Question.... why do Franklin halves grade low

kidd

I have been going through the census reports for Franklin halves and noticed that not many grade higher than ms66, is there a reason for this? And before anyone else says it, i know they had defects that kept them from grading higher! was the quality really that low on this series?

haletj

All the coins from 1950 or so until 1964 are lower in quality than most other years. All the hardest ms67 late date Wheat Cents are from the 50's, the early 60's get hard even in ms66. The toughest nickels, dimes, quarters, in ms66/67 are some mid 50's and early 60's. Not only that but I think the wide open space on the Franklin is just more prone to taking a direct hit from other coins and getting nicked up.

LindeDad

The design has a lot of high smooth surfaces that show and accent wear, bag marks, and rubs. At least that what I think.

JRocco

Frankies look really good when they are really good and they look really bad when they are not really good.

kidd

The reason i ask this is because i have over 200 of these that have just been removed from the original BANK rolls,i know that these have been bumped together a little before they got rolled. some only show a few minor blemishes, was thinking about sending them in for cert. Found some real nice end roll toned coins also, real frosty white on one side... blue on the other.

airplanenut

<< <i>The design has a lot of high smooth surfaces that show and accent wear, bag marks, and rubs. At least that what I think. >>

Bingo--there's no place for marks to hide, so they constantly get killed when graded (busy designs, at least, can "mask" some smaller chatter). This is why the high grades often have the heavy mint set toning--it can mask small marks.

Also, the strikes on many Franklins are poor--that's a big factor in the grades.

Jeremy

ldhair

<< <i>

<< <i>The design has a lot of high smooth surfaces that show and accent wear, bag marks, and rubs. At least that what I think. >>

Bingo--there's no place for marks to hide, so they constantly get killed when graded (busy designs, at least, can "mask" some smaller chatter). This is why the high grades often have the heavy mint set toning--it can mask small marks.

Also, the strikes on many Franklins are poor--that's a big factor in the grades.

Jeremy >>


Well said- Jeremy and LindeDad

Kidd-- Send in a few of the best and test the waters.
Franklins are a bit tough to get a handle on.

foodude

The above comments pretty much cover it- relatively heavy coins, open design, and many poor quality strikes = tough to find in high grade; FBLs in high grade being even tougher to find. It is not uncommon to go through roll after roll after orignal (bank wrapped) roll and not find anything over MS64. However, occasionally one lucks out and will find several MS65s in a single roll.

K6AZ

<< <i>Frankies look really good when they are really good and they look really bad when they are not really good. >>



I thought they looked really bad all the time?

stman

<< <i>Frankies look really good when they are really good and they look really bad when they are not really good. >>



Reminds me of the ex-wife!!!!!!

FC57Coins

Be nice you guys!

coinfreak499

Because if they grade low I can afford them

foodude

Uh, Frank (Pug Dog) are you holding out on me, or did I already buy that Franklin you posted

FC57Coins

<< <i>Uh, Frank (Pug Dog) are you holding out on me >>




Ooopsy - did I forget one?

rainbowroosie

Design -- any little mark jumps out at you.....same number of marks on a Walker would look GEM!

MadMonk

Much of it is covered except for maybe that the coin wasnt taken very seriously by dealers for many years, so they were mishandled. This I believe led to more marks as well.