will offer the best overall quality of grade, but look carefully at the bell lines, as you will want to find those pieces which have fully formed upper and lower bell lines. PCGS only grades FBL coins based on the bottom set of bell lines and therefore some pieces may exhibit weakness on the top set of bell lines. NGC grades tougher on the bell lines, but sometimes their grading standard will be between ½ and 1 point below an equally graded PCGS coin. ANACS Franklins are generally on a par with NGC coins, and again you’ll want to judge the overall eye appeal and technical quality of the coins. Coins graded by third tier grading services (SEGS, PCI, NTC, etc.) should not be judged by the grade on their slab and should be evaluated on the coin’s merit as if it were a raw piece.
1948P Franklin Half from the Birmingham Collection PCGSMS66FBL
Much of what I've learned in this series comes from "An Analysis of Gem Franklins" by Jack Ehrmanntraut and from "The Complete Guide of Franklin Half Dollars" by Rick Tomaska - both of these tomes are must reads for Franklin collectors. I hope I can add a few tidbits of my own - if there's any point of contention as to references I'll be more than glad to clarify
1948P
Born in the spring of 1948, the 1948P half made its debut in Philadelphia at a gala event held by mint director Nellie Tayloe Ross. Generally found well struck and with Full Bell Lines, this issue is one of the few that was stored away by collectors in some significant numbers due to it being the first issue of the series.
Current population numbers from PCGS read as follows:
MS63 and lower - 188 in non FBL and 73 in FBL
MS64 - 586 in non FBL and 886 in FBL
MS65 - 313 in non FBL and 923 in FBL
MS66 - 7 in non FBL and 147 in FBL
MS67 - 1 in FBL
As can be seen, approximately two thirds of the population has been graded FBL. Many of the ones not graded FBL are probably due to distortions on the bell line due to contact marks.
This date is generally found with typical brown/gold mint set toning which may or may not be appealing to the collector, depending on the toning pattern and the amount of toning. White pieces are difficult to locate, and if you can find one in MS65FBL or above you should certainly consider buying it. Monster toned Franklins with extremely vibrant mint set toning of blues, reds, greens, and golds, are known to exist but are extremely difficult to find and extremely expensive. You’ll want to look for a nice clean piece with no distracting marks on Franklin’s face, on the field immediately in front of and behind the bust, or on the bell.
Prices for MS64FBL coins will range in the $35-$50 range depending on eye appeal. MS65FBL’s can range from $100-$250, again depending on whether these are toned with an appealing pattern or white. MS66FBL pieces are tougher to find, but not prohibitive, and will generally start from $350 for the typically toned pieces, to $600 and up for white pieces and attractively toned pieces which are very difficult to find.
Generally speaking PCGS graded pieces will offer the best overall quality of grade, but look carefully at the bell lines, as you will want to find those pieces which have fully formed upper and lower bell lines. PCGS only grades FBL coins based on the bottom set of bell lines and therefore some pieces may exhibit weakness on the top set of bell lines. NGC grades tougher on the bell lines, but sometimes their grading standard will be between ½ and 1 point below an equally graded PCGS coin. ANACS Franklins are generally on a par with NGC coins, and again you’ll want to judge the overall eye appeal and technical quality of the coins. Coins graded by third tier grading services (SEGS, PCI, NTC, etc.) should not be judged by the grade on their slab and should be evaluated on the coin’s merit as if it were a raw piece.
1948P Franklin Half from the Birmingham Collection PCGSMS66FBL
0
Comments
Very well done! I learned quite a bit and look forward to future issues!
Bytheway - I want to thank 1Jester here on the forum for giving me the idea for this. He's done a really great series on dark side coins and in looking at that series of postings I got the idea for this.
Frank
As Frank stated, FBL is the Rule in 48 as these was the first year of issue and the Master Dies were Pristine.
