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Franklin Instructional Series #4: 1949D Half Dollar
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Franklin Half Instructional Series #4: 1949D Half Dollar.
This is the fourth installment of my instructional series on Franklin Halves. 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!
Sources for this series generally include “An Analysis of Gem Franklins” by Jack Ehrmantraut and “The Complete Guide for Franklin Halves” by Rick Tomaska – two books which I feel every serious Franklin collector should read
1949D
With a mintage of 4,120,600, you would think that finding a top notch Franklin Half from this date would be a cinch. Far from it. Like it’s Denver relatives from 1948-1953, the 1949D half was treated harshly at the mint and many coins which you see on the market for this year are highly bagmarked. Of the early Denver coins, I would venture to say that 1949D is probably at the top of the list of manhandled coins. Generally found in MS63 or below, these are the types of Franklins that sometimes gives the series a bad name. In addition, many of the 1949D Franklins did not tone well, often being found with dark brown to black toning right out of mint sets. On the positive side of the coin, this issue was very well struck, therefore the majority of coins exhibit not only good bell lines, but a strong “Pass and Stow” on the reverse and “Three wisps of hair” on the obverse.
Current population numbers from PCGS read as follows:
MS63 and lower - 458 in non FBL and 206 in FBL
MS64 - 490 in non FBL and 1204 in FBL
MS65 - 33 in non FBL and 235 in FBL
MS66 - 1 in non FBL and 12 in FBL
MS67 - 0 in FBL
As you look at the pop reports you see that there is a high number of MS64FBL’s in the populations, and only 235 in MS65FBL. Further proof yet that the bagginess of this issue plagued it in the grading room. At one time the 1949D stood next in line behind the 1953S as the most expensive coin in the series to obtain in MS65FBL condition. Slowly, as the population reports increased, the 49D has been taking a back seat to a number of issues from the 1960’s which are next to impossible to find in gem FBL condition.
Because of the battering that these pieces took, even nice creamy coins, which is the norm for these pieces, seem to look less than ideal, unless they are on the upper range of MS64 and better grades.
Prices for MS64FBL coins will range in the $100-$200 range depending on eye appeal. Where MS65FBL’s not too long ago commanded prices from $900 and up, nowadays they can range from $650-$1,000, depending on whether these are toned with an appealing pattern or white. MS66FBL have a population of only 12 coins and command huge premiums from those collectors who insist on the finest. These pieces can start $6,000 and keep climbing from there. I found an interesting site which provides not only mintage information on each date/mint mark, but also significant sales appearances over the past few years. This information can be found here . I will continue to post the COINFACTS site for reference, but I am in no way promoting their products or services.
Once one of the darlings of the Franklin series, the 1949D half still commands respect from collectors in MS65FBL and above, but has been overshadowed by scarcer offerings from the 1960’s. Look for coins with clean fields, good strikes and either white, or attractive toning.
Below, is another small treat, a grouping of 1949D Franklins from a friend of the board showing excellent examples of an MS64FBL, and MS64FBL that’s a whisper away from the next grade, and an MS65FBL.
Happy collecting!
in order - MS64FBL, MS64FBL (PQ), MS65FBL
This is the fourth installment of my instructional series on Franklin Halves. 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!
Sources for this series generally include “An Analysis of Gem Franklins” by Jack Ehrmantraut and “The Complete Guide for Franklin Halves” by Rick Tomaska – two books which I feel every serious Franklin collector should read
1949D
With a mintage of 4,120,600, you would think that finding a top notch Franklin Half from this date would be a cinch. Far from it. Like it’s Denver relatives from 1948-1953, the 1949D half was treated harshly at the mint and many coins which you see on the market for this year are highly bagmarked. Of the early Denver coins, I would venture to say that 1949D is probably at the top of the list of manhandled coins. Generally found in MS63 or below, these are the types of Franklins that sometimes gives the series a bad name. In addition, many of the 1949D Franklins did not tone well, often being found with dark brown to black toning right out of mint sets. On the positive side of the coin, this issue was very well struck, therefore the majority of coins exhibit not only good bell lines, but a strong “Pass and Stow” on the reverse and “Three wisps of hair” on the obverse.
Current population numbers from PCGS read as follows:
MS63 and lower - 458 in non FBL and 206 in FBL
MS64 - 490 in non FBL and 1204 in FBL
MS65 - 33 in non FBL and 235 in FBL
MS66 - 1 in non FBL and 12 in FBL
MS67 - 0 in FBL
As you look at the pop reports you see that there is a high number of MS64FBL’s in the populations, and only 235 in MS65FBL. Further proof yet that the bagginess of this issue plagued it in the grading room. At one time the 1949D stood next in line behind the 1953S as the most expensive coin in the series to obtain in MS65FBL condition. Slowly, as the population reports increased, the 49D has been taking a back seat to a number of issues from the 1960’s which are next to impossible to find in gem FBL condition.
Because of the battering that these pieces took, even nice creamy coins, which is the norm for these pieces, seem to look less than ideal, unless they are on the upper range of MS64 and better grades.
