Do y'all think this would be considered an FBL? Either way it's a really nice uncirculated coin but I'm on the fence about if it's an FBL and wanted some more experienced opinions.
@physics-fan3.14 .....You're the expert. You once told me that the 48's are very common with FBL. The one little nick on the left side of the upper lines might keep it from being FBL.
By PCGS standards it is certainly FBL. By NGC it is most likely FBL. In either case it is not worth grading, as FROM THE PICTURES, it appears to be technically a 64. 1948 Franklins with FBL are very common. BTW, a common way to determine if it is nicely struck on the obverse is whether it has 3 tufts/wisps of hair in front of Ben's ear. In this case it does not. In any case, IMO, it is an attractive 1948.
Sula86, let me put it this way, if others discourage you on this coin, just send it to me. I will add it to my collection of Franklins FBL set that I am working on. No problem.
I appreciate the help on the grade and pointers about franklins too. I don't have much experience grading them so this will help me out in the future. I definitely think it's an attractive coin as well. I snagged it on eBay for 10 dollars shipped too!
I think it will remain in my collection so I can't do it . I picked up another uncirculated lower mintage Franklin for about melt value a little while back so I think I may start slowly putting together a UNC set. It just happened to come with a bunch of 90 percent I bought.
PCGS - Yes ANACS - Maybe NGC - Nope PCGS & ANACS only look at the bottom row. ANACS I feel is more conservative, and the slight interruption to the left of the clapper may kill it. NGC looks at upper and lower sets, and along with the aforementioned lower set ding, the upper set ding is definitely out.
That is correct - 48's were the very first year, so the master was still quite strong. FBL's are quite common this year. The OP's coin is well struck. Notice how bold the bottom set of lines are. Other things to look at are the three wisps of hair above his ear that skyman mentioned, and look at the fully complete and readable "Pass and Stow." These only appear on well struck coins. PCGS only uses the bottom set of lines to determine FBL, and so this coin would easily get FBL at PCGS. CAC uses this same deficient "standard," and so if it were properly graded it would receive the CAC sticker as well. NGC uses a stricter standard, which is why you should only buy FBL coins in NGC holders. They require both sets of line to be full and complete. Unfortunately, there are too many marks and hits on the top set of lines for me to call it FBL. This coin is not FBL by NGC's standard. However, you may find some coins with this same disturbance labelled FBL, especially on tougher years (depending on when it was certified). Ten or 15 years ago, this may have made it. Recently, they've been tightening, so it would not make it.
