Does this Franklin look 66 to you?

I've recently been checking out Franklins, a series I don't know well, for type. Am tracking a few on Heritage and have been comparing them to Photograde. My first impression was that the 66s on Heritage look a lot closer to the 65 than the 66 on Photograde. Here's an example (obv. only) and the link. Is this what we get for 66 these days?



http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1153&Lot_No=8420&Lot_Id_No=91082

 

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PCGS is the toughest grading company so it has to be strictly graded right I would say solid 65...zero shot at 66 based on the reverse...obverse could be considered borderline but that reverse has way to many marks to be in a 66 holder....in my humble opinion of course lol

 

In my own humble opinion, sure seem to have quite a few nicks an bumps along the face and his topcoat to be a 66. That being said, still a very nice Franklin! Just do not see it as a 66!
Steve

 

+1 - too many marks

 

To me its smack dab between 65 and 66, so I always go down in that case. I would take it in a heartbeat none the less.

 

You guys don't have to be humble (esp. you, Krypto, I trust your eye). Thanks for the comments. This is a pretty coin but all the ones I've been tracking are about as marked up. Hard to pay 66 money for that but Heritage will get it for the holders.

 

Oval_man, you mentioned that you were looking for a "Type" Franklin. I recommend the coinshop.com I have had GREAT luck with them! Great Coins, Great Service! Good Luck!
Happy Collecting!
Steve

 

Thanks, Steve, I just checked them out. Interesting site but they have no slabs! Looks like a good place to buy mostly modern.

 

While this coin is middle of the road or possibly lower end of the 66 spectrum, I have no problem with the grade. One also has to consider eye appeal, luster and strike. It's rare to find Franklins without bag marks(or any of the bigger coins), and this is evidenced in the fact that the top-pop grade by PCGS for the entire series is 67. These are big coins, and they are going to show bag marks; however, I don't think the contact marks on this coin would stop it from crossing the 65/66 line. Look at the difference between a 60 and a 65 coin. The distance is equally comparable between 65 and 70. Remember that a 66 coin is not perfect; it's still three grades away from that mark, and even "perfect" for the 70 grade is debatable. I gave up long ago looking at Photograde as the end all, be all. I instead look at past auctions from Heritage, etc. You can register for a free account at Heritage and search past auctions. Compare this coin to other PCGS graded 66s that have sold on Heritage. Always look at multiple coins graded by PCGS to get a feel for the standards rather than just looking at the single coin on Photograde.

 

I tend to agree with Shane above. However the big variable in this equation is luster -- and you can't really tell how good it is or not from a Heritage photo, although the apparent LDS suggests the luster is strong. If the luster is super strong in-hand I can see 66 -- that would certainly make me look past a few hits on the reverse if I were grading the coin or evaluating how much I might spend for it.

 

Thanks for your comments. I've been buying on Heritage for 3 yrs and consider their archives the best resource out there. I have raw Franklins and in mints sets which I would all grade in the 64-65 range so I know how easily they get banged up. Still, I was surprised at how clean the 66 is on Photograde.

I've selected the ones I'm tracking for their strong eye appeal but every one has hits I would've thought would preclude a 6 grade—compared to, say, a Peace Dollar in similar condition. I guess I just have to adjust my thinking to this new (for me) series.

 

I've been collecting Franklins for a few years now and I have to agree with the consensus on this. That 66 is an over grade. 65 is more like it because of the condition the reverse is in.

And that price it's up to, too high for the actual grade it is, and even if it was truly a 66 it's too high.

If I were bidding on it, my highest bid would be $125.

 

My 2 cents

TPG will grade a coin higher for larger submitters .
but 1953 is a hard year for Franklin to grade above MS-64 & FBL to is hard to get detailed to.
sad buy $$$ count TPG more than a grade

 

I figured you'd come down on this side! Seeing these Franklins makes a strong case for your argument.

 

Numismedia wholesale for FBLs is $650 (down from $750 just last summer).

 

Quite few dealers near me have them for under $500.

 

If that coin was raw , I'd give it a 64 . Man are the tpgs lowering their standards . Guess it's time to have some coins regraded . Wonder if they sent it in to CAC it would probably get a green bean on it too .
rzage

 

No way, its not even a 65. IMHO ....

 

I'm thinking a CAC MS-64 or a average MS-65.
LOTS of marks.