1953 D Bugs bunny Variety, how much is it really worth

Aspie_Rocco

I have access to what appears to be a 53 D bugs bunny half in ms66fbl at a local coin shop. I see CoinFacts placing a high value on it since current finest is 65fbl valued at over $2k, but is this a realistic price range someone would actually pay?
I cannot decide to cherry pick this or not, as asking price is $600

Advice or ideas?

Hydrant

Last year I decided to put together a Franklin date set .No proofs, no toners. Everything in ms. Didn't know anything about the series. Just something to do. The first coin I bought was a nice raw ms-something 1955-P. Didn't really look at it all that much at the time I bought it. Didn't pay too much, around $25 probably. Anyway, it was the Bugs Bunny. Does it qualify as a cherry pick? I don't think so. Just beginners luck.

BuffaloIronTail

Wasn't the original "Bugs Bunny" variety a 1955-P Frankie?

Pete

JBK

No idea on value but I'd like to hear how it ends.

Paradisefound

Gentlemen ...... may I see it please?

santinidollar

The 1955 P is the best known bugs but there are other dates — how many I don’t know. The 55 is common.

Aspie_Rocco

Bad pics warning.

Aspie_Rocco

There are bugs bunny varieties for almost each year of the Franklin series. The 53 D seems to be the highest valued. There are proofs with the bugs bunny variety also.

koynekwest

@BuffaloIronTail said:
Wasn't the original "Bugs Bunny" variety a 1955-P Frankie?

Pete

Indeed it was!

georgiacop50

It would be a gamble Rocco. PCGS has inadvertently created artificial added value for the FS-401 53-D by changing the way they classified them some years ago.

Originally the was no FS-402 variety. You would get the FS 401 Bugs variety for sure THEN.

But when the latest CPG edition was published with all that FS-401/FS 402 nonsense, suddenly nearly all (if not all) 53-D clashes were then given the FS 402 instead of FS 401. So the hat trick here is getting the BUGs BUNNY FS 401 label, as they are far more popular and valuable than the FS 402 labeled coin even though they are actually all the same for the most part.
If you study the Coinfacts images you will see that....same clash but different FS#'s assigned.

If your coin has teeth emanating from the nostril it will get FS 402. IF and that is a big IF, you have found one that shows teeth emanating from upper lip instead of nostril, in theory it should get an FS-401.

But with PCGS being so radically inconsistent with variety attributions these days it would STILL be a gamble even if it had teeth from lip.

I hope this isn't too confusing!

Aspie_Rocco

Rolling the dice today. A few times...come on dice!

https://media1.tenor.com/images/8edd152d7a3e4f278d81856f61b80425/tenor.gif?itemid=12316795

Wabbit2313

@Aspie_Rocco said:
current finest is 65fbl valued at over $2k, but is this a realistic price range someone would actually pay?

No, but I would pay $600 in a heart beat, if you are positive it is Bugs. Looking at the images you posted, the last thing I would guess is that it is even a coin, much less a specific variety!!

Aspie_Rocco

Well I put up the money, I will find out when I get a chance to pick it up. I have not have much luck with Franklins lately. I have successfully picked 5 out of 9 attempts recently. I found 2 misplaced D, a 54 Bugs and 2 55 Bugs. All the fails were 1962 Proof D.
I found a 52 fbl Bugs and some others but have not pulled the trigger for cost to value ratio.

georgiacop50

BTW is the coin toned or white. Just curious. Either way there will be a strong buyer IF it gets FS-401

Aspie_Rocco

Toner, which makes identifying difficult

tyler267

Good luck, no risk no reward, good job in finding the opportunity

ricko

It may be the picture/angle...but I do not see that as a 'bugs bunny' Franklin.... Cheers, RickO

KollectorKing

@ricko said:
It may be the picture/angle...but I do not see that as a 'bugs bunny' Franklin.... Cheers, RickO

I agree, not BB

I think I’ll go roll hunting my junk silver frankies to see if I can find one.

AUandAG

I don't see it either....but old tired eyes often miss stuff.

good luck,
bob

RogerB

Now....if you had an "Elmer Fudd" on the same coin as "Bugs Bunny," then you;d really have a neat coin!

Wabbit2313

I don't see it either. Here are a couple of examples of what they look like:

.

KollectorKing

???

Aspie_Rocco

@KollectorKing said:

???

Does it have boogers hanging out of the nose?

KollectorKing

@Aspie_Rocco said:

@KollectorKing said:

???

Does it have boogers hanging out of the nose?

👎

KollectorKing

Booger nose?

Aspie_Rocco

@Wabbit2313 said:
I don't see it either. Here are a couple of examples of what they look like:

.

What Wabbit said. I wonder does @Wabbit2313 collect the Bugs Bunny varieties 🤔

291fifth

$600? ...

georgiacop50

@Wabbit2313 said:
I don't see it either. Here are a couple of examples of what they look like:

.

