Ok, here is one of my favorite coins that I own. Please guess the grade, but no poll—please be specific as to reasons for your opinion. I find that we learn more when we have to go into detail. Thanks in advance.
MS-65 . Why? The field are almost flawless . No dings or dents to call on . It also looks like FBL or for novices , Full Bell Lines . The reverse is somewhat weakly struck but nice !
Something about it made me initially think proof but the bell lines made me reconsider (enough for FBL but not as sharp as you see on proofs)...MS 66 FBL ....there are basically no visible hits/marks on the obverse and only a few minor ones on the reverse (a bit on the bell)...strike looks good....luster is hard to read (another part of what made me think proof at first) but I imagine it's there...it's an older PCGS holder so the grade might be a more conservative 65 (vs my opinion of 66)
65 and im going with FBL sorry if I'm not saying enough doing it this way 2-3 times is enough for me.
I did look there but it was inconclusive from my viewpoint. The 1950 & 1951 (and to some degree 1952 & 1953) proofs aren't what we are used to with more modern proofs. Many of those have a satin appearance and so it is easier to mix them up with business strikes. I was initially going to say PR 66 and would not be surprised if that is it but will stick with my posted guess.
Exactly. They are softly struck, and don’t have the usual clear markers of a proof. I would say that finding a very solidly struck proof from 1950-54 in the Franklin series is rare. Most are not particularly attractive, either, with 1950 being the worst.
I've flipped flop from proof to business strike like three times while trying to evaluate these very grainy photos. The spot below the bust (above the W) on the obverse pushed me over the edge to a proof. I am guessing it is a PR65 in Rattler holder.
You may be onto something with that spot. It is more common to see something like that on a proof vs a business strike. Also, it is not a rattler (based on the PCGS on the bottom right edge). It is likely one of these two early OGH slabs: https://www.pcgs.com/holders/Gen2.2 https://www.pcgs.com/holders/Gen2.1
Paul (@Lehigh96) and Dennis (@ddddd) hit the nail on the head. It is a proof. As Dennis mentioned, 1950-1954 Franklin proofs do not particularly look like modern proofs, for the most part. Their fields are more satiny, as opposed to the die polished look. This coin is a PR 65, in an OGH, not a rattler. So between the two of you, I think you guys nailed it.
Thanks. The 1950 proof is notoriously soft struck, so it can appear often like a business strike, with Full Bell Lines. The cameos of this date are conditional rarities, and command hefty premiums. I like the coin for its eye appeal, and think it probably would be a 66 in a more modern holder, making it a $1000 coin, instead of a $600 one. However I like the OGH/ CAC combination more.
