Dansco is on the way, and I also picked up a blank page for proofs! Any years/mint marks I need to worry about, and overall how bad is this going to be on my pocket book! I'm thinking MS60-64 - not rich by any stretch of the imagination! What expendable cash I have left over for these Franklin's, is based soley on the 6 - 10 Morgans I buy every month :devil: Anyways, any advise would be much appreciated!
I'm currently finishing up my Franky set. I am building mine on a similar range (MS 60-63). Price wise, I found it very affordable and you shouldn't have any problems unless you want them slabbed (which typically costs a bit more). The '49S and '52S were a bit pricey, but still very reasonable for MS60. Good freakin' luck finding a '54S with reasonable bell lines. If you grade them yourself, just look at dozens of them! Have fun and look forward to hearing your adventures.
Not trying to discourage you (I'm not a Franklin, or even a US coin collector) but make sure you're 100% confident that you want to start a set or collection of silver coins when silver is at its highest point in recent history. It may cost you more than you expect, so just review the prices on places like eBay just to make sure you have an idea of what prices to expect before you dive in too deep. If you have the cash and the passion, best of luck :smile others will weigh in on dates, types, etc.
Even with the price of silver at a peak, Franky's are still one of the cheapest sets to put together in an MS'ish range.... it's a solid set to work on, and you'll have some bullion under your belt to boot... most of you coins can probably be purchased very reasonably.
The hardest and most exspensive is the 1953-S with full bell lines , a rare beast indeed . There's an old axiom that stands the test of time . Buy the book before the coin . You'll know more about what to look for which coins come well struck and which one that come weekly struck , plus you'll enjoy your set all the more . rzage
rzage makes a great point! I bought "The Complete Guide to Franklin Half Dollars" by Rick Tomaska (2002) before beginning my collection. That was/is a very interesting read and made collecting Frankies so much more fun! I highly recommend that book for anyone beginning a Franklin Half collection (I'm sure there are others). :thumb:
...as nice as my budget will allow...not a registry candidate. I have all the proofs (as yet, ungraded)...two that I "might" call Cameo (no DCAMs). I have all the business strikes PCGS MS64FBL or MS65FBL except for the tough ones that I just have MS65. I have a few MS66s, but no FBLs. I wish I could do more, but the First Spouse collection is kicking my butt! I love scoping out ebay deals on Frankies...tough 1960's PCGS MS64FBLs for < $60! You might be surprised how many of them are out there! I recently picked up a PCGS 1962 MS64FBL for $37! ...I thought it was a good deal. Thanks for asking...what's your collection like?
I followed with interest the link you posted...especially the continuing link to "Grading Uncirculated Franklins"...very enlightening! However, I don't see reference to one very important point (imo) which Tomaska makes on page 15 of his Guide...that the concept of "Full Bell Lines" has much more to do with the overall strike of the coin than just the Bell Lines themselves. Thoughts?
Ronterry - just started my Franklins about 3 months ago and have been hitting them hard. Only 8 business to go and I have $453 into it. All BU, blast white...one with rim toning. Still have 49 D and S, and 53 S though and all but three proofs. Averaging $16.19 per half including shipping in some cases. Not bad when junk Franklins go for $10-11. Have Dansco with extra page for proofs - it is a great set and looks fantastic in the folder. You will have fun.
What Tomaska is telling you is that if you truly want a well struck coin that you should ignore the special designation FBL for not all FBL coins are well struck. He is trying to point out to you other areas to check to see if the coin really is well struck or not. This is true of all the special designations for all denominations, not just Frankies. Any experienced collector knows this, or should. How many FH SLQ's have you seen where the rivets are missing ? How many FS Jeff's have you seen where the windows of Monticello are not even there ? Thus if you want truly well struck coins you don't pay any attention to the special designations but instead you look to see if the coin really is well struck or not. Far more often than not a well struck coin will not even have the special designation. Special designations are a marketing ploy, nothing more.
That makes a lot of cents! Something that was supposed to be used as a marker for a full strike caused it's own following/premium even though it's not at all true...
