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Franklin Half Instructional Series #22: 1957P Half Dollar.
FC57Coins
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Franklin Half Instructional Series #22: 1957P Half Dollar.
This is the 22nd installment of the Franklin Half Instructional Series. 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
1957P
Ah what a year 1957 was! The height of the Baby Boom, ’57 Chevy’s, Sputnik, Elvis’ last appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, “Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain”, and of course a bunch of us were born in that year so overall it was a pretty darn good year. That’s not to say that things were perfect though – there were race issues that had to be dealt with, you didn’t know whether the Studebaker was coming or going, and this little place called Vietnam kept appearing in the news.
As for Franklins, this year marked the return of branch mint issues. In its tenth year of production and with a mintage of 5,114,000, the 1957 Franklin Philadelphia issue had many parallels with its 1956 counterpart. Gems for both coins generally come from mint sets, so white examples of this coin in high grades are hard to find, though sometimes available. Many MS65’s have been dipped in the hopes of getting a loftier grade, only to find them relegated to MS63 or 64 status. Rolls of 1957P halves tend to have very good luster, but are generally baggy. You might find a gem MS65 here and there, but the likelihood is that you’ll have a lot of very shiny MS63’s.
One bright note for 1957 Franklins is color. As one of the three years where gorgeously toned coins were abundant out of mint sets, it has become a favorite year for type set collectors. With beautiful luster and available in grades of MS65 or better, these coins with violet, purple, blue, burgundy, and golden orange, can produce some of the most astoundingly beautiful toned examples in this series.
Current population numbers from PCGS read as follows:
MS63 and lower 91 in non FBL and 20 in FBL
MS64 - 769 in non FBL and 529 in FBL
MS65 - 1303 in non FBL and 473 in FBL
MS66 - 678 in non FBL and 540 in FBL
MS67 – 10 in non FBL and 10 in FBL
Numbers for the 1957P are very similar to 1956P’s . There is about a 2 to one ratio of non FBL coins to FBL, as well as plenty of MS66’s and even a few MS67’s to go around. Most of these coins came from mint sets, so they will generally be toned to some degree. White pieces are very tough to find in these higher grades. As with the 1956P, the fact that the coins are easily available in higher grades tends to depress the prices of this issue. For type set fans I would not recommend anything below an MS65 specimen, which even with Full Bell Lines would not generally fetch over $75-80. For the Franklin collectors, an MS66FBL piece should be the rule of the day. Select pieces with pleasing toning, or even radiant toning if one can be found. Generally coins in MS66FBL will start at about $125 or so for brown/gray specimens, and go up from there into the 4 figures, depending on the color. One thing that collectors should keep in mind is that there is a lot of “technical grading” that takes place in this issue of the series. A drab grey or brown coin may warrant an MS66FBL grade, but in actuality be rather bland looking. Stay away from these coins as their upside is very limited. MS67 and 67FBL coins, when available will most likely start in the low 4 figures and move up in accordance with their particular dazzle of colors. Most of these are wildly toned mint set examples and generally will go for around $3,000 to $5,000.
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 1957P reminds us of a simpler time when you didn’t have to worry about locking your doors, where your neighborhood was your world, where there was excitement in going to the movies, and PC’s and cable TV weren’t even on the drawing board yet. 1957P Franklins, though some what mushy in strike, come in very vivid colors and will surely please the collector when you find one of these gems . Have fun collecting Frankies!
1957P Franklin in MS66FBL
This is the 22nd installment of the Franklin Half Instructional Series. 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
1957P
Ah what a year 1957 was! The height of the Baby Boom, ’57 Chevy’s, Sputnik, Elvis’ last appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, “Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain”, and of course a bunch of us were born in that year so overall it was a pretty darn good year. That’s not to say that things were perfect though – there were race issues that had to be dealt with, you didn’t know whether the Studebaker was coming or going, and this little place called Vietnam kept appearing in the news.
As for Franklins, this year marked the return of branch mint issues. In its tenth year of production and with a mintage of 5,114,000, the 1957 Franklin Philadelphia issue had many parallels with its 1956 counterpart. Gems for both coins generally come from mint sets, so white examples of this coin in high grades are hard to find, though sometimes available. Many MS65’s have been dipped in the hopes of getting a loftier grade, only to find them relegated to MS63 or 64 status. Rolls of 1957P halves tend to have very good luster, but are generally baggy. You might find a gem MS65 here and there, but the likelihood is that you’ll have a lot of very shiny MS63’s.
One bright note for 1957 Franklins is color. As one of the three years where gorgeously toned coins were abundant out of mint sets, it has become a favorite year for type set collectors. With beautiful luster and available in grades of MS65 or better, these coins with violet, purple, blue, burgundy, and golden orange, can produce some of the most astoundingly beautiful toned examples in this series.
Current population numbers from PCGS read as follows:
MS63 and lower 91 in non FBL and 20 in FBL
MS64 - 769 in non FBL and 529 in FBL
MS65 - 1303 in non FBL and 473 in FBL
MS66 - 678 in non FBL and 540 in FBL
MS67 – 10 in non FBL and 10 in FBL
Numbers for the 1957P are very similar to 1956P’s . There is about a 2 to one ratio of non FBL coins to FBL, as well as plenty of MS66’s and even a few MS67’s to go around. Most of these coins came from mint sets, so they will generally be toned to some degree. White pieces are very tough to find in these higher grades. As with the 1956P, the fact that the coins are easily available in higher grades tends to depress the prices of this issue. For type set fans I would not recommend anything below an MS65 specimen, which even with Full Bell Lines would not generally fetch over $75-80. For the Franklin collectors, an MS66FBL piece should be the rule of the day. Select pieces with pleasing toning, or even radiant toning if one can be found. Generally coins in MS66FBL will start at about $125 or so for brown/gray specimens, and go up from there into the 4 figures, depending on the color. One thing that collectors should keep in mind is that there is a lot of “technical grading” that takes place in this issue of the series. A drab grey or brown coin may warrant an MS66FBL grade, but in actuality be rather bland looking. Stay away from these coins as their upside is very limited. MS67 and 67FBL coins, when available will most likely start in the low 4 figures and move up in accordance with their particular dazzle of colors. Most of these are wildly toned mint set examples and generally will go for around $3,000 to $5,000.
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 1957P reminds us of a simpler time when you didn’t have to worry about locking your doors, where your neighborhood was your world, where there was excitement in going to the movies, and PC’s and cable TV weren’t even on the drawing board yet. 1957P Franklins, though some what mushy in strike, come in very vivid colors and will surely please the collector when you find one of these gems . Have fun collecting Frankies!
1957P Franklin in MS66FBL
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Comments
Capped Bust Half Series
Capped Bust Half Dime Series
The Ludlow Brilliant Collection (1938-64)
Here are a few scans of some nice ones!
<< <i>My experience has been that this date is tough for an Ehrmantraut approved FBL. >>
For those of you who may not be familiar with "Ehrmantraut" approved - this would refer to an FBL coin where the three wisps of hair and the Pass and Stow are very visible. Due to the fact that the master die was wearing out, you have a tendency for a somewhat mushy strike on coins through 1959, therefore these would not be as fully struck as you might see on a 1948 or 49.
The pictures don't really do it justice...
This really is a WOW coin, I need to image it better.......Sometimes though, certian colors are very hard to capture...
"Senorita HepKitty"
"I want a real cool Kitty from Hepcat City, to stay in step with me" - Bill Carter
Yes it was
Frank, that's for posting a picture of that beautiful coin and the details regarding the 1957 Franklin and the times in which it was minted.
ttt for the evening crowd
--------T O M---------
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My 1866 Philly Mint Set
only 15 responses....What gives...This is the king of coins we're talkin bout here!
Dave
I have always considered 1957 the 1881-S of the Franklin series when it comes to gems.
Remember the famous words of Johnny Cochran:
"If it was graded by an idjit, you must resubmit"
and they're cold.
I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
Mary
Best Franklin Website
Tom
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Rgrds
Tom
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
Capped Bust Half Series
Capped Bust Half Dime Series
In Memory of Frank...
Currently Listed: Nothing
Take Care, Dave