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Franklin Half Instructional Series #14: 1953P Half Dollar
FC57Coins
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Franklin Half Instructional Series #14: 1953P Half Dollar.
This is the fourteenth installment of my instructional series on Franklin Halves. Today it was do my taxes, or talk about one of my favorite coins in the series. The taxes are almost done, so we’ll talk coins for the rest of the evening. 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
1953P
This is one of my favorite issues among the Franklin series in that it not only has one of the lowest business strike mintages, 2,796,920, but it is also extremely difficult to find in pristine condition. The 1953P ranks right up there with the 1961-63 Philly issues as the poorest in quality, thus it is not only tough to find in high grades, but in Full Bell Lines it is a tough find as well. Marks for this coin tend to run above average as compared to other Philadelphia offerings of the time. In addition, the strike is often very mushy and weak, much like its sister coin from San Francisco. Toning tends to be universally drab browns and greys, although occasionally you might be able to locate a bright gold, russet, or blue mint set example tucked away in some collector’s cabinet. Mint set examples are generally weakly struck, the thinking, according to Ehrmantraut, was that all 15,538 examples were struck from the same die under less than ideal pressure. Luster on this coin tends to be of the frosty/grainy variety due to poor striking conditions, although once in a while you will run into a few brilliant examples here and there.
Many times the detail on this coin is almost none existent, with hair bell detail being almost completely flat. In addition, many pieces are covered with unattractive dark speckled toning which tends to hide most design details, making it even harder to discern any hint of bell lines. I was fortunate to have recently gone through a very unusual original roll of 1953P Franklins, which not only contained mostly white specimens, with just a hint of original gold mellowing, but the roll actually yielded two MS64FBL’s and two MS65FBL’s. This was indeed a very fortunate and unusual find.
Current population numbers from PCGS read as follows:
MS63 and lower 169 in non FBL and 60 in FBL
MS64 - 617 in non FBL and 545 in FBL
MS65 - 272 in non FBL and 205 in FBL
MS66 - 35 in non FBL and 25 in FBL
MS67 – 0 in FBL
Finding pieces in grades MS64 and above is a challenge for this date. This is one of the few dates where pieces in MS64 and 65 will sell readily, because the jump from regular to FBL grades is substantial. An MS64 piece can run anywhere from $40-$70, while I’ve seen MS65’s fetch close to $200 for a nice white one. A nicely toned piece would command double that amount or more. In MS64FBL and MS65FBL this date has held its own, in large part to the fact that Franklin collectors recognize how tough it is to find this date for their collections. MS64FBL coins can range from $175-$250 depending on eye appeal, while run of the mill MS65FBL’s can go for $550 to $700. Nicely toned examples or bright white examples generally run closer to $1,000. The few MS66 and MS66FBL examples that have appeared on the market of late have also commanded healthy price tags. MS66 examples tend to parallel MS65FBL prices, while MS66FBL coins tend to parallel 1952S coins at the $2,000 to $3,000 and up levels. One lone white MS66FBL coin has been documented by Rick Tomaska as having sold in excess of $15,000. As with some of these newer MS66FBL’s collectors would be well advised to look very carefully at these coins in hand, as I suspect some of them may have previously resided in MS65FBL holders and have gotten a bump for reasons unknown.
For more information on this date you can look the coin up in the Coinfacts page, which also sites 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.
The 1953P half is one of the fun coins in gem MS64FBL or above condition. You will have a tough time finding one of these coins in the market, and when you do, you’ll likely be disappointed with it’s eye appeal, but when you do find one to your liking, you’ll definitely appreciate the thrill of the hunt. This represents a very worthwhile acquisition even to collectors who do not specialize in Franklins. White pieces or coins with very nice eye appeal should be considered rarities in this issue. Have fun collecting Frankies!
1953P Franklin in MS65FBL from The Birmingham Collection:
This is the fourteenth installment of my instructional series on Franklin Halves. Today it was do my taxes, or talk about one of my favorite coins in the series. The taxes are almost done, so we’ll talk coins for the rest of the evening. 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
1953P
This is one of my favorite issues among the Franklin series in that it not only has one of the lowest business strike mintages, 2,796,920, but it is also extremely difficult to find in pristine condition. The 1953P ranks right up there with the 1961-63 Philly issues as the poorest in quality, thus it is not only tough to find in high grades, but in Full Bell Lines it is a tough find as well. Marks for this coin tend to run above average as compared to other Philadelphia offerings of the time. In addition, the strike is often very mushy and weak, much like its sister coin from San Francisco. Toning tends to be universally drab browns and greys, although occasionally you might be able to locate a bright gold, russet, or blue mint set example tucked away in some collector’s cabinet. Mint set examples are generally weakly struck, the thinking, according to Ehrmantraut, was that all 15,538 examples were struck from the same die under less than ideal pressure. Luster on this coin tends to be of the frosty/grainy variety due to poor striking conditions, although once in a while you will run into a few brilliant examples here and there.
