I am just starting to appreciate Franklins. This is my first slabbed Franklin, and has a grade of MS-64FBL via PCGS. Could I get some feedback on this half? What you like, what you don't like. TYVM. Also if you have a Franklin you would like to share please do. ~Jason
JCB, For what it's worth, you should know that PCGS only requires that the bottom set of bell lines be full, whereas, NGC requires that both sets of bell lines be full. If you can, you might want to take a look at the NGC Registry Set of Physics-fan3.14. Besides having a wonderful set, he took the time to describe very thoroughly each and every coin. It may give you some added insight to collecting them. Chris
lol rockin the mullet back in the 1700's. I appreciate that 9ball, I had no idea. Would you say that this wouldn't quite be FBL according to NGC? TY
With my eyesight? I can't tell because of the glare, but take a close look at the top bell lines about two-thirds of the way to the right of the crack and also there appears to be some sort of mark a little more than one-third of the way to the left of the crack. I tried enlarging it but it still didn't do me any good. What would be better is for you to look at the NGC Registry Sets to see how they attribute them. I don't chase FBL's, FT's, FH's. It's too FOS for me. I'm more concerned with CAM, UCAM, DMPL & PL. Chris
Nice coin. I like it. Is the black spot on the reverse toning? That's the only thing I am not fond of
Rick Tomaska has a nice book on Franklin Halves (The Complete Guide to Franklin Half Dollars). On page 15 he discusses Full Bell Lines. The FBL designation mostly deals with the bell lines themselves (as you would expect), but it's also a designation given to the overall strike of the coin. Strike characteristics such as the definition of Franklin's hair on the obverse play a part in assigning the FBL designation. ...I find that interesting.
Thank you very much guys. Time to hit the books. I am going to try to take a look at Rick Tomaska's book. Other than that do you have a link where I can view the NGC registry set? I should have taken a closer look at the coin. (the toning sold me). I ended up paying 120 on this one.
I judge coin books by the amount of pleasure they give me as I pursue this hobby. The Rick Tomaska book is near the top of the list.
Unlike HULLCOINS, the first think I looked at was the toning on the coin. Beautiful! Wish I could see a larger image of the reverse because I see a little "interruption" with the lines to be labeled as FBL. Chris is right about the differences in attributions between NGC and PCGS. In order to receive the designation, PCGS requires the coins to exhibit complete, uninterrupted lower lines on the Liberty Bell. NGC has a higher standard for the designation, requiring all six lines (upper and lower sets) to be fully visible.
Here's a link to Jason's (Physics-fan3.14) NGC Registry Set. I'm not sure if you can access it this way. I've never tried it before, so let me know whether it does or doesn't work. http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetListing.aspx?PeopleSetID=6638 Chris
If you posted a pic without the glare people here might be able to give opinions on whether they think its FBL or not. There are some dates in the series where the added FBL designation can be an added hundreds (Maybe even thousands) of dollars in value.
No, I do not think NGC would give the FBL to that coin. The bottom line (of the upper set) is quite weak to the left of the crack, so is the center line. And the top line and the middle line are cut by a contact mark about a 1/3 of the way across (left of the crack).
If only one set of the bell lines is full, it would not pass NGC for an FBL on the label. They require both sets of lines to be full, and unbroken or interrupted, including from a scratch or bag mark.
