Hey everyone. I was just reading this thread (trying not to hijack it) and it spoke of different eagle varieties on the back of the 1959 Franklin half dollar. It peaked my curiosity, and knowing I have a 1959 Franklin, I thought I'd check which type mine is. I read about the varieties at this website, but I'm not sure of its credibility, or if there is a better resource. I'm looking at mine and it appears to only have 3 feathers to the left of the eagle. It also has a blob/hole thing at the top of its chest. So I'm leaning toward it either being a type 2 or a type 1/2 DDR (discussed in link above). Sorry I don't have the ability to get any closer of pictures. But I left them in their highest resolution. The coin is about VF20 I'd say, so it is a bit worn. Thank you.
*Ehh-emm* I believe that was my thread you're speaking of, good sir. Anyways, the circulation wear on your coin makes it a bit more difficult to discern T1 from t2, but, if I had to guess, I'd call it T1. The eagle's inner wing feathers aren't sharp enough for me to safely say it's a T2. (If anyone disagrees, use this source to judge- http://www.franklinlover.yolasite.com/type-1-and-2.php) Whether it's T1 or T2, the die variety doesn't a premium. I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, the only "Type" variety Franklin Half that commands any sort of premium is the 1956 Type 1 Proof, simply because of the scarcity and breif use of the particular type of die. -Brian
Well there is supposedly a third type which is a double die of type 1 and type 2 (discussed in the link in my post) I'm wondering if mine looks like that one. You can notice how my eagle has some feather ridges in the middle, while type 1 does not have any ridges in the middle. Yet type 2 has full ridges top to bottom, but mine doesn't have full ridges. However, one must take into account the wear on mine for sure. Thank you for your input!
If you post a pic of the entire reverse and also focus in on e pluribus unum, that would help me see if it may be the DDR. However, the wear on the coin may be obscuring the PUPs. TC
I also notice this bump (picture of the coin from the website posted above), but I don't think I'd be able to get a good picture of it.
Wow I going to look around at my MS-63FBL set see what I can find. but this one is very interesting!!!:kewl:
I don't have any double dies or error coins in my collection that I know of, but if you guys agree that this looks like one then it will be my first! This website says it's rarity URS-10 (250-500 known), but the other website stated that 250,000-500,000 may have been made.
I am pretty sure that it is not the 1959 FS-801 Franklin DDR, but cannot say definitively because of the wear on the main PUPs. Send a PM to Jason (Physics Fan) or Joe (jceravone) and ask them to take a look at it. TC
Hmm, what makes you guys think it's not the one? It shows a few noticeable signs to me, such as the spot on the eagle's chest, the curved blob above the eagle and the clash above the bell.
I looked thur mine there not a type 2 in my MS Franklin or my Franklin Proof's 1954-1963. still hunting 1950-53 that don't cost a arm+ a leg:kewl:
Yes, this is the 1959 DDR FS-801 listed in the CPG. It can be difficult to identify in circulated condition. It's one of my favorite Franklin varieties! I do have this listed as URS-10 as previously mentioned but the mintage is likely much higher. That rarity rating is based on certified populations and pieces that I've handled. This DDR was paired with two different obverse dies so it may have a higher mintage than the average die. These can be found fairly easy in MS60-64 (or circulated) with or w/o FBL. In MS65/65FBL they get scarcer and very few are known in 66/66FBL. A few more things to add... When trying to identify this variety from a photo the eagle is the first thing I check. The more of these you see the easier it gets to distinguish these from a type 1 or type 2. I will admit that the circulated piece in the OP does look a lot like a type 1 due to the wear. The next PUP I check is the right bell "handle" with the little upward bulge. This is a "class III" doubled die. For those unfamiliar with what a "class III" is check out http://doubleddie.com/203885.html on Wexler's site. Basically it's a die that has been hubbed with two different design types. A good example would be the 1942/41 Mercury dime varieties. These are typically referred to as overdates but technically they're DDOs since the date isn't punched directly into the working die. With the 1959 Franklin, the die was first hubbed with a type 1 design and then a type 2. This is why the doubling on E PLURIBUS UNUM goes in different directions on some letters. Notice how the E, 1st U of PLURIBUS and R show a spread to the west and US of PLURIBUS show a spread to the east.
