1960 D franklin half

This is my newest addition just got it today its my first franklin halg

 

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That's a pretty one. It has a deep hit on the bell. It's hard to see for the light, but I'll start you off. MS64FBL.

 

Nice looking Franklin.

MS63, could have a shot at 64.

No FBL, I see a mark that goes through the top bell lines.

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

What is fbl is that a bad thing or is it error

 

That's the crack in the bell.

OK, seriously, left of crack, upper lines, that's always the weakest area on these, and I like how the lines on hold through there. They're full enough for me.

 

FBL - Full Bell Lines

 

But they're not full enough for NGC.

Sorry, no FBL; the mark I'm referring to, causes enough of an interuption of the top lines, that NGC would not designate it.

 

The horizontal lines at the bottom of the bell are enough intact to say they go all the way through.

 

FBL stands for Full Bell Lines, meaning the top and bottom set of lines along the bottom of the bell are clearly distinguishable from one another, with no marks, or wear interrupting them.

 

Could be. But there's no one standard. CAC even has their page on these.

 

I agree there is no one standard for the FBL; however, NGC assesses both top and bottom set of bell lines when determining the FBL designation, as both sets of lines should be.

PCGS, only looks at the bottom set of lines.

CAC breaks it down into three groups:

1. NON-FBL

2. NEAR-FBL No such thing as a near FBL, both sets of lines are either full, or they're not. There is no in between.

3. FBL

I also question several of the photos on CAC's page for the reference FBL, as several of those images are clearly not an FBL for they contain strong enough hits interrupting the bell lines it could not be an FBL even by NGC's standards.

 

I go with the NGC standard.

Bigbruiser, generally the better struck Franklins will exhibit full bell lines. Not only does the strike have to be complete but the lines need to be free of hits or marks. Sometimes the TPGs have bad days, I've seen some beat up bell lines get FBL and some with the slightest mark not get it.

 

Yeah, I agree with that. I think CAC is loose as a goose on these, actually. While I didn't quote you on it, I knew about that difference between PCGS and NGC, too. FWIW, what you really want to do is look at the coins in the auctions. That's where you're going to see what they do, as opposed to what they say they do.

 

Here is a little better shot of the bell for you all to look at

 

Seems that FBL is some attempt at quantifying how well the strike was, and for that to be trumped by a hit or other mark is odd to me.

 

I agree.

 

It's also the same for the Full Bands, Full Torch, and Full Step designations for the Mercury & Roosevelt dimes, and Jefferson nickels.

 

True, but it still seems odd to conflate the two disparate phenomena.