I would call this Franklin AU
Meltdown
Posts: 8,874 ✭✭✭✭✭
Maybe someone who knows more about grading Franklins than I do can chime in...
Don't you think this is wear from circulation?
0
Comments
I agree with you. The mint frost is broken on Franklin's cheek bone and jaw, but you will never see a coin like that graded AU.
In my 60 years of grading coins, Franklins are the hardest for me to grade in the AU to MS range. They have always appeared to me to be circulated in the best grade other than luster and this coin has a lot of luster. Not my favorite design. Sorry, I'm no help.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
@jesbroken - I agree 100%. This one is a bit deceiving in person. That cheek and face wear is very minimal. It wasn't until I took the photos that I really saw what was there clearly.
I bought this local at a coin show a couple months back here in town.
For me, it's a good lesson to be more choosy when I'm picking out otherwise attractive looking coins.
It was a bit impulsive, inexpensive and PCGS graded so I didn't look close enough.
Click on this link to see my ebay listings.
I do not see any rub or friction on Franklin.
So I agree with the MS grade.
Interesting. What DO you see? What would you call that along the cheek and hair curls?
Click on this link to see my ebay listings.
When I was a dealer, I found Franklin Half Dollars to be the most inconsistently graded coins.
I like that description... "mint frost is broken". I agree with that.
Click on this link to see my ebay listings.
Thanks for the educational post. Franklin Halves and 3 Cent Silvers give me fits for grading...
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
i was under the impression when it looked like (mostly franks) that it was probably just bag-coin rub which wouldn't be the same as cabinet friction or other slight wear/rub that would bring a coin down to au58 or so.
why just the obv so much though? maybe it IS a mint thing because it seems that often the rev are virtually untouched in this regard (with franks) where cab rub and the like usually assault both sides. fwiw
The highest areas on Franklin's portrait frequently do not come into contact with the die.
This causes the frost (luster) in those areas to be less than other areas and/or the difference in work-hardening of the metal causes a difference in the toning.
I agree with MS.
It's not only about high point friction. There typically needs to be wear starting to show in the fields for PCGS to grade a coin AU. True circulation starts to show up in the fields.
Luster breaks on high points can come from contact in rolls and bags, where all the coins are mint state.
A dealer selling coins like that as AU will get picked clean.
In my opinion I see breaks in the toning, and minor marks that would drop it to a 64. I suppose the uneven tone of the high points appear to be wear in the photo. I’ll bet a true view would amplify the toning and clear up questions of wear. But generally I suck at actual grading, and succeed in identifying varieties.
http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistry/publishedset.aspx?s=142753
https://www.autismforums.com/media/albums/acrylic-colors-by-rocco.291/
Thank you both for the explanation. This is exactly why grading Franklins is so tough for many people.
Click on this link to see my ebay listings.
As an amateur I do not understand the FBL grade. Bell lines appear broken based on the reverse photo.
No, I don't.
I don't, either.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Years ago, cabinet friction was heard of far more than now. Perhaps this would have been in that category, not sure. Again, I agree how hard it is to grade Franklins. The FBL is another hard issue to identify in photos, easier inhand, as photos show up everything.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
That coin would have been graded MS years ago and it is MS now.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
The coin is MS. That's a pretty standard look for a Franklin. Even someone like myself who has long looked at and collected Franklins can find them hard to grade in the AU58 - MS63 range. As mentioned above, look at the reverse, which is "clean". Two other areas that I look at on the obverse for wear are the lapel of his collar, and also where Franklin's bust's shoulder meets the field. Both are common areas of wear in AU coins, and both are "clean" on the above coin.
The issues that the OP mentioned are the reason this coin is not graded higher IMO. The amount of nicks and dings on the coin would commonly get a MS65 from PCGS, and I've seen a fair amount go MS66. Also, the luster looks to be quite nice.
The coin is an easy FBL by PCGS standards, which only looks at the bottom lines.
PCGS tends to grade darker toning, even if it is appealing, tougher than a light toned coin. A common (RELATIVELY speaking) coloration for 1955's is a dark blue and/or purple toning that CAN show luster through quite nicely. I SUSPECT, that is the color on the obverse. Here's a raw '55 I got out of a Mint Set. You can see the color, and the underlying luster, quite clearly here.
U.S. Type Set
I totally agree with the MS grade... and feel much of the grade is affected by the minor scratches on the Liberty Bell and on Franklin.... Still has good luster. Cheers, RickO
I feel it's the strike not wear.
I agree with our host's grade.
100% Positive BST transactions
As others have said, you need friction in the fields, which appears as hairlines, for AU. This is MS all day.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
It's absolutely Mint State.
I totally disagree with others who see high points, or break in luster as a sign of circulation.
Let me say this though.
In theory, they are correct and this coin could very well have been in circulation.
But I would bet, 90% of all coins prior to 1960, that are graded MS60 and higher, were in circulation for some short time.
In a pocket or two for a couple weeks.
In a cash drawer for a day or two, maybe more.
Let's not get hung up on an isolated 'wear' spot somewhere on the coin which would make the argument for a circulated coin.
Bottom line, if the coin has booming luster and the coin is 95% 'Mint', then it should grade at least MS60.
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)