"I remember sometime back in the early 1980's when a dealer (I think his name was Harold Kritzman, or
something like that) paid what was at the time a record price for a Franklin. It was a 1949-S PL, and I
think it traded at $2500 (again, my memory is a bit vague on this, so don't hold me to it!)"
_____________________
Yes, your memory is correct.
I was previously offered this coin in a private transaction at $1800 but turned it down. It was an amazing specimen with very shallow ( but definite ) PL surfaces with mild cameo type frost contrast on the devices. It was definitely an FBL and by today's standards I suspect it would be a very conservative 65+/66 ( likely grading MS66 ). The thing that stood out most for me was the cameo frostiness and background swirling shallow PL luster of the fields rather than the overall depth of the mirrors. The coin was also quite "clean" for such reflective surfaces which would otherwise accentuate bagmarks.
The only reason I turned it down was the price ( at the time I was offered it, it would have surpased any recorded sale of a Franklin by far ) and because the surface mirrors, although showing a PL'ness, had a hint of frostiness to them and were not deep enough in my mind to pay what was at the time an enormous world record premium.
I had in my collection, at the time, two deep mirror 1949-s coins which I was content with and just did not see shelling out that kind of money for an "extra" albeit unbelievable piece, with what in comparison were borderline PL fields.
Some time latter the coin was sold to the dealer you refer to and about at the price you mention, and the transaction was reported in Coin World ( with a picture of the coin shown in the article ). I confirmed that it was the same coin ( after reading the Coin World article ) with the individual who had much earlier offered me the same coin.
Comments
Chance favors the prepared mind.
"I remember sometime back in the early 1980's when a dealer (I think his name was Harold Kritzman, or
something like that) paid what was at the time a record price for a Franklin. It was a 1949-S PL, and I
think it traded at $2500 (again, my memory is a bit vague on this, so don't hold me to it!)"
_____________________
Yes, your memory is correct.
I was previously offered this coin in a private transaction at $1800 but turned it down. It was an amazing specimen with very shallow ( but definite ) PL surfaces with mild cameo type frost contrast on the devices. It was definitely an FBL and by today's standards I suspect it would be a very conservative 65+/66 ( likely grading MS66 ). The thing that stood out most for me was the cameo frostiness and background swirling shallow PL luster of the fields rather than the overall depth of the mirrors. The coin was also quite "clean" for such reflective surfaces which would otherwise accentuate bagmarks.
The only reason I turned it down was the price ( at the time I was offered it, it would have surpased any recorded sale of a Franklin by far ) and because the surface mirrors, although showing a PL'ness, had a hint of frostiness to them and were not deep enough in my mind to pay what was at the time an enormous world record premium.
I had in my collection, at the time, two deep mirror 1949-s coins which I was content with and just did not see shelling out that kind of money for an "extra" albeit unbelievable piece, with what in comparison were borderline PL fields.
Some time latter the coin was sold to the dealer you refer to and about at the price you mention, and the transaction was reported in Coin World ( with a picture of the coin shown in the article ). I confirmed that it was the same coin ( after reading the Coin World article ) with the individual who had much earlier offered me the same coin.
I hope that this little bit of history helps.
Ricardo
and they're cold.
I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
Mary
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