Was looking to buy some Franklin's and came across this. It is being advertised as a "1953 D Franklin Half Dollar NGC MS65 FS-402 Obverse Die Clash Bugs Bunny Coin". I thought the 1955 was the only Bugs ? Are there more dates like this ? Help the newbie out.
There are clashes on almost every date of Franklin half that cause the Bugs look. 1955 just tends to be the most prominent and prolific date for the clash, so much so it's harder to find a non Bugs variety. The coin you posted does look clashed but based on the photos most of it has been polished out. See the below link for more comparison photos http://www.franklinlover.yolasite.com/bugs-bunny.php
these are the pictures shown on the site I've looked closely and don't see the 'bugs' teeth which would be obvious. Also being graded by NGC just leads to more questions.
Really it's because 'Bugs Bunny' gets used as a catch all term for the FS-50-401/402 clashes. Not all of them will show the fangs or bugs bunny teeth as prominently, some like the one you posted show more of boogers in the nose, etc.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that NGC declined to use the "Bugs Bunny" descriptive on their inserts because it could be construed as a copyright infringement. Chris
Without full photos to double check other markers, I would guess that is a fs-401 since the clash appears more at the base of the nose (402 clash for that year has more action towards the tip). There are clashes identified for many years in the Franklin series. The 1955 is the most common of the highly visible nonabraded varieties. The Denver mint clashes tend to show under the nose, like yours. San Fransisco minted coins with visible clashes are fairly difficult to find. Due to the repair techniques used at the time, the visual aspects of the clashes tended to get polished off fairly quickly. I believe the only variety officially recognized by NGC is the 1955 Bugs Bunny (this may have changed but I don't believe it has), but PCGS and ANACS both classify others.
IIRC, Tomaska's book says that Bugs Bunny clashes are known for all but one date/mint combo. I don't have my book right now to check, but they are definitely prevalent throughout the series. Why only the 55 made it into the Red Book, I don't know. Maybe it had to do with there being another prominent error in 55 (55 DDO cent)?
For years, the 1955 401 was the only officially recognized clash. This is in part due to it 1955 being the lowest mintage of the series causing it to already draw collector desirability early on it's life. It is also the most appealing visually- showing very strong teeth-like protrusions. It is considered one of the more common clashes of the series- the Philadelphia workers either didn't notice the clash or didn't care to repair it. Thus, there were many pulled out of circulation/put in collections early and it is fairly easy to spot with the naked eye. It became popular at some point after a main stream publication and really started the Franklin series clashed dies collecting.
Thanks for posting this link. I had about a hundred questions in my head about these die-clashed Franklins. The link answered all of them. You rock.