Prices for MS64FBL coins will range in the $100-$200 range depending on eye appeal. Where MS65FBL’s not too long ago commanded prices from $900 and up, nowadays they can range from $650-$1,000, depending on whether these are toned with an appealing pattern or white. MS66FBL have a population of only 12 coins and command huge premiums from those collectors who insist on the finest. These pieces can start $6,000 and keep climbing from there. I found an interesting site which provides not only mintage information on each date/mint mark, but also significant sales appearances over the past few years. This information can be found here . I will continue to post the COINFACTS site for reference, but I am in no way promoting their products or services.
Once one of the darlings of the Franklin series, the 1949D half still commands respect from collectors in MS65FBL and above, but has been overshadowed by scarcer offerings from the 1960’s. Look for coins with clean fields, good strikes and either white, or attractive toning.
Below, is another small treat, a grouping of 1949D Franklins from a friend of the board showing excellent examples of an MS64FBL, and MS64FBL that’s a whisper away from the next grade, and an MS65FBL.
Happy collecting!
in order - MS64FBL, MS64FBL (PQ), MS65FBL
0
Comments
I appreciate your research. Very well done. I am re-examining my 1949D even as we speak.
great commentary and very helpful comments... I really like the examples that you have posted and your series is a tremendous asset to the forum. Thanks for the hard work in putting this together.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I can think of a dozen reasons not to have high capacity magazines, but it's the reasons I haven't thought about that I need them.
Despite prices for the some 60s coins in 65FBL recently catching up and passing the 49D, I think all of the 60s coins are easier to find with either full white luster or attractive multi-colored toning. Only a few populations in 65FBL are lower for the 60s coins, but overall populations of all 65s and 66s combined are higher than the 49D, and will continue to grow at a faster clip.
The 49D is no doubt the toughest date in the entire series to find with attractive eye appeal. In the past 20 years I have only seen 3 examples in 65 or 66 that I would call truly rainbow toned gems, including 5 of the coins in 66 that I have viewed. I think the 49D won't be knocked off its perch and will remain the King of the Franklin series.
C'mon, you're killing my Buffalo short set fund!
Mojo
-Jim Morrison-
Mr. Mojorizn
my blog:www.numistories.com
Thanks for another informative post. Incredible strike on the first coin in the group you posted.
Here's one of those not so attractively toned examples you mentioned:
NGC MS-64
Its fascinating Frank, how many more FBL examples there are in 65. Highly informative on all counts.
I suspect many of the 64 non-FBLS have been cracked out and are now in 64FBL or 65FBL holders. I have cracked a '49-D or two out, but perhaps unlike some, I turned in the old tags so that the pop report could corrected.
They are practically non-existant. But about five years ago a dealer named Neil Wellbrink aquired a couple of them and sold them off as singles. They were absolutely amazing in terms of luster and eye-appeal. As far as I know, though, not one of them made it into a 65 holder. However, they were the nicest group of original 49-d's I ever saw. Sure wish I had saved a few, never seen any before or since with that kind of appeal!
BTW- does anybody know where Neil is today? He seems to have dropped off the face of the earth.
and they're cold.
I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
Mary
Best Franklin Website
Ronyahski - Hey Darryl - hope you're doing well and thanks for your comments! You make a good point regarding the 49D being actually rarer than the high priced 60's halves (60D, 61, 61D, 62, 62D, and 63). I guess only time will tell with these - At the present time, MS65FBL pops for these coins are as follows:
1960D - 267 and above
1961P - 105 and above
1961D - 177 and above
1962P - 101 and above
1962D - 176 and above
1963P - 121 and above
At 247 coins at MS65FBL and above, the 49D I feel is in the same rarity category as the above coins at this time - however, there are a lot more mint sets and rolls of 60's coins perhaps that have not been gone through, and perhaps these will yield more gems in the future. By the same token, these dates were the dates that were melted en-masse during the silver meltdown of the 70's and 80's so again time will tell whether the 60's coins will surpass the 49D in rarity or whether it will hang on to it's place. I agree with you on the aspect that it is much easier to find a good eye appealing 60's coin as opposed to a 49D primarily due to the way they were stored. However, looking through as many 60's mints sets as both you and I have gone through, I am sure that the painful experience will assert the fact that all these dates are hard to find in pristine condition.
Ricardouno also makes a good point in that you have to take the pop reports with a grain of salt these days because of all the cracking and re-submitting that's going on. If someone were to say that the actual number of coins in MS64 and 65FBL were 1/3 to 1/2 lower than reported it would not surprise me a bit.
As for Bushmaster's comments about roll quatities of 49D's he's probably right - these are few and far in between. I've had the pleasure (or agony) of going through two rolls - and both were so beat up that it was painful to see these well struck coins in such poor condition. I would say that the ones I looked at averaged MS60-62 only.
Keep the questions, comments, and pictures coming!
