Nice Example of 1952 Proof Franklin RED-001 Obverse on EBay

Intueor

Here is the Link:
https://ebay.com/itm/1952-FRANKLIN-HALF-DOLLAR-PCGS-PR-67-CAMEO-50c-UCAM-OBVERSE/291910201337?hash=item43f7342ff9:g:lHEAAOSwNRdYAD3s

This rare variety is the re-engraved lower back hair curls in the nape of the neck. Only about one in 500 proofs show this variety and it is rarer in a cameo. I have “trolled” this variety for years. I look through high-resolution photos of Registry sets and True Views on PCGS and similar photos on NGC. I also look on Great Collections. This is by far the best example I have ever come across. In ten years I have only viewed six other examples of this variety. One proof 66 Cam (me), one Proof 67, two proof 66, and two proof 64. This is a great example of a Hand-engraved coin. The 1952 proof is the lesser-known cousin to the 1950 Proof RED obverse & reverse varieties.

Below are some detail shots of the 1952 RED-001 and the “Typical” hair curls.

Disclaimer:
This coin is priced way above my pay grade and I do not know the seller.
Just thought fellow “Fankies” might like to see a rare variety.
I let the seller know but never got a response.

1tommy

I just posted this coin the other day in the Franklin thread asking for toned coins. I noticed another member had posted a few other proof Franklins from different years and the first thing I saw was the different in the hair styles. I thought maybe they were just different on certain years.

So I went to ebay this morning to see why mine was different from the others and noticed there was two different obverse dies for the 1952. I wonder how many different Obverse dies there are? Thank's for sharing now I need to figure out if mine is the the normal one or the engraved......

Enjoy Tom

Intueor

Hi Tom,
If the coin pictured is your coin, it is the "Normal" lower back hair curls found on most 1952 proof obverses.

Note the void where the curls have been polished off. Check the RED-001 image below to see the hand engraving in this area.

Hope this helps

1tommy

If you look at the your first picture of a Typical one, notice the bottom curls touch the shoulder and yet in mine they do not touch the shoulder and mine look like two separate curls. I also noticed there is a difference on the Lapel. This is why I ask if there were more than 2 different Obverse dies. Interesting and I will try and look at more examples this week. Tom

ricko

This is interesting... was not aware of this one....I need to check my coins... Looking at the ebay listing, I see the description is 'enhanced'....."UCAM obverse".....Obviously not a label description... Cheers, RickO