What constitutes FULL BELL LINES from PCGS? Different from NGC?

newport

What is the standard that must be met to receive the grade? Adam from Miami.

baccaruda

NGC is a bit more strict on the FBL designation as I understand it - both sets of lines must be complete.

DCAMFranklin

Baccaruda is correct. NGC will require all seven bell lines to be complete, without interruption. PCGS will grade only the bottom three. Your NGC FBL's are significantly more rare. Especially in the higher grades.

MadMonk

Yea but NGC can be too tough, Miss them far too often.
I have some that are barely there, and NGC gave the designation, and some hammered to the max, and they didnt give the designation......that's aggravating.

LucyBop

MadMonk is correct. I like NGC coins, but I Have a few that would not have been fbl at PCGs. The other problem as of late is NGC is alot looser then PCGs overall grade wise.

With that said there are still many wonderful GEMs in NGC holders... I really like how a nice toner looks in the white holder.

Also, its not to hard to find all 7 bell lines complete on PCGs coins... Some tend to think this isn't the case, I found it rather easy to build my registry set with PCGs coins that had all the lines full, and I'll go as far as to say, if the bottom lines are full on a well struck Franklin, typically the uppers will be also. This isn't always the case, but its true more times then it isnt.

I have observed this while looking at literally thousands of Franklins both Raw and Graded in various parts of the Country.

MadMonk

Lucy,
In ref to your last statement, I've always assumed that PCGS just requires that the bottom bell lines be complete due to that being the deeper part of the dies for the metal to flow, so like you said, it's more likely the case.

bushmaster8

<< <i>
...I'll go as far as to say, if the bottom lines are full on a well struck Franklin, typically the uppers will be also. This isn't always the case, but its true more times then it isnt.

>>



For many dates, I agree with your assesment Lucy. But I think the majority of PCGS FBL 1954-S's show complete lines only on the bottom two.

bushmaster8

<< <i>NGC is a bit more strict on the FBL designation as I understand it ... >>



Understatement of the year! Just compare the FBL populations between the two services.

LucyBop

54s is very tough to find with bothe the upper & lower lines full, the coins that were struck early on in the minting process are very scarce......

this Raw coin I had graded did in fact have all the lines... I found this 54s for $15 in Colorado... The image isnt the greatest and since I sold the coin I can't re-image just the bell lines...

bushmaster8

BTW Lucy, how did you like that 54-s 66FBL you won on the bay a couple months ago??

LucyBop

nice rainbow reverse on that one........ when holding the coin and rotating the colors really show much better then this image

FC57Coins

Seek and Ye Shall Find - FULL BELL LINES according to the gurus

bushmaster8

Lucy..very nice...and the price was right!

baccaruda

Generally I've found the same as Lucy - most the upper lines are always complete anyway. The bottom lines are the real issue.

DCAMFranklin

Thanks for the link Frank. I had not seen that thread.

Rick Montgomery's definition, while at PCGS, has a tremendous amount of ambiguity. Certainly allows for the extreme subjectivity and leeway that allows for the large number of "favor" coins found in their holder.

LucyBop

what are you accusing PCGs of DcamTroll?

Shamika

"what are you accusing PCGS of DcamTroll?"

I'm running for cover!