Franklin Key date

i came into about 140 Franklins recently and was wondering if there key dates I should be aware of. The dates on a quick review span much of the mintage time. Just wondering if anyone knows the ones I should make notable.

Thanks

 

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There really are no "Key Dates" in the Franklin series. Not in the sense that there are in the Mercury Dime, Walking Liberty or Lincoln Cent series. There are some condition and strike rarities however. For example, a standard strike MS65 1953-S Franklin is worth around $100.00, that same coin in the same condition with a full strike or FBL (Full Bell Lines) designation is worth around $20,000.00. That is an example of a strike rarity. A condition rarity example would be a MS64 1949-D books for $90.00 and the next grade up at MS65 is listed at $450.00 and then to the next grade level of MS66 is now at $1850.00.

What you need to do is sort through your Franklin's and separate the Uncirculated coins from the circulated ones. The circulated one's are essentially worth the silver contained within. The uncirculated coins then need to be examined individually and assigned a grade, followed by checking for Full Bell Line coins. A good reference to check is the PCGS Price Guide. This price guide is only that, a guide. To get a feeling for the true value, check eBay completed/sold listings.

 

No, there are no key dates in the Franklin series. Are the coins you received circulated, or are they uncirculated? All Franklins are widely available in circulated grades, and in lower grade (64 and below) uncirculated grades.

There are condition rarities for some dates in higher grades, but where the Franklin series really starts to get difficult (especially for some dates) is in Full Bell Line condition. There are many threads or websites which will explain FBL to you.

If you post some pics of the nicest ones, we can help you grade and value them.

 

The 1955 is the key date I believe. There are conditional rarities in this series. Because the rarity is "conditional," I think that they are poor investments.

 

1955 has the lowest mintage, by far. But it is one of the most commonly available and cheapest coins.

In common parlance, "key date" equates to "most expensive."

For a variety of reasons, the 1955 was widely saved in high grade, and is thus not a key date.

 

I feel you are completely ignorant in price guides when it comes to Franklin Halves. Lowest mintage, plus highest price in lower grades. Does that not equate to your definition of "key date?"

What you describe is CONDITIONAL RARITY. Totally different from the physical rarity of a specific coin.

 

An 1894 Morgan Dollar is relatively rare and is considered a key date. A 1901 Morgan dollar is relatively common, but it is a conditional rarity, making it is much more expensive than the 1894 in the upper grades. Two totally different things. By your logic, the 1901 Morgan is a key date.

 

IDK why everyone always says the 1955 had the lowest mintage.
1953 had the lowest mintage in the series and is often overlooked. My personal favorite are toned Mint State Franklin's,& I don't care what the date reads

 

Maybe everybody forgot about the 1961-P Doubled Die Reverse? But I doubt you will find one seeing it's a proof only coin!!

 

Thanks everyone for your comments, all look circulated but with little wear.

 

1950 proof.

 

This is also a proof.

 

You are correct, I misremembered the mintage statistics of the Franklin (1955 is *one of* the lowest mintages, but is not actually the lowest).

I don't know that I'd say I'm completely ignorant... I built an award-winning Franklin set on the NGC registry.

My statement that there are no key dates in the Franklin series stands, except in high grades or FBL.

 

Well, Buy a Dansco Franklin album for around 20$ on Ebay and start filling the holes - you can buy the ones you don't have for around 10$ a piece for circulateds. I filled my Dansco with circulated Franklins in about 4 months:and a circulated Franklin album really looks nice!

 

I ignored the Franklin for years. I finally put together a nice BU set with ease.
For the new collector it is a good starting point.

 

I agree the Franklin is a nice set and affordable. That being said I have not even started one and probably want for a little while as I'm working on several other sets. It is definitely one of my favorite designs as I remember them from my childhood. (early childhood) I should add I'd probably have those sets finished it I didn't keep buying coins and paper that catch my eye. I'm too eclectic to focus I guess.

 

Franklin's can be a pretty nice series to make great buy's on. Unc's can be had for melt or just above. Here are a couple of nice '49-S's I picked up for $8.50 each the other day.

 

those are very nice coins. The fields are very clean and bag marks are limited good job on those beauties.

 

I agree that there are no real key dates of the Franklin business strikes-- only conditionally valuable coins in high grades with FBL. The 1950 proof is definitely the lowest mintage, and is uncommon in high grades. Notice, I did not say rare, but uncommon.