53-S Franklin I just picked up- probably the sharpest strike I have seen

darktone · April 3, 2011 7:39AM

I think it looks better than the certified FBL coins I have seen. The obverse is really nice for the date/mint mark and the lower bell lines look as good as any I have owned. Feel free to grade or offer opinions. Think I should submit?

DoubleEagle59 · April 3, 2011 7:41AM

Looks real good!!

ms64FBL?

melikecoins · April 3, 2011 8:08AM

Nice bell lines for a 53

Glen

lcoopie · April 3, 2011 8:08AM

i don't see the FBL

kryptonitecomics · April 3, 2011 8:14AM

<< i don't see the FBL >>

+1

CoinCoins · April 3, 2011 8:24AM

+2

if they were there that'd be a monster for sure.... 5 figures

darktone · April 3, 2011 8:26AM

Hey guy's I never said it was FBL just that it was better than the certified FBL coins I have seen in person. From what I can tell there are two varieties of 53-S FBL coins- the first being like the one I have pictured with the lower bell lines close to being there and poor upper bell lines. The other variety I have seen has nice upper bell lines but the lower bell lines are not as nice as the one pictured. These are just my thoughts on looking for these coins for most of the last decade. By the way this coin was bought raw today for $30 and I am pretty happy about that

.

SkyMan · April 3, 2011 8:43AM

Nice strike.

hammered54 · April 3, 2011 8:54AM

I for one would like to see a coin where you could actually read the words on the bell.. never mind the bell lines.

my guess ms64 ...a 30 dollar coin.

darktone · April 3, 2011 8:56AM

<< I for one would like to see a coin where you could actually read the words on the bell.. never mind the bell lines.

my guess ms64 ...a 30 dollar coin. >>

I agree bell lines are not everything.

7Jaguars · April 3, 2011 9:17AM

Nice for 30 though. I think there is a bit of action on Bennie's cheek...

coolest · April 3, 2011 9:40AM

<< I for one would like to see a coin where you could actually read the words on the bell.. never mind the bell lines.

>>

Show us some good bell words please

darktone · April 3, 2011 9:50AM

<< Nice for 30 though. I think there is a bit of action on Bennie's cheek... >>

Actually the cheek area is really clean and that is the area of strike weekness on the obverse. When you shrink the image down to the true life size that is hardly noticeable. I think it has a real shot at 66 and the real reason I bought it.

PawPaul · April 3, 2011 10:30AM

..looks like a nicely struck PCGs MS 65 NFBL

Monstavet · April 3, 2011 10:47AM

I think the big hit in the prime focal area of the face coupled with all of the smaller marks in the cheek and hair plus the hit on the right edge of the bell preclude this coin from grading MS65. I think it is a well struck MS64, not FBL. Obviously the high quality images magnify these small defects, but that is my opinion. Nice coin for the date and MM.

georgiacop50 · April 3, 2011 10:54AM

Looks like 65 or 66 to me, and I would definitely submit that one at least several times.

That rev. die, with the die gouges on the lower lines and clapper, produced a good number of very close candidates.

frnklnlvr · April 5, 2011 10:56PM

Some of the PCGS graded '53-S FBLs are from this die. Your coin has better bell lines than most of this date but not enough for FBL IMO. I have a '53-S from this die but it's a LDS and the bell lines are similar to yours.

mdwoods · April 5, 2011 11:12PM

Nice coin. I'm in the 65 NFL group.

Meltdown · April 6, 2011 1:03AM

<< Nice coin. I'm in the 65 NFL group. >>

Same here. That's a great looking Franklin.

messydesk · April 6, 2011 1:31AM

65.

Perfect example of how while the spectrum of strike quality is obviously continuous, the designations and pricing represent two discrete levels. When price guides show a multiple of 100+ difference between these two levels, there are going to be coins on the lower level that represent an incredible value. This is such a coin.

Broadstruck · April 6, 2011 1:56AM

It's not a series I'm particularly fond of, but I see this example as a super slider imho

BigE · April 6, 2011 2:07AM

Maybe pcgs 65+, dont send it in economy or you wont get "plus', thought I would remind you darktone! Good luck with it

-------BigE

Frankcoins · April 6, 2011 9:19AM

SEGS calls this one 75% FBL I don't think I have ever seen one that would be 100% full...it's always "the best yer gonna get."

darktone · April 6, 2011 11:16AM

Thanks for the pics Frank. There is one coin on the Heritage website that looks hammered. I have never seen it in person though.

georgiacop50 · March 21, 2012 11:24PM

<< It's not a series I'm particularly fond of, but I see this example as a super slider imho

>>

Well it is currently in a PCGS MS66 holder....

7Jaguars · March 21, 2012 11:31PM

Wow, that is shocking as there is simply too much chatter on Ben's hairline and jawline for a 66 IMO. Why, oh why can I not catch PCGS on a snoozing grading day like the one this coin seems to have gotten through on. Regardless of the bell line state, the obv. should be dinging the grade a lot more...

joeykoins · March 22, 2012 12:04AM

Nice coin dude!

Blackhawk · March 22, 2012 12:19AM

I sent this one in a year or so ago and did not get the full bell designation.

georgiacop50 · March 22, 2012 12:24AM

<< Wow, that is shocking as there is simply too much chatter on Ben's hairline and jawline for a 66 IMO. Why, oh why can I not catch PCGS on a snoozing grading day like the one this coin seems to have gotten through on. Regardless of the bell line state, the obv. should be dinging the grade a lot more... >>

Clearly, the grade got a bump for the strike...

19Lyds · March 22, 2012 1:12AM

<< 

<< It's not a series I'm particularly fond of, but I see this example as a super slider imho

>>

Well it is currently in a PCGS MS66 holder.... >>

Wait a minute here.

Broadstruck is refering to the OP's coin not Franks coin.

The OP's coin was purchased raw and is still raw.

georgiacop50 · March 22, 2012 1:45AM

The OP coin is PCGS MS66.

ColonelKlinck · March 22, 2012 4:14AM

<< I sent this one in a year or so ago and did not get the full bell designation.

>>

With a full "Pass and Stow", your 53-S is a monster strike and should receive the FBL designation. I've seen many a franklin with a much lesser strike graded as full bell lines. You got robbed on that submission.

magikbilly · March 22, 2012 5:01AM

"Clearly, the grade got a bump for the strike..."

Sometimes I used to think it would be great if the grade was broken down into Strike, Luster, Eye Appeal etc. while keeping it simple. Much less guessing for the consumer, but then more to get right...or wrong I suppose..more to guarantee or more reasons for resubmits so, I guess something like this will never happen.

It just seems one coin is 65 but "is" a 66 because of strike, another 66 "is" a 65 because it is toned not quite beautifully, and another coin one might think is a 62 but actually is a 63+ to those who know the series well...hardly clear with all these permutations (unless you know every series very well). This might make sight unseen trading more succesful - a little more to gauge and less to guess? How many different ways can a 62 be a 62? Are there some 62's you don't want and some you do? Would additional data...not unlike the RD, RB and Brn...be useful to you?
What was that coin posted a while back..."how'd would you feel if you bought that as a 62 and then saw it in hand as it is?" Perhaps that kind of problem could be minimized. It would be good for all. My .02

Eric

53-S Franklin I just picked up- probably the sharpest strike I have seen

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