Franklin collectors: When did the 1961 Proof DDR first get discovered?
SanctionII
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I have been looking through the Val Webb 1984 book on 1950-1964 Cameo Proofs. The discussion of 1961 proof half dollars in that book does not mention the DDR variety (the big one or the minor ones). The book does discuss 1956 Type 1 and Type 2 proof half dollars.
I recall that Rick Tomaska's 1991 book on Cameos also mentions the Type 1 and type 2 1956 half dollars (I do not recall if it mentions 1961 DDR half dollars). Mr. Tomaska's three other separate books on Franklin half dollars that were published after 1991 all mention the 1961 DDR half dollar.
The 1961 DDR half dollar has a very small population of PCGS and NGC certified coins (about 150-160 I think), relative to the total mintage of over 3 million.
So all of the above, particularly reading the Val Webb, book caused me to think about when the 1961 DDR half dollar first popped up on the hobby radar screen.
Anybody know the answer?
I recall that Rick Tomaska's 1991 book on Cameos also mentions the Type 1 and type 2 1956 half dollars (I do not recall if it mentions 1961 DDR half dollars). Mr. Tomaska's three other separate books on Franklin half dollars that were published after 1991 all mention the 1961 DDR half dollar.
The 1961 DDR half dollar has a very small population of PCGS and NGC certified coins (about 150-160 I think), relative to the total mintage of over 3 million.
So all of the above, particularly reading the Val Webb, book caused me to think about when the 1961 DDR half dollar first popped up on the hobby radar screen.
Anybody know the answer?
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Comments
listed in the first edition of the CPG,
published in 1990.
I do recall that it was known in the
error community well before that;
I can't recall a particular article or
listing for the first time, but I'm pretty
certain it was a known major Doubled
Die Proof coin even back in the 1970's...
I'll try to find something earlier, if I can.
Then outa know where a voice said, "None of them are Franklin DDR's"
Guess they're pretty well known. I then asked, "what's a DDR", tryin my best to play stupid.
Don't really know if he bought it though. Ya think there are any sets out there containing a Franklin DDR?
Morgansforever: In answer to your question about whether there are any 1961 proof sets out there that contain a DDR, as of December 20, 2011 there was at least one such set.
I know this is true because I got lucky, found the set, bought it (because the half dollar looked like it is a Cameo, not because I knew it contained a DDR half) and after buying it discovered that the half in the set is the major DDR.
When someone calls me
"Mr. Weinberg", I always
look behind to see if my
father is there!
(even though I'm old now too!)
- don't feel it however -
Talk about lucky, geeez. A 65 Cam must go for North of $1200, right? Anyone know the highest graded?
PCGS Price Guide 63 64 65 66 67 68 69
1961 50C Doubled Die Reverse 700 2000 3250 4750 10000 0 0
1961 50C Doubled Die Reverse + 960 2150 3500 5750 0 0 0
1961 50C Doubled Die Reverse, CA 750 2350 3750 8000 15000 0 0
1961 50C Doubled Die Reverse, CA + 1070 2630 4600 9400 0 0 0
There is only a single CAM graded example...Kevin's would definitely make 2.
See this thread for pictures and discussion following Kevin's discovery.
"Those that have been found soon after it was discovered (in the early or mid 1980s, I believe) are evidently in strong (collector) hands.I can't recall the last time I saw one for sale, either by private treaty or in a dealer ad."
The article goes on to say that it was a $1200 coin in 1997.
I have another clipping of an ad from Jeff Noe of Oklahoma City. I don't know the date of the ad, but he had 2 of them, both ANA certified. One was a PF63 for $850, and the other a PR64 for $1000.
Jim
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
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