I got this coin in the mail yesterday. It has a slight hint of toning at the top of the reverse, but it's hard to see in these pictures. The seller didn't sell it as such, but it is marked "1955-P", "MS62", "Key Date", and "FBL". None of this was mentioned in the listing so I don't consider it fraud. It's pretty obvious that it's not FBL, and I don't know if I agree with the MS62 rating or not, but is it really a key date? What grade would it receive from you? I didn't give much for it.
I checked ebay and some obviously heavily circulated '55s were selling for twice what I paid for this. It looks good enough and the toning is subtle but there. I understand the '55-P has one of the lowest mintages Would you say "key" is too strong of a word to use to describe the '55? Are we all in agreement that it is not FBL?
It's not MS and "key" is too strong a term, in my opinion. This is a lower mintage Franklin (lowest, perhaps?), but that doesn't mean much when they are all common. I would value it only a bit more than melt.
These are selling these on ebay for over twice what i paid for mine. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-FRANKL...31?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item58b73803ab http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-FRANKL...24?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item58b7381600 http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-Frankl...67?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item35db5c9d47 -What is an FDHA52?
What folks are asking for a coin is not necessarily the same thing as what they are selling for. You have linked three inflated BIN listings where two of them will take the best offer option, as well. If you look at completed ebay sales you will find much more reliable sales data. Just this week a circulated 1955 Franklin sold for $6.21 and a nice AU sold for $8.38. That information is much more reliable than what folks fish for on ebay.
Key: No, there really is no keys to the Franklin series unless you start talking cameo / deep cameo proof or FBL Unc: No FBL: Heck no!