MS64 coins will be baggy.... Expect to find hits in the fields and also the devices, enough distractions to keep them from GEM status... Extremely baggy coins will probably be ms62-63 city.
ms65 coins will still have some hits but obviously fewer then a coin in a 4 holder. However, GEM 65's tend to have clean fields and can/do have hits on the devices. Also, nice luster will help achieve GEM status........
ms66 coins still may have some hits, and even on the bell lines. Hits on the lines are acceptable to PCGs as long as they are small, non-distracting and not really breaking the line. People think that ms66's should look flawless... Some do, but thats not the case for a coin in a 6 holder.... Remember, a flawless GEM should be a ms70, and to date no Franklin has ever graded higher then a 7 holder...... Some of the things that will carry a Franklin into a six holder is pretty toning, strong luster, great eye appeal.... I'll tell you, I've sent in technical ms66's with ugly drab toning and they came back a five... I've seen 6's with as many hits as a GEM 5 but they have Luster/toning/eye appeal to carry the coin into the next grade holder..... If you find a Rainbowed coin with relatively few distractions, you have a winner....
ms67 coins usually have SUPERB Toning, and one can expect to find some crazy colors in this grade...... Rainbows really help, a 7 coin it is going to be very hard to find distractions, but once again, the tinest of hits may be found as this still isnt a ms70. From what I have owned and seen, I don't know if a brilliant Frankin in a 7 holder exists. They all have some Monster toning with a strong luster that gives these Ultra GEMs a certian look.... A PCGs look....
my 48 ms66fbl:
In a 48, it is typical to find all 7 Bell Lines fully struck.
More white coins can be found in GEM as more came from rolls as opposed to later issues which came very baggy in rolls.
THE 48's in mint sets seem to tone pretty colors as opposed to say the 55 mint sets were for some reason these tend to
tone a ugly dark heavy color.....
Superior Toning, Eye appeal and strong luster can give you a bump in grade.
PCGs Graders do not like hazy cloudy coins, (even though some are already in GEM holders), trust me on that one, I have many grades from raw coins to prove this......
PCGs also does not like dark coins with little luster......
"Senorita HepKitty"
"I want a real cool Kitty from Hepcat City, to stay in step with me" - Bill Carter
09/07/2006
"Senorita HepKitty"
"I want a real cool Kitty from Hepcat City, to stay in step with me" - Bill Carter
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
Few of these were pulled out of circulation because of the high face value
and that they were considered common. This date though did get more at-
tention than most of the Franklins and some went in and out of circulation.
They can be found as nice XF's in bags.
I thank the little Pug for starting what should be a most interesting and enlightning
series. While I have Ehrmanntrauts excellent book, your up to date observations and
opinions will make a most rewarding reading.
Camelot
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
o.k. the image could be better, work with me here!
Madmonk... I love your 1948-p, it is gorgeous.
Frank"
Goodness, Frank....
I think your idea to do this series is fantastic. What insight! What beautiful coins too! Who knows, I might get one one day!!!
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." -Luke 11:9
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." -Deut. 6:4-5
"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us." -Isaiah 33:22
One comment on the NGC and PCGS pop reports for FBL. These grading services did not begin designating FBL until about '96 or so (???). Some of the earlier graded coins have not been resubmitted for an FBL check, while others have likely been cracked out or crossed over, and the tags not turned in to allow the grading services to correct the pop reports. While I do turn in the tags from my crackouts and crossovers, it may take months or longer for me to do so. I only turn them in when I am at a show that PCGS, etc. is at (i.e., I don't mail them in). I suspect not every one even bothers to turn there old tags in. Therefore, the ratio of FBLs to non-FBLs for many dates is liklely higher than the Pop reports indicate.
Lucy, that is a nice '48 66FBL. I wonder where that coin is headed...
Here's my 48-P A PCGS MS66FBL
Ike Specialist
Finest Toned Ike I've Ever Seen, been looking since 1986
"The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD GOD Almighty."
(Next to the 49-S that now resides in the smoking pug collection).
This one is a PCGS MS66FBL with really light rainbow toning and awesome luster. I love the 48-P because of all the sharp detail on the new dies.
Capped Bust Half Series
Capped Bust Half Dime Series
Capped Bust Half Series
Capped Bust Half Dime Series
<< <i>In an effort to contribute something of numismatic value to the boards, I’ve decided to start a series of posts on the subject I know best, the Franklin Half Dollar. Each week (hopefully) I will add an excerpt on one of the coins of the series, and hopefully those of you who are interested in Franklins will add your own observations and pictures. By the end of the series we should wind up with a pretty comprehensive study of the Franklin series, along with some nice pictures as well. And who knows, maybe some other folks will do the same for other series!
Much of what I've learned in this series comes from "An Analysis of Gem Franklins" by Jack Ehrmanntraut and from "The Complete Guide of Franklin Half Dollars" by Rick Tomaska - both of these tomes are must reads for Franklin collectors. I hope I can add a few tidbits of my own - if there's any point of contention as to references I'll be more than glad to clarify
1948P
Born in the spring of 1948, the 1948P half made its debut in Philadelphia at a gala event held by mint director Nellie Tayloe Ross. Generally found well struck and with Full Bell Lines, this issue is one of the few that was stored away by collectors in some significant numbers due to it being the first issue of the series.
Current population numbers from PCGS read as follows:
MS63 and lower - 188 in non FBL and 73 in FBL
MS64 - 586 in non FBL and 886 in FBL
MS65 - 313 in non FBL and 923 in FBL
MS66 - 7 in non FBL and 147 in FBL
MS67 - 1 in FBL
As can be seen, approximately two thirds of the population has been graded FBL. Many of the ones not graded FBL are probably due to distortions on the bell line due to contact marks.
This date is generally found with typical brown/gold mint set toning which may or may not be appealing to the collector, depending on the toning pattern and the amount of toning. White pieces are difficult to locate, and if you can find one in MS65FBL or above you should certainly consider buying it. Monster toned Franklins with extremely vibrant mint set toning of blues, reds, greens, and golds, are known to exist but are extremely difficult to find and extremely expensive. You’ll want to look for a nice clean piece with no distracting marks on Franklin’s face, on the field immediately in front of and behind the bust, or on the bell.
Prices for MS64FBL coins will range in the $35-$50 range depending on eye appeal. MS65FBL’s can range from $100-$250, again depending on whether these are toned with an appealing pattern or white. MS66FBL pieces are tougher to find, but not prohibitive, and will generally start from $350 for the typically toned pieces, to $600 and up for white pieces and attractively toned pieces which are very difficult to find.
Generally speaking PCGS graded pieces will offer the best overall quality of grade, but look carefully at the bell lines, as you will want to find those pieces which have fully formed upper and lower bell lines. PCGS only grades FBL coins based on the bottom set of bell lines and therefore some pieces may exhibit weakness on the top set of bell lines. NGC grades tougher on the bell lines, but sometimes their grading standard will be between ½ and 1 point below an equally graded PCGS coin. ANACS Franklins are generally on a par with NGC coins, and again you’ll want to judge the overall eye appeal and technical quality of the coins. Coins graded by third tier grading services (SEGS, PCI, NTC, etc.) should not be judged by the grade on their slab and should be evaluated on the coin’s merit as if it were a raw piece.
1948P Franklin Half from the Birmingham Collection PCGSMS66FBL
Frank's instructional posts on the Franklin Half series was but one way he shared his gifts with us. To keep Frank's posts going, and to respond to requests from a few of the Franklin Fanatics on the boards, I am going to post pics of my toned coins from my #1 set to Frank's series of posts.
The first is the 48-P. As Frank pointed out, many of the toned coins come brown and yellow out of the mint sets, usually with drab luster. Avoid these coins if you can, because with some frequency they are found with reds, orange, and greens, and many times with slightly mottled toning. Look for as much eveness in the toning as possible, the 48s with color can also come a bit blotchy.
P.S. The coin picture of the obverse is accurate. I take pictures with my Nikon Coolpix. I hit the Auto Adjust button on the software, which usually makes a slight adjustment to brightness and contrast. Other than that, I do not adjust the picture.
https://www.ebay.com/mys/active
gosh I still miss my little Pug something terrible...
"Senorita HepKitty"
"I want a real cool Kitty from Hepcat City, to stay in step with me" - Bill Carter
Here's a decent one in my current collection. I showed it earlier, but thought it would be nice to keep a few nice images grouped together. Gotta like green and orange.
Please post the 1955's somebody
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
Found this post doing a little Sunday night research for my mint collection.
I'm bumping it just because.
Here's one Frank would like...
Currently Listed: Nothing
Take Care, Dave