Frank
I agree that locating a blast white true gem FBL 49(d) is quite difficult. There are virtually no rolls to be had and even when there were rolls, they rarely yielded a gem quality specimen. This is one of the "great dates" in the series
Wondercoin
The coin did cost more than 2x the going rate for a typical 49(d) coin, but, in the Franklin series I have found (as I am sure you have) that great coins aren't cheap and cheap coins aren't great (or something like that). This is a super series of coins and I do remember searching long and hard as a kid to try to locate a 49(d)Franklin in change (not sure I ever did though)
Wondercoin
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Here is an artical thats give some detail on Frankies I thought was interesting.
well done but, dont get carried away I havent found all the Frankies I need yet..
Franklin Read
Here's a coin that represents above average toning for a 65, occasionally found with this look, some light toning around the rims (Frank posted a similar coin):
There are only 16 coins in PCGS 66FBL. I would estimate that 4 of them have attractive toning. Here's one of them I would put in that category, nicest one I have seen:
Here's one that is downright rare for a 49-D, too bad for the big nick in the hair:
Even with that giant gouge in the hair-
what does that baby grade out at ? Gotta' be a 65 with that color
I see it's in a NGC holder .........let me cross it for you
<< <i>cool as can be as usual Daryl ! The 49-D is indeed the King of all Franklins ..............long live the King !!!!
Even with that giant gouge in the hair-
what does that baby grade out at ? Gotta' be a 65 with that color
I see it's in a NGC holder .........let me cross it for you
I could see it in a 65 holder, but it's not...it's a 64. It is a giant gouge. The reverse is technically a 66, but has that usual not so attractive speckled grey toning.
Do you feel confident that the 66 is NT?
and they're cold.
I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
Mary
Best Franklin Website
<< <i>Love that NGC coin Ronyahaski!
Do you feel confident that the 66 is NT? >>
You have a very good eye! Tell me what you see about this coin that precipitated the question, and then I'll kick in. Here's a pic from another angle of the coin to help get a better idea of what the coin looks like, albeit a lousy pic:
Those colors very rarely occur naturally (if ever) in that proximity to each other. Yes you do find natural
toners with that shade of yellow, and that shade of purple. But when they lay right up next to each other
like that... something ain't right!
The mix of colors about the rim in the vicinity of LIBERTY as shown well in the second shot really casts
suspicion.
Secondly, (and this is very difficult to say for sure not having the coin in hand) the colors lack depth-- they
are apparently "laying" on the surface.My guess would be that this is either "accelerated toning". ie.
Someone put the coin in paper, maybe a mint set holder, maybe some other paper, and heated the thing
@ 200-300 F for a few weeks or months. Some times this process yields a coin that is indistinguishable
from a NT mint set coin, sometimes they develop undesirable color contrasts as this one may have.
Another possibility is that this was chemically treated with a solution containing soluble sulfur... ala Selsun
Blue, etc.
Third, I have seen same colors on my own experiments.
I have noticed in the past 6 months, PCGS has gotten a bit better at detecting these. I had four coins
bodybagged in one submission that would have graded a year ago. Any purple in combination with
yellowish -gold gets viewed with extreme suspicion lately.
If the 49-D here was resubmitted raw today, it might get BB'd.
But you never know for sure!!
and they're cold.
I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
Mary
Best Franklin Website
The rest of the coin shows mottled greens along with red, yellow, and gold. Those colors are tight into the coin and have the depth you may not be able to pick up in the pic. I think the coin is definately out of a mint set. Something happened to that one area of the obverse, exposed to more heat, contact with something, or whatever.
I think the coin is natural because:
-Other than the one small area, the colors are very natural. Those greens are impossible to reproduce, and I don't see any problems with the other reds and yellows. Deep reds and yellows are colors that are further down the toning spectrum and are normally seen on heavily toned coins (look at all the past Franklins I posted to Frank's collage, look at bag toned Morgans, etc.)
- This coin was one of the first slabbed, in an old holder, I've owned for years. AT many times turns after a long while, this coin hasn't.
- Though not ordinary for a 49-D, these colors are not unknown, and they certainly appear on other Franklin dates. I've seen two mint sets in the past with the Ds looking like this, and two with Ds that were deep blue toned, like a 56 (can you imagine, wish I had them now).
- That area of the coin came across something unusual to tone it that way. It was either unintentional or somebody did a lousy job at trying to enhance the coin. Actually, the coin would look better without that area looking like it does.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Next up this week, 1949-S.
I am humbled! If you think it's from a mint set, then by Jeeves I'll bet it is!
I would love to see that puppy one day!
and they're cold.
I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
Mary
Best Franklin Website
<< <i>Wow!
I am humbled! If you think it's from a mint set, then by Jeeves I'll bet it is!
I would love to see that puppy one day! >>
Well, then again, I could be dead wrong.
..........and then promptly admit it
- hey , sell me that NGC 64 with the hidious gash accross the cheek
don't they make you just feel good all over !!?
i mean it D.H - sell me that NGC 64 !!
The obverse is nondescript, usual gray stuff.
and they're cold.
I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
Mary
Best Franklin Website
I sold L. Shepperd the coolest one I EVER SEEN !!