Many times the detail on this coin is almost none existent, with hair bell detail being almost completely flat. In addition, many pieces are covered with unattractive dark speckled toning which tends to hide most design details, making it even harder to discern any hint of bell lines. I was fortunate to have recently gone through a very unusual original roll of 1953P Franklins, which not only contained mostly white specimens, with just a hint of original gold mellowing, but the roll actually yielded two MS64FBL’s and two MS65FBL’s. This was indeed a very fortunate and unusual find.
Current population numbers from PCGS read as follows:
MS63 and lower 169 in non FBL and 60 in FBL
MS64 - 617 in non FBL and 545 in FBL
MS65 - 272 in non FBL and 205 in FBL
MS66 - 35 in non FBL and 25 in FBL
MS67 – 0 in FBL
Finding pieces in grades MS64 and above is a challenge for this date. This is one of the few dates where pieces in MS64 and 65 will sell readily, because the jump from regular to FBL grades is substantial. An MS64 piece can run anywhere from $40-$70, while I’ve seen MS65’s fetch close to $200 for a nice white one. A nicely toned piece would command double that amount or more. In MS64FBL and MS65FBL this date has held its own, in large part to the fact that Franklin collectors recognize how tough it is to find this date for their collections. MS64FBL coins can range from $175-$250 depending on eye appeal, while run of the mill MS65FBL’s can go for $550 to $700. Nicely toned examples or bright white examples generally run closer to $1,000. The few MS66 and MS66FBL examples that have appeared on the market of late have also commanded healthy price tags. MS66 examples tend to parallel MS65FBL prices, while MS66FBL coins tend to parallel 1952S coins at the $2,000 to $3,000 and up levels. One lone white MS66FBL coin has been documented by Rick Tomaska as having sold in excess of $15,000. As with some of these newer MS66FBL’s collectors would be well advised to look very carefully at these coins in hand, as I suspect some of them may have previously resided in MS65FBL holders and have gotten a bump for reasons unknown.
For more information on this date you can look the coin up in the Coinfacts page, which also sites 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.
The 1953P half is one of the fun coins in gem MS64FBL or above condition. You will have a tough time finding one of these coins in the market, and when you do, you’ll likely be disappointed with it’s eye appeal, but when you do find one to your liking, you’ll definitely appreciate the thrill of the hunt. This represents a very worthwhile acquisition even to collectors who do not specialize in Franklins. White pieces or coins with very nice eye appeal should be considered rarities in this issue. Have fun collecting Frankies!
1953P Franklin in MS65FBL from The Birmingham Collection:
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Comments
Capped Bust Half Series
Capped Bust Half Dime Series
PURPLE!
so when are you gonna gather all these instructional posts together and publish a book?
<< <i>You mean "The Pug's Guide to Frankies"? LOL - Well - let me get through issues 15-35 and maybe a couple of more supplements and maybe we'll talk about it then
Maybe you can get the hepkitty to write the Introduction for you! Couldn't beat that !!
one of my favorite Frankies
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
FC57Coins, your Instructional series posts are very informative and helpful. I have a question for you. When you finish with the 35 business strike coins in the series, are you planning on continuing on with phase two covering the 14 proof Franklins (plus varieties, i.e, 1956 Type 1 & 2 and 1961 DDR).
That Franklin is drop dead gorgeous!!!
<< <i>FC57Coins, your Instructional series posts are very informative and helpful. I have a question for you. When you finish with the 35 business strike coins in the series, are you planning on continuing on with phase two covering the 14 proof Franklins (plus varieties, i.e, 1956 Type 1 & 2 and 1961 DDR). >>
Well - ever since I got sick I've been smoething of a slug and have stalled on these postings but I've been thinking about picking them up again soon - stay tuned
Good read, very helpful! Thanks for posting
KJ
Capped Bust Half Series
Capped Bust Half Dime Series
In Memory of Frank...
Currently Listed: Nothing
Take Care, Dave
Capped Bust Half Series
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and they're cold.
I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
Mary
Best Franklin Website
Both are very high end. While the strikes arent the best for 53, the satiny luster made up for it in eye appeal.
I've been waiting for a good place to show this
1953 Franklin half that I got from forum member
frnklnlvr a few months back.
Then SkyMan brought back one of Frank's old
"Instructional Series" posts and I thought,
bingo, that's the place.
So, in memory of Frank, and with thanks to
frnklnlvr, here it is. My photo skills didn't bring
up the electric blue at the top obverse, and
especially the bottom reverse, very well, but
so be it.
~
"America suffers today from too much pluribus and not enough unum.".....Arthur Schlesinger Jr.
U.S. Type Set
"That's an attractive '53, and from the image it looks like it's got FBL, which is tough to find on '53's"
-----
Thanks, it's nowhere near the monster '53 you have in
your registry set, but I like it, and no, it's not FBL, there
is some weakness just to the left of the bell crack.
~
"America suffers today from too much pluribus and not enough unum.".....Arthur Schlesinger Jr.