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Franklin Half Instructional Series #15: 1953D Half Dollar
FC57Coins
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Franklin Half Instructional Series #15: 1953D Half Dollar.
Well – after another brief hiatus, here is the fifteenth installment of my instructional series on Franklin Halves. 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
1953D
The middle sister of the so called 1951D to 1954D short set, this coin, with a mintage of 20,900,400 is not difficult to find in decent condition, but like many of the Franklins from the Denver mint at this time, handling problems became the main issue to consider. Coins from this date are generally found extremely well struck. Details on the bell line are generally sharp and easily discernable with the naked eye. A couple of problems that cropped up with this date include handling marks and water spots. Most rolls from this date will have beautifully struck coins which will unfortunately fall into the MS63 and below range because of tick marks covering almost the entire bell and bust of the coin. Bright white examples are sometimes covered with unsightly water spots which can tend to lower the grade and make the coin unsightly. Water spots are the result of improperly rinsed planchets. When planchets are readied for minting, they are usually bathed in a low acid solution to remove grease and other blemishes, and then rinsed. If improperly rinsed however, the acid can remain on the surface of the coin and the resulting “milk spot” will actually be etched into the coin and cannot be removed. Luster tends to be of the rich frosty variety and can range from average to above average. While bright white examples can be found, they are generally the exception as opposed to the rule. Most high MS coins will have speckled brown or grey toning, some very heavy to the point of making them unsightly. Mint set examples usually fair no better as far as dings, though the majority of high quality examples come from mint sets. Color as previously mentioned can range from bright white, to mottled grey/browns.
Current population numbers from PCGS read as follows:
MS63 and lower 170 in non FBL and 78 in FBL
MS64 - 440 in non FBL and 1027 in FBL
MS65 - 76 in non FBL and 468 in FBL
MS66 - 4 in non FBL and 55 in FBL
MS67 – 0 in FBL
As the numbers show, this date has many more FBL pieces graded as opposed to non FBL pieces. Most of the non FBL pieces are most likely due to dings on the bell line that negate the designation. A veritable explosion in the MS65FBL and MS66FBL has taken place in the last few years, The main reason for this is probably the breaking up of mint sets and to some extent the resubmission of coins for possible upgrading. Prices for MS64FBL coins will tend to range in the $50 range, while MS65 FBL pieces can be obtained for less than $200. MS66FBL pieces have seen a sharp decline in their price due to the increased population of these gems, though I would venture to say that a good number of the 55 population are resubmissions that have never had their tag sent in. Only time will tell what the real rarity of this coin is in higher grades. Personally I feel that it’s one of the better Franklin pieces for type collectors to acquire if they can do so in pristine MS64FBL or better condition with good eye appeal.
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 1953D half is a good solid citizen of any gem MS64FBL or above collection. These are not common pieces, and when you do run into one in a show or in your coin dealer’s case 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!
1953D In MS65FBL from the Birmingham Collection:
Well – after another brief hiatus, here is the fifteenth installment of my instructional series on Franklin Halves. 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
1953D
The middle sister of the so called 1951D to 1954D short set, this coin, with a mintage of 20,900,400 is not difficult to find in decent condition, but like many of the Franklins from the Denver mint at this time, handling problems became the main issue to consider. Coins from this date are generally found extremely well struck. Details on the bell line are generally sharp and easily discernable with the naked eye. A couple of problems that cropped up with this date include handling marks and water spots. Most rolls from this date will have beautifully struck coins which will unfortunately fall into the MS63 and below range because of tick marks covering almost the entire bell and bust of the coin. Bright white examples are sometimes covered with unsightly water spots which can tend to lower the grade and make the coin unsightly. Water spots are the result of improperly rinsed planchets. When planchets are readied for minting, they are usually bathed in a low acid solution to remove grease and other blemishes, and then rinsed. If improperly rinsed however, the acid can remain on the surface of the coin and the resulting “milk spot” will actually be etched into the coin and cannot be removed. Luster tends to be of the rich frosty variety and can range from average to above average. While bright white examples can be found, they are generally the exception as opposed to the rule. Most high MS coins will have speckled brown or grey toning, some very heavy to the point of making them unsightly. Mint set examples usually fair no better as far as dings, though the majority of high quality examples come from mint sets. Color as previously mentioned can range from bright white, to mottled grey/browns.
Current population numbers from PCGS read as follows:
MS63 and lower 170 in non FBL and 78 in FBL
MS64 - 440 in non FBL and 1027 in FBL
MS65 - 76 in non FBL and 468 in FBL
MS66 - 4 in non FBL and 55 in FBL
MS67 – 0 in FBL
As the numbers show, this date has many more FBL pieces graded as opposed to non FBL pieces. Most of the non FBL pieces are most likely due to dings on the bell line that negate the designation. A veritable explosion in the MS65FBL and MS66FBL has taken place in the last few years, The main reason for this is probably the breaking up of mint sets and to some extent the resubmission of coins for possible upgrading. Prices for MS64FBL coins will tend to range in the $50 range, while MS65 FBL pieces can be obtained for less than $200. MS66FBL pieces have seen a sharp decline in their price due to the increased population of these gems, though I would venture to say that a good number of the 55 population are resubmissions that have never had their tag sent in. Only time will tell what the real rarity of this coin is in higher grades. Personally I feel that it’s one of the better Franklin pieces for type collectors to acquire if they can do so in pristine MS64FBL or better condition with good eye appeal.
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 1953D half is a good solid citizen of any gem MS64FBL or above collection. These are not common pieces, and when you do run into one in a show or in your coin dealer’s case 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!
1953D In MS65FBL from the Birmingham Collection:
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Comments
Capped Bust Half Series
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Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
<< <i>As long as it has plenty of LUSTER after the crud is gone, call it what you want! >>
True - but the coin that you are showing doesn't seem to have any luster and it looks dipped out.
Capped Bust Half Series
Capped Bust Half Dime Series
In Memory of Frank...
Currently Listed: Nothing
Take Care, Dave