Okay, I bought the book because, like a lot of collectors, I have some Kennedy halves and I'm also interested in the Franklin's. But I don't understand why the book doesn't show pops or other information for coins graded below MS60. I doubt that every coin of the two is MS. Correct me if I'm wrong, but at present this book doesn't help. All the coins start at MS60 and go up from there.
Franklins go down to VF20. It basically goes down to where changes in grade stop producing a noticeable change in price. I just use the Red Book for general information. I go to the NGC or PCGS price guides for more current values/census info... PCGS: https://www.pcgs.com/prices NGC: https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/united-states/
In my Red Book Franklins are priced down to VF-20. Below that grade Franklins are worth only bullion value. Below MS-60 1964 Kennedy's are worth only bullion value. Below MS-63 1965 through 1970 Kennedy's are worth only bullion value. Below MS-63 1971 and later Kennedy's are worth only face value.
I understand the official Red Book of US coins go down to the lower grades, but I'm talking about the one that is only about the Franklin and Kennedy halves and nothing else. It seems like it's incomplete, like it's just a supplement that goes deeper into the higher grades the Red Book of US coins doesn't. That's not what I expected and seems to shortchange the lower grades.
It is a book that focuses on the intricacies of higher grade Franklin and Kennedy MS and proof coins. Like it or not, most of these halves that are below MS are not rare.
There are, however, desirability is still in coins of a higher grade. Most collectors won't have anything graded if not in the 63 or above range, with few exceptions.
I have a lot of raw Kennedys...all would grade a 64 MIN. As for the FBL, not of any value in circulated grades. If you like to fill slots in Whitman folders, than circulated Franklins are a good bet. Just my opinion and not meant to be rude, but as afore mentioned, circulated Franks and Kennedys are worth spot.
I put twenty Kennedy's from 1971 to 1991, all MS, in a local auction and they sold for $78. Of course I had to pay the auction 45%.
When I was a kid, I collected circulated coins and put them in cardboard folders. I could only dream of owning a complete set of circulated Franklin Half Dollars. A good portion of my earlier collections were stolen, but I've since reconstituted circulated collections in Whitman folders to share with the kids. Coins, actually used in commerce, are appealing to me for some reason.
As a kid in the early 1960s I rolled coins for a bank to earn extra money, although I usually spent my pay on coins I found going through them before wrapping. Even in those days half dollars saw very little circulation, and the Franklins were still relatively new, even the early ones. Unless they were damaged, I don't recall ever seeing a Franklin (or late WL) that would grade less than VF. They may have existed, but they certainly weren't collectible. Today you might find one that has been somebody's "pocket piece," but you will not likely find many with honest circulation wear much below VF. They only circulated lightly and for only 12 years.
You can buy circulated Franks by the bag from APMEX for $12 per coin...they're worth spot but as for anything bullion, you pay a small premium for the service.
So, a little more on topic, would you overall recommend the book or not? I actually asked for it for my birthday as I have an MS Franklin collection and toyed with Kennedys once one of my other sets is complete. I thought it would be nice to gleam some background to the design, rarities, common varieties, etc but from what I gather you were a little disappointed?