Beginning an album. 1950-D Franklin in some interesting old packaging.

bagofnickels

I recently had a Franklin half Dansco given to me and I thought it might be a fun and affordable side adventure while I work on my WLH set so I bought this coin. It is a 1950 D with close to FBL and some interesting packaging. According to this seller the coin would have been in this same packaging for quite some time, potentially back to the 60s. I'm wondering if anyone here might have a guess as to what the sleeve the coin is in would be?

My personal guess is it's some type of cellophane. It's crinkly and does not have the qualities I see in old PVC plastic. That being said there's some haze on the coin, mainly on the reverse above/on the top of the bell, not that I truly mind that so much. I'm sure I could try a quick rinse in acetone if folks here think that the best course of action.

Lastly I'd love to hear what Franklin collectors look for in these besides FBL. I think this coin is nice and a matched album of Franklins in this condition would be sweet.

Here are some images:

Thanks in advance.

jmlanzaf

Very common packaging, back in the day. You can probably still buy them.

Intueor

Lines look FBL but hard to tell from the resolution of the images. FYI, it is an RDV-001b transitional reverse.
What does catch my attention is the MM. There appears to be something going on there but, there is not enough image detail to say. Nice starter coin. Good luck.

bagofnickels

@jmlanzaf said:
Very common packaging, back in the day. You can probably still buy them.

I see. I didn't know if it was possible to date more specifically than that or if it had PVC and was a concern. Thanks.

@Intueor said:
Lines look FBL but hard to tell from the resolution of the images. FYI, it is an RDV-001b transitional reverse.
What does catch my attention is the MM. There appears to be something going on there but, there is not enough image detail to say. Nice starter coin. Good luck.

I did not realize that there was more than one reverse used in 1950. As for the mintmark I'm trying to compare it to Wexler's die varieties unfortunately I don't have a way to photograph it but I believe it might be the first one mentioned for this date WRPM-001. Thank you for the reply and the information. I'm gonna have to look at it again with fresh eyes in the morning.

jmlanzaf

@bagofnickels said:

@jmlanzaf said:
Very common packaging, back in the day. You can probably still buy them.

I see. I didn't know if it was possible to date more specifically than that or if it had PVC and was a concern. Thanks.

@Intueor said:
Lines look FBL but hard to tell from the resolution of the images. FYI, it is an RDV-001b transitional reverse.
What does catch my attention is the MM. There appears to be something going on there but, there is not enough image detail to say. Nice starter coin. Good luck.

I did not realize that there was more than one reverse used in 1950. As for the mintmark I'm trying to compare it to Wexler's die varieties unfortunately I don't have a way to photograph it but I believe it might be the first one mentioned for this date WRPM-001. Thank you for the reply and the information. I'm gonna have to look at it again with fresh eyes in the morning.

The cello was very common in the 50s and 60s. I don't know when it declined but I've had collections into the 70s that still used them. You don't see the cello ones much later than that, but you can still buy polyethylene.

If it's crinkly, it's not PVC. That doesn't make it archival, however.

ricko

I would discard the cello envelope and give it an acetone bath. Mainly precautionary, no way to know what may be on the coin. Cheers, RickO

sellitstore

Cello was used by the mint to package individual coins in 1950-55 proof sets. Poly was widely used as a substitute when PVC damage was discovered in the late 1970s or 1980s. A poly bag was used with a plastic 2x2 flip. If the plastic is stiff, it's the former, if soft, it's the later, and archivally safe.

Cougar1978

Nice looking coin.

jmski52

I remember keeping a few BU Lincoln Cents in cellophane slips in 1965-1966. Sometime in the 1980’s, I switched them into polyethylene for storage. I still have those cents (1959-P and 1960-P coins) in the same felt-lined jewelry box where they’ve been for the past 58 years. Yikes, time flies.

bagofnickels

If it's crinkly, it's not PVC. That doesn't make it archival, however.

Got it. Thanks. Good to know it's not PVC and like @ricko suggested give it an acetone bath. Perhaps it will remove some of the hazy spots.

bagofnickels

@sellitstore said:
Cello was used by the mint to package individual coins in 1950-55 proof sets. Poly was widely used as a substitute when PVC damage was discovered in the late 1970s or 1980s. A poly bag was used with a plastic 2x2 flip. If the plastic is stiff, it's the former, if soft, it's the later, and archivally safe.

The hazy spots on this coin are quite like those I see on proofs. Makes me feel pretty certain it's old cellophane. When I get a chance I'm going to give the coin an acetone rinse.

bagofnickels

Just updating this post. I soaked the coin in acetone rinsed it with acetone followed by some distilled water. I see no difference in the coin one way or another. Whatever haze it has on its surface is going to remain. Thanks everyone who commented.

Steven59

Nice looking coin - like stated, just a common way to enclose the coin in when selling.