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Does this half warrant a Cameo designation? - Update, the coin has been graded.

SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,927 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited June 3, 2026 4:19PM in U.S. Coin Forum

1956 Type 2


Comments

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,515 ✭✭✭✭✭

    No

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • U1chicagoU1chicago Posts: 6,877 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Borderline yes (likely meaning a no from the TPGs)

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,730 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Would either of you care to say why?

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • MaywoodMaywood Posts: 4,033 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Based on the images provided I would say the coin has insufficient and uneven frost.

    "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin

  • cheezhedcheezhed Posts: 6,313 ✭✭✭✭✭

    No

    Many happy BST transactions
  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,515 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 7, 2026 11:18AM

    @BillJones said:
    Would either of you care to say why?

    Lack of frost on Franklin’s cheek and left of/above his right brow, as well as large portions of the bell.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • FlyingAlFlyingAl Posts: 4,363 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Can we get a different picture?

  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 31,914 ✭✭✭✭✭

    No, the frost is lacking to me (for lack of better words)

  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,959 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 7, 2026 12:18PM

    @MFeld said:

    @BillJones said:
    Would either of you care to say why?

    Lack of frost on Franklin’s cheek and left of/above his right brow, as well as large portions of the bell.

    Especially the cheek which is the first thing most people look at. Edit, really close call though.

  • RedRocketRedRocket Posts: 1,400 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Cameo is possible.

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,730 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 7, 2026 3:05PM

    I wish someone would offer a Proof like that to me for regular, non Cameo Proof money. I have seen less convincing examples in Cameo holders.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • coinbufcoinbuf Posts: 12,406 ✭✭✭✭✭

    From these dinner plate size photos I say no, smaller photos might give a different perspective. No clue what any of the TPG's would say.

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  • CoinscratchCoinscratch Posts: 10,835 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I don’t think so, but 68 is a lock.

  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,515 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Coinscratch said:
    I don’t think so, but 68 is

    Grading Proof coins from images, is rarely a “lock” no matter how great they might look.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • U1chicagoU1chicago Posts: 6,877 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BillJones said:
    I wish someone would offer a Proof like that to me for regular, non Cameo Proof money. I have seen less convincing examples in Cameo holders.

    You can find such coins with later date Franklins (56, 60-63) since the price jump from non cameo to cameo isn’t high (especially for grades below 67).

  • oldabeintxoldabeintx Posts: 2,962 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I’ve seen many photos of proof Franklins that appear cameo but aren’t designated as such by a TPG. I imagine they are nice coins with good contrast, but it’s a waste of time and maybe money to make a judgement or purchase based on a photo.

  • DesertCoinDesertCoin Posts: 364 ✭✭✭

    No

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  • jesbrokenjesbroken Posts: 11,189 ✭✭✭✭✭

    No, lack of continuous frost on face and bell.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

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  • CoinscratchCoinscratch Posts: 10,835 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:

    @Coinscratch said:
    I don’t think so, but 68 is

    Grading Proof coins from images, is rarely a “lock” no matter how great they might look.

    True, I suppose, even a common coin, such as this could have hairlines but I certainly wouldn’t expect it to.

  • ChrisH821ChrisH821 Posts: 7,075 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This date is very common in CAM, as you know, so I would not bother having one graded that I was not sure would go CAM. Even if this did cam, it doesn't have the eye appeal that these often have.

    Collector, occasional seller

  • SilverEagle1974SilverEagle1974 Posts: 150 ✭✭✭

    Needs more frosting.

  • privatecoinprivatecoin Posts: 3,763 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Sadly, not likely. I'd say they have tightened up their requirements a lot.

    Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc

  • TallahasseeCoinClubTallahasseeCoinClub Posts: 316 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 9, 2026 5:50AM

    I'd give it a 75% chance of garnering the designation.

    I recently submitted a 1950, hoping for PR-63 (no cameo), and it came back PR-62 CAM. So... um... a fair tradeoff I guess?

    Edited to add: I also believe one of the major grading services has slightly more stringent standards for applying CAM (and UCAM for that matter).

    Official PCGS account of:

    www.TallahasseeCoinClub.com

  • Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 9,692 ✭✭✭✭✭

    No

    Investor
  • leothelyonleothelyon Posts: 8,537 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The front of Franklin's face looks frosty. You need more pronounce lighting to remove the shadows.

    Leo

    The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

    My Jefferson Nickel Collection

  • SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,927 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The half has been sent in to our host for grading.

    I will post the grade result and TruView photo of the coin.

  • SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,927 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The half dollar has been graded. The Trueview photo is below. No peeking. What do you think it graded?

  • PeakRaritiesPeakRarities Posts: 4,818 ✭✭✭✭✭

    68cam?

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  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,515 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @SanctionII said:
    The half dollar has been graded. The Trueview photo is below. No peeking. What do you think it graded?


    Both sides exhibit more frost in the newly posted pictures. Which set of images is more accurate?

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,927 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Mark.

    The Trueview photo.

  • pursuitoflibertypursuitofliberty Posts: 7,796 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think it got the CAM if the TV is more accurate.

    Grade? No clue. 67??


    “We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

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  • CoinscratchCoinscratch Posts: 10,835 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 3, 2026 7:21PM

    I’ll go PR 68 no cam based on the upper right yoke.
    And 68 instead of 67 because the frosting is thick just not complete.

    And to answer you in advance @mfeld
    Because PCGS tends to grade proofs higher when they fail the cam designation with thick frost.
    Example, the same coin could either go 67 cam or 68 no cam.

    Edit: and I’m guessing that’s because the 68 with good frosting would have essentially a better strike. Albeit all things equal, including the images lol.

  • SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,927 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 4, 2026 6:12AM

    i bought this coin over 25 years ago. It was in a PCGS slab graded PF68. i thought it warranted a Cameo designation. i submitted it for reconsideration hoping for a Cameo designation. I was not successful.

    I recently cracked the coin out of its slab and submitted it for grading raw. The coin received a grade of PF67CAM.

  • CommemDudeCommemDude Posts: 2,428 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Well that proves that grading is always subjective, but I'm dumbfounded because it can also be a number sent down from heaven on a stone tablet depending on who's defending the grade and which thread you're reading

    Dr Mikey
    Commems and Early Type
  • PeakRaritiesPeakRarities Posts: 4,818 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Another piece of grading room info I was told before was about “double liners” where both the grade and designation could go either way. What they’ll do is give you one but not the other. Ie. either 67cam or 68 no cam, but not both.

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  • ChrisH821ChrisH821 Posts: 7,075 ✭✭✭✭✭

    67CAM is what I had in mind. Just a couple noticeable "things" in the field above the date.

    Collector, occasional seller

  • FlyingAlFlyingAl Posts: 4,363 ✭✭✭✭✭

    PR68CAM.

  • Morgan13Morgan13 Posts: 2,405 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice coin. To bad you had to chase the designation but now your all set!

    Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
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