Does this coin look like an MS 64 to you? To me it looks Au 53/55. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-S-FRAN...21?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item2ec6aff0c5
Yes, it does look MS to me. I think the toning pattern is making it hard to see luster and obscures some of the details on the coin. This isn't unusual for album toned Frankies.
It may be a weak strike, but I'll be curious to hear what the Franklin specialists say. It's a nice coin.
Considering the date/mint, and that it does not look that far off from NGC's FBL criteria, it should come of no surprise that some leniency was awarded.
Leniency regarding grade because of date/mint is one thing. But leniency for a special designation with stated criteria - that's something else again. And yeah, it did surprise me because they are usually pretty strict about it.
In the times past I would have wholeheartedly agreed, but as of late I've seen a number of what I believe to be questionable calls in regards to said designation. Of course, my sampling size may be too small to state that designation leniency is fact, but long ago I learned to believe my own eyes over what should be or supposedly is, so I must respectfully stand by my original statement; considering date, mint, and the fact that it is close (at least from what the images show), this does not surprise me.
It's a MS Franklin, but I'm not sold on the FBL. There is way too much chatter around the crack bleeding into the bell lines, and the numerous dings that cross through the lines, I don't agree with FBL. I'll go along with a weak strike and evidence is the eagle on the reverse, if you look at the wings you can some details missing on the wings, but not from wear as it doesn't look like wear.
Looks MS to me, but some might be fooled by the "hot spots" in the image and think they are wear instead of lighting issues.
I guess I'll be the first to say that I think the toning is unattractive. Fingerprint collectors might like it, though.
Fair enough. I readily admit I have not been watching recently graded FBL's that closely. So perhaps they have become more lenient. I guess that shouldn't surprise me really for as you know I wholeheartedly believe that they became more lenient in their grading long ago. So becoming more lenient in this respect as well kind of follows. Guess I was just holding out hope that they would leave some things alone. Not to be it seems.