Is it time to buy Franklins yet? or wait?

pennyannie · July 15, 2009 1:00PM

When i first got into coins about 8 years ago i was like a kid in a candy store. I put together a set of franklins first. (raw) I had no clue of what i was doing but i had a good time. I sold that set a few years ago and i read on here all the time how Franklins seem to have no bottom. Should i start up now or wait? I want pcgs coins although i am not going to put them in a registry set. What is the best bang for the buck grade wise? I would like a few with color, what years seem to have color at reasonable prices? I am going to try to find some with a little edge tone and them a few white ones.

I read the thread about the ANACS franklin that was sold by Heritage and flipped to a pcgs holder. Should i consider ANACS for the money and cross them later or ????

Meltdown · July 15, 2009 1:03PM

There are no easy answers here. They seem very affordable to me right now, so I am buying mid grade eye appealing coins for my own collection.
I have a couple older anacs Franklins that I feel are a point undergraded, so I look for those.
Any 1955, 56, 57 or 58 are very common with nice color and generaly affordable.
Edited to add my latest purchase. Thanks Scott.

CoinJunkie · July 15, 2009 1:04PM

I will defer to the experts on most of your questions, but IMO the best bang for the buck is with eye-appealing MS64 (FBL) coins,
especially in a falling market. Of course, finding those can be a challenge.

shottaker · July 15, 2009 1:33PM

<< I will defer to the experts on most of your questions, but IMO the best bang for the buck is with eye-appealing MS64 (FBL) coins,
especially in a falling market. Of course, finding those can be a challenge. >>

Theres a lot of raw frankies with fbl out there on the bourse floors. I always look for the guys that cant or dont bother to grade them well.
If its a more common date in the 54-63 range theres tons.

Bochiman · July 15, 2009 2:09PM

If you are collecting with investment in mind, be careful.
If you are collecting to enjoy and have fun, and are ok with a little gain or a little loss, then Meltdown has the right idea on the grade range for most of them. You can find some nice coins, for a good price, in that grade area.

Go much higher and you will still spend more and find out that you may not get as much back in the future if they haven't rebounded.

stman · July 15, 2009 2:20PM

<< Any 1955, 56, 57 or 58 are very common with nice color and generaly affordable >>

I don't think 55 is very common with nice color. But that all depends what nice means to each person. In fact, 55 is very tough with nice color. I see very few in years of looking.

Meltdown · July 15, 2009 2:26PM

<< 

<< Any 1955, 56, 57 or 58 are very common with nice color and generaly affordable >>

I don't think 55 is very common with nice color. But that all depends what nice means to each person. In fact, 55 is very tough with nice color. I see very few in years of looking.
>>

True enough. I have two 1955's that I feel are attractive, both came from from the cardboard mint sets.
That's where I was going with "common" toning.

stman · July 15, 2009 2:32PM

Looks like you did good with that one.

Bcsican · July 15, 2009 2:39PM

Your best bet is to buy for enjoyment, prices are so low MS 64 coins wont hold any dollar value in the long run, you can pick up MS 65 coins so cheap it is a much better way to go for the long haul. Crossing stuff like that ANACS coin is rare, just buy PCGS coins you can build a high quality set and maintain some investment at the same time. If you buy raw to have graded you really need to know your grading abilities, and could be not worth the effort, buying coins already graded could save more down the road, one lucky find is great, but wont pay for a bunch of hit and miss coins. However you choose, just make it fun and dont plan the dollars will be a retirement down the road, but nice if it happens.

pennyannie · July 15, 2009 3:12PM

Not for investment, for a change. My main focus is proofs 1916 and earlier. I just want to put together a nice eye appealing set to leave in my home office and send the proof barber halves, quarters and dimes away to the dark safety deposit box for a long nap. Just a change.

PawPaul · July 16, 2009 1:05AM

Proofs 1916 and earlier ?

that would imply you are somewhat a hi roller.........

the supply of nice Franklin's is somewhat thin due to depressed prices , yet some are forced to sell and now is

definitely a great time to get real value for terrific coins-

your best bang for the buck is the early D mints in plain old MS65 , many have FBL's whether designated or not .

Buy a few and see if they fill the bill and are satisfying 4 you to own .........

Bcsican · July 16, 2009 1:14AM

I really like that 50 in the Old Green Rattler....good pick...

Meltdown · July 16, 2009 1:21AM

<< I really like that 50 in the Old Green Rattler....good pick... >>

Thank you.
The bell lines are much stronger than the picture indicates also which was a nice surprise.

metalmeister · July 16, 2009 1:21AM

I kind of have a soft spot for ol' Ben Franklin.
Inventor, great scientist, diplomat, etc....

What other silver series is easily completed in high grade?

Peace Dollars, yes but gets way Expensive!

go for the early FBL dates

FWIW. I was buying the series in NGC O.F.H. for a time. Nice matched set. Toning shows better against white. IMHO

frnklnlvr · July 16, 2009 7:52AM

Be careful buying FBLs as the standards of the TPGs have changed over the years.

