1953(s) Franklin Half Dollar (PCGS-MS66FBL)
wondercoin
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DAVID HALL WRITES: "Actually, it's now pop 2 for the MS66 FBL, not MS67. Not sure about the changes...my guess is that the original coin was resubmitted for upgrade and the owner took his time sending us back he old cert. I thought there was only one MS66...maybe another has been made...I'm sure Rick Tomaska, David Schweitz and/or Mitch Wonder Coin would know. Mitch, can you enlighten us??? "
I personally believe the 1953(s) Franklin Half in PCGS-MS66FBL is still a pop 1/0 coin. Here's why:
1. The underbidder on the $69k sale of that coin was fortunate enough to win the coin the second time around for less than $40,000 when it resold at auction. I was told this by the collector who claims to have won the coin the second time around.
2. This collector appears to have resubmitted the coin for upgrade shortly after winning the coin at auction (I believe at the Baltimore show over a year ago). There was a glitch in the PCGS system and when PCGS regraded the coin MS66FBL again, for the second time, PCGS failed to remove the original serial number from the database. How does the collector know this? Because he told me when the coin came back MS66FBL again, the new serial number shows as a proper PCGS coin. AND, WHEN YOU PUNCH IN THE OLD SERIAL NUMBER, THAT ALSO SHOWED AS A PROPER COIN! Hence, 2 serial number in the system for a single coin.
3. The collector told me several other important low pop Franklins he was trying to upgrade at that show all had the same thing happen - they did not upgrade but the pops went up -1- and never came back down.
4. This collector has always struck me as a 100% honest and reputable guy. I believe his story that simply for a brief time last year there was a glich in PCGS' system and regrades resulted in new serial numbers being issued but the old numbers not coming off the database and pop report. Actually, I would suspect it would be pretty easy for PCGS to research the current serial number for the 1953(s) Franklin Half in MS66FBL and confirm the coin was submitted for regrade at a major show. Once PCGS did this, it could refer to the prior serial number from that submission form and confirm the coin is one in the same.
Hence, based upon my direct conversation with the current owner of the 1953(s) Franklin Half Dollar in PCGS-MS66FBL, I believe the coin is, indeed, a Pop 1/0 coin at this time. Of course, if another 1953(s) Franklin in PCGS-MS66FBL was recently slabbed, that might be another coin.
David - I hope this helps.
Wondercoin
I personally believe the 1953(s) Franklin Half in PCGS-MS66FBL is still a pop 1/0 coin. Here's why:
1. The underbidder on the $69k sale of that coin was fortunate enough to win the coin the second time around for less than $40,000 when it resold at auction. I was told this by the collector who claims to have won the coin the second time around.
2. This collector appears to have resubmitted the coin for upgrade shortly after winning the coin at auction (I believe at the Baltimore show over a year ago). There was a glitch in the PCGS system and when PCGS regraded the coin MS66FBL again, for the second time, PCGS failed to remove the original serial number from the database. How does the collector know this? Because he told me when the coin came back MS66FBL again, the new serial number shows as a proper PCGS coin. AND, WHEN YOU PUNCH IN THE OLD SERIAL NUMBER, THAT ALSO SHOWED AS A PROPER COIN! Hence, 2 serial number in the system for a single coin.
3. The collector told me several other important low pop Franklins he was trying to upgrade at that show all had the same thing happen - they did not upgrade but the pops went up -1- and never came back down.
4. This collector has always struck me as a 100% honest and reputable guy. I believe his story that simply for a brief time last year there was a glich in PCGS' system and regrades resulted in new serial numbers being issued but the old numbers not coming off the database and pop report. Actually, I would suspect it would be pretty easy for PCGS to research the current serial number for the 1953(s) Franklin Half in MS66FBL and confirm the coin was submitted for regrade at a major show. Once PCGS did this, it could refer to the prior serial number from that submission form and confirm the coin is one in the same.
Hence, based upon my direct conversation with the current owner of the 1953(s) Franklin Half Dollar in PCGS-MS66FBL, I believe the coin is, indeed, a Pop 1/0 coin at this time. Of course, if another 1953(s) Franklin in PCGS-MS66FBL was recently slabbed, that might be another coin.
David - I hope this helps.
Wondercoin
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Comments
Rick T. used to have a picture of it on his website. I now see it's still there...
Link
If I'm not mistaken, when it went up for sale again, it was in a different (newer) slab. There was a thread about this whole story quite awhile ago.
Wondercoin.
Greg
I also think this is pop. 1/0; as the most high-profile FBL, I
just think this was an error as stated in earlier post.
BTW...I have spent 30 years looking for a 1958P with the type 2
(high eagle) reverse in FBL in 65 or better, and have NEVER SEEN
(or heard) of one!! I am amazed at how little interest there is,
and it is part of my never-ending frustration with PCGS that they
don't recognize all three 1958-59 die varieties, yet they do
accept (and rightfully so!) the 1956 type 1 and 2 proofs, as a
cameo type 1 is much more valuable. If a 1958 type 2 does appear,
it is worth 50k, at least!