GtG- 1952 S Franklin Half

Having a number of PCGS 64FBL, this coin is equal to or nicer. So I say 64FBL. I do not think that NGC would have given it an FBL.

 

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BU DETAILS

 

65

 

My 1st thought was 63; no FBL. Reading comments & Jason’s responses, I started to