Posted this same thread over at NGC to see what the consensus was over there. Now I'd like to hear what people over here think. Bought this coin raw about two and a half years ago. Had it submitted to NGC a little over a year ago. What do you think it came back as? Please vote in the poll. Also, give a brief explanation of your decision if you'd like.
Since it's NGC who assesses both sets of bell lines, I'd say the might have slide it into the FBL designation, I see ever slight noise on the top lines west of the crack, but I don't think it's enough to not get the FBL. 64 FBL
The results were pretty much the same over at the NGC forum. Most people thought it was a 65 and most thought it was FBL as well. However, NGC thinks it is a 64 FBL. Here is an NGC 64 Franklin I own just to compare. As you can see this coin has several minor nicks on both sides as well as one pretty major one on both sides(Franklin's jawline and low left set of bell Lines) Now here are a couple NGC 65 FBL's of mine to compare as well. I think the obverse of the 1948 I posted is nicer than that of this 56 and the reverses are about the same. Comparing the 48 to the 60, they're about the same. I think NGC under graded the 48 and should have given it a 65 FBL.
After studying your comparisons, it would seem that at the very least you could submit the '48 to CAC for verification. Just not so sure that it would be worth spending another $12.50 for the green sticker.
Yeah I've thought about that. There's a good sized coin show next month nearby that I'm going to bring the coin to and get some opinions from some dealers there then I'll decide what I want to do with it afterwards.
When you are trying to compare one coin to another to estimate the grade, you should never use coins of a different date & mint than the object coin. You should only use coins of the same date, same mint. That's because different dates/mints are graded differently than other dates/mints. You also have to keep in mind that there are 5 primary grading criteria, and 4 secondary grading criteria. And any single one of those 8 things, or a combination of them, can be the reason for a given coin to be graded lower, or higher. That's why you can look at a hundred different coins all of the same date/mint, and all graded exactly the same - yet they all look different from each other. Not understanding this is why so many people get confused or don't understand why coins are graded as they are.
You never have said what the luster is like in hand. With that said, the value is about $20 apart from 64 FBL to 65 FBL. I don't understand the need to do anything with it at this point. It's a nice coin. I would just be happy with it.
I just voted in the poll before scrolling down. I do agree though, it is FBL (though I think it was close to not making it) and a 65. Either way, it's a nice coin.
i love NGC, but i am not ignorant. i would be disappointed that they gave it a 64. we are going off of pics, which is tricky, but from the pics, this one looks significantly better than that 64, simply based on the number of nicks and scratches. you win some and you lose some, but i would def have a bad taste in my mouth with NGC for that.
In hand the luster is great. Full on blazing cartwheel. The images come nowhere close to capturing it.