I would wager that if submitted today these would not be called Bugs at PCGS, but rather FS-402s

Aspie_Rocco

Ok. So, for basic research I have now viewed over 200 images of the 53 D, studied the all the coin facts images, and this is what I have come up with... there is a common line going along bottom of the throat and into the neck on most attributed examples.
There are die polish lines along with the boogers in the corner. Several attributed confirmed varieties have an almost invisible corner nose booger at some angles.

Aspie_Rocco

And I picked a few off eBay just now, to compare with the 66. Two raw and two Pcgs lower graded examples.

Knell

I got this Franklin Bugs Bunny back in 2014. My photos are not that clear but using a 30x loupe, it looks more like a vampire Franklin than a Bugs Bunny. Should I submit for grading or keep it raw since obvious milk spotting are visible with the naked eye? Thanks for any comments.

Thanks for viewing.

Aspie_Rocco

@Knell
It is up to you. The 1955 can be picked for $30-50 in a Pcgs slab graded ms64 to ms65 and reholder with attribution for another $30. Attribution is $18, reholder is $12 raw grading is $22. Plus shipping, handling and other fees add about $30ish more for a single coin order.
I picked a 55 ms65 for $35 and had it attributed. You can buy one attributed for about $50 or more.
I describe them as vampire 🧛🏻‍♂️ Coins in general also. Here is one I just got shipped

georgiacop50

@Aspie_Rocco said:
Ok. So, for basic research I have now viewed over 200 images of the 53 D, studied the all the coin facts images, and this is what I have come up with... there is a common line going along bottom of the throat and into the neck on most attributed examples.
There are die polish lines along with the boogers in the corner. Several attributed confirmed varieties have an almost invisible corner nose booger at some angles.

Yep. The lines you are referring to along the throat are from a die clash. They correspond to the edge of the Bell. Then the die was polished in order to remove some of the clash remnants.

Aspie_Rocco

@georgiacop50 does this mean I picked (ms66) a 401 or 402?
Oh the anxiety! This must be how gamblers feel.

georgiacop50

Like I said above, odds are very high it will 402. And that is if they attribute it at all. They are so wishy-washy in the attribution department that you just never know what they will do. A sad situation indeed for the worlds top TPG.

Aspie_Rocco

i believe I did it

Aspie_Rocco

This 66fbl is an EXACT MATCH to all the FBL bugs on CoinFacts. Unless CoinFacts is wrong, I picked the 53 D MS66FBL

@georgiacop50 ?

georgiacop50

Unfortunately being an exact match to the coins illustrated on CoinFacts means nothing to the fine folks doing the variety attributions. I have been down that road many times before.

Really glad to see your newfound photo skills, great improvement! but I still say you will get a 402 as opposed to an FS-401.

How was the show??

Aspie_Rocco

the Show was a unique and thrilling experience! I had to plan ahead and stick to my agenda, circle the floor once lap, then look at everything. I spoke with several dealers, wore my Pcgs members shirt, and picked 3 definite bugs varieties, Ngc ms64 54, raw 56, PCGS 1959 ms65fbl, a Proof 1952 Jefferson fs401 Variety, 2 Lincoln’s for my dansco, the final silver dime, 47S, for my other dansco, a giant 40x loupe with led lights, and a fake? Trade dollar.
I was seconds away from buying a 41 pr65 no AW half, but decided passed on it.
I saw some nice prices and amazing coins, also many grossly overpriced raw coins I might have otherwise purchased.

It was an all around great experience. I remembered to employ show etiquette I learned on this forum, did the hand flips to show nothing hidden, announced the act of putting my hands in pockets for loupe etc, did not make offers on coins people tried to sell to dealers (this was HARD to do next to the proof walker when the guy was asking $375!)

I battled a lot of anxiety about an hour before the show, but overcame it and went on to have a wonderful day.

georgiacop50

Lookit all us old geezers! I bet you were about the youngest serious numismatist there.

Aspie_Rocco

I was thinking that was a possibility. There was another 30something (maybe) there, but looking at only post cards. It is quite possible Santa was there selling foreign coins in the off season. Nice guy, bought a copy trade dollar from him. I did not mention my good behavior and wish for a 43 ddo fs103 Nickel to him because I assume he already knows.

mynamespat

To answer your question about value: It varies depending on the current interest levels which fluctuate on a daily basis. A variety can draw rabid interest one day, blank stares the next. That said, a top pop 53-d fs-401 will probably draw interest from the registry set guys. So you probably did well.

Aspie_Rocco

Ok so between the other 3 I have now that match CoinFacts, I have This raw one. ONE of these is definitely the 401 Bugs, but I do not know anymore which is which.
The two pics below are of the same coin.