I was very much interested in the link posted some nine years ago by Wooden Jefferson (Woody): http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2426204 I always enjoyed collecting Franklin halves. I've always been amazed at the differences in value between a FBL and a non-FBL coin, especially those from San Francisco. Case in point: I've got a 1953S Franklin graded by NGC as MS66W. I bought it from a seller on eBay probably ten years ago (+/- two years). I don't recall what I paid for it but not more than a couple of hundred, as I recall. When I saw the photo on eBay, I thought to myself, "That thing looks to be FBL." Either way, it had tremendous eye appeal so I bought it. So, here's my question as an old-time, but relatively inexperienced, collector: I know that lots of folks will crack out PCGS coins (especially the green holders) and resubmit them hoping for a higher grade. Does anyone have any experience doing this with NGC-graded coins. I've tried to photograph the reverse of this Franklin. My photography skills are not the greatest. And it's my phone, for crying out loud. But depending upon how you hold this thing and the angle of the lighting, you can see all of the bell lines all the way across. The '53S goes from a few hundred in MS66 to stratosphere in FBL. I'm not into pipe dreams. But I figure that there's a chance that someone would look at this and give it FBL. From y'all's experience, might it be worth my while?
The TPGs are exceedingly strict about FBL on the '53-S for obvious reasons. Nonetheless, I would send in any coin that looks good enough to have a shot. It is only going to cost you about $50, after all. I sold a raw 53-S for high money about 30 years ago that was unequivocally an FBL, but it would only grade a 62 or 63 by today's standards.
Leave it alone! Your coin is not an FBL but it is a MS-66 as per NGC. I have all but 6 Franklins, PCGS MS-64 or better and everyone of them is an FBL. Sorry but this coin isn't.
Thanks. As I said, I wasn't getting all slobbery when I bought it and I'm not now. I'll just toss it back into the safe. I've been away from coins for a while. I thought that NGC including pricing levels for "+" and "W" coins. I no longer see them. Any ideas as to what, if anything, the "W" designation adds to this one?
Agree with @Collecting Nut that coin is not FBL as the lines seem to disappear through the middle of the bell.
It's my understanding that the "W" was used to identify a white coin as opposed to a toned coin. I don't believe it is used any more, and I don't even know if it adds a premium to the coin. (Note: That doesn't mean that some collector of unusual slabs wouldn't pay a premium for it.) Chris
Not wishing to beat a dead horse. And you guys (gals?) are the experts. Hey, that's why I'm here. But I thought that I would compare my Franklin to one that IS graded MS66 FBL by NGC. eBay item #371854848681. Personally, I'll take my "non-FBL" over that FBL. Any day of the week.
Fascinating discussion over at CU about Franklin's getting up to 2 grade increases and the coins' value skyrocketing: https://forums.collectors.com/discu...nklins-is-why-i-stopped-collecting-the-series
I think youre looking at the wrong set of lines. Its actually the bottom set of lines you need to focus on when determining FBLs on Franklins. Although (supposedly NGC looks at both sets and PCGS only uses the bottom set when grading)
