Question on 1958 Franklin

08HALA20 · January 21, 2004 4:12AM

Hi all,
I just got back my 58 proof set from PCGS
The Franklin Half came back PR64.
I mentioned the grades in an earlier message.
Russ, you mentioned that hairlines will result in a PR64 grade.
I used a 10x magnifier and the coin looks smooth and really shiny.
Sorry I can't take a picture of it.

I did notice a lot of spotting on the coin.

Couple of questions I am sure someone can answer.

Can the spotting make it a PR64.
The other coins graded 66 and I thought this should be that at least.

Can anyone show me what hairlines look like??

Should I break it open , clean it and resubmit???

Probably not worth the expense.

Thanks for your comments.
Joe

Rampage · January 21, 2004 4:45AM

I think spotting can result in a 64 grade. A proof 68, in my opinion, would not increase the value enough to make it worth your time and effort to crack, clean and resubmit.

FC57Coins · January 21, 2004 5:14AM

Spotting will definitely knock a coin down in grade significantly. As for hairlines - think of someone taking a paintbrush and painting over your coin - the lines left are called hairlines and they're usually due to mishandling. If you have a halogen lamp, put your coin under it and rotate it - you should be able to see the hairlines then.

LucyBop · January 21, 2004 5:18AM

Spotting, milkspots....can really hurt a grade, but pr64 is quite low....

I'll bet this one has hairlines which can be tough to see sometimes. You often have to hold the coin and rotate it at different angles to see the hairlines, also, some lighting can help to mask hairlines..

Try examining your coin in the above mentioned manner and use various lighting.....

Hairlines will appear to be realy fine scratches....

RiffRaff1967 · January 21, 2004 5:24AM

Would these hairlines all go in the same direction? I'm just curious because I have a 1957 Frankie proof that has lines in the fields - all going the same direction across the coin. I didn't realize that this was a bad thing.

08HALA20 - didn't mean to hijack your thread, may be that we have similar coins!

LucyBop · January 21, 2004 5:28AM

No hairlines can go in different directions.........

sometimes if you look real close, you'll discover that the little green men were using the field of the coin for a tic tac toe game!

nwcs · January 21, 2004 5:29AM

May also be light damage. I've seen this before where there were some contact marks on the coin surface. That'd drop the grade. The mint caused that at times, too.

oreville · January 21, 2004 5:36AM

hairlines under a magnifying glass appear to be recessed straight lines and can crossover from the fields to the devices. Such hairlines can also be pointed in different directions at the same time but they are always straight. Die cracks appear to be raised lines, usually not straight and that is not a bad thing although in proof issues that is a sign of an old die which proof coin collectors generally dislike. Now, error collectors like that sort of thing at times.

There is a third set of lines, also generally straight....die polishing lines (sometimes we call them die striation lines) which generally are in the fields and very, very rarely ever crossover into the devices. Or they might be in the device but rarely crossover to the fields. They can also be distracting but are mint made and also appear to be raised lines. They can limit the grade assigned to the coin. But they are NOT a sign of after mint production mishandling.

Die polishing lines are seen MUCH (sorry left that word out) more often in mint state coins, in my opinion.

LucyBop · January 21, 2004 5:40AM

<< <i>Die polishing lines are seen more often in mint state coins, in my opinion.
>>

and are very common in Franklin mint state coins, these can be very nice loking to me...

However, I have never seen this on a Proof Franklin.. and if a proof coin has them, PCGs graders may think hairlines and its pr64
city baby.....

mdwoods · January 21, 2004 5:46AM

I've seen a few proof Frankies than almost have a satin or matte finish.

added: I wonder if that is caused by the conditon of the dies, the planchets, or both?

RiffRaff1967 · January 21, 2004 5:49AM

My 1957 is still in the proof cello - and it has hairlines in the fields only and they all go in the same direction. When I first saw this, I had thought that I perhaps had a MS set - I found out later that the Mint sets for this year were not in cello. Anyway, I've always wondered why my proof coin has these lines.

Edit: I do think the lines on my coin are die polish lines.

oreville · January 21, 2004 5:53AM

RiffRaff: Are the lines raised or recessed? Are you sure the lines are in the coin and not in the plastic cello?

RiffRaff1967 · January 21, 2004 5:59AM

I will have to look at the coin when I get home. If I can, I'll scan it, but I'm not sure you will be able to see the lines - they are definately not on the cello.

RiffRaff1967 · January 21, 2004 7:09AM

Well, I stand corrected. After re-examining the coin, the lines *are* on the cello. Very fine lines all going in the same direction. Thanks for the help - I am still learning about Franklins - I soak it all up.

08HALA20 · January 21, 2004 7:38AM

Thanks everyone for the info.
FC57Coins: I will try different lighting and look again.
Thanks Lucy you always have good info.
RiffRaff1967: Your Questions added nicely to the discussion.
oreville thanks for the explanation.
I was more dissapointed with the spots than with the grade.
Really takes away from the coin.
I agree Rampage it is not worth resubmitting.
Joe

Question on 1958 Franklin

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