BTW, what thread are you referring to about the Heritage auction with the ANACS to PCGS cross? I must have missed that one?

golfer72 · July 16, 2009 7:58AM

I like the proofs. All have FBL. Pirices have not come down though. Only one i still need is the 1950.

lcoopie · July 16, 2009 8:01AM

better unload them before it's too late
and they discolor

halfnut · July 16, 2009 8:02AM

Buy them if you take into acount that the price guild is off 50-65% and pay along those lower prices. I do not buy FBL coin's so I cannot speak about prices there. I think now is the time to pick up nice 65's,

Dan

shottaker · July 16, 2009 8:16AM

<< Not for investment, for a change. My main focus is proofs 1916 and earlier. I just want to put together a nice eye appealing set to leave in my home office and send the proof barber halves, quarters and dimes away to the dark safety deposit box for a long nap. Just a change. >>

Checked you reg set out on the proof Shield nickels as I just was looking at an 1880 in 63 on my desk. Ugly coin that everyone except the tpgs swear is a ms coin. Aah well no biggie. Nice set by the way! Saw you already have the same/date/grade/slab co.

Let me know if you plan to work on proof $3 golds. Currently have a 1880 $3 in 63 sitting around here somewhere.........
have another dealer I see weekly thats into early proof type pretty heavily but he's not cheap and very very picky with what he buys. Pennyladys 72 2cent in 66 came from him I'm sure. PM me if you want the number to his shop.

PawPaul · July 16, 2009 8:24AM

.......do Proof 3$ gold and Mint State Franklins go together on the same page even ?

MMR · July 16, 2009 8:27AM

I like them at these prices.

PawPaul · July 16, 2009 8:28AM

<< Be careful buying FBLs as the standards of the TPGs have changed over the years.

BTW, what thread are you referring to about the Heritage auction with the ANACS to PCGS cross? I must have missed that one? >>

title of the thread "You think the Holder means anything ?"

By the way , an ANACS MS67 FBL 1952-D Franklin "sold" last night @ Teletrade

shottaker · July 16, 2009 8:32AM

Sure!
He's working on some early proof type sets along with the frankies.

I've been buying raw better grade franklins for a few years now although not as aggresively as in the past since the days of every dealer being dumb about them are gone. It's now like 1 in 4 or 5 that dont pay them any attention.

Sorry if it seemd I was posting a sell offer (which I wasnt really) and I dont get any kickbacks from the other dealer either.

At least I dont do the high end show & tell posts really trolling for people to pm me with offers on my newest acquisitions like a lot of folks do here.

PawPaul · July 16, 2009 8:46AM

At least I dont do the high end show & tell posts really trolling for people to pm me with offers on my newest acquisitions like a lot of folks do here.

i am not smart enough to use this tactic ............. i get a new acquisition and I like to show it off , but seems nobody p.m's me anyway

shottaker · July 16, 2009 11:09PM

<< At least I dont do the high end show & tell posts really trolling for people to pm me with offers on my newest acquisitions like a lot of folks do here.

i am not smart enough to use this tactic ............. i get a new acquisition and I like to show it off , but seems nobody p.m's me anyway

>>

Wasnt in reference to you. Just taking a "shot" at some of the shameless self promoters I see on here. It's their perogative I guess but seems like a lot of the lookie what I boughts are really off topic posts. A lot are collectors just showing their pickups, but theres some that are promos.

lcoopie · July 17, 2009 12:42AM

<< 

<< At least I dont do the high end show & tell posts really trolling for people to pm me with offers on my newest acquisitions like a lot of folks do here.

i am not smart enough to use this tactic ............. i get a new acquisition and I like to show it off , but seems nobody p.m's me anyway

>>

Wasnt in reference to you. Just taking a "shot" at some of the shameless self promoters I see on here. It's their perogative I guess but seems like a lot of the lookie what I boughts are really off topic posts. A lot are collectors just showing their pickups, but theres some that are promos. >>

You may be right,
but I haven't noticed that at all

PawPaul · July 17, 2009 10:18AM

<< 

<< At least I dont do the high end show & tell posts really trolling for people to pm me with offers on my newest acquisitions like a lot of folks do here.

i am not smart enough to use this tactic ............. i get a new acquisition and I like to show it off , but seems nobody p.m's me anyway

>>

Wasnt in reference to you. Just taking a "shot" at some of the shameless self promoters I see on here. It's their perogative I guess but seems like a lot of the lookie what I boughts are really off topic posts. A lot are collectors just showing their pickups, but theres some that are promos. >>

....i knew it could not be me !

COINB0Y · July 17, 2009 10:55AM

<< Be careful buying FBLs as the standards of the TPGs have changed over the years.

BTW, what thread are you referring to about the Heritage auction with the ANACS to PCGS cross? I must have missed that one? >>

That 1949-S PL is Killer!

Is it time to buy Franklins yet? or wait?

Comments

Leave a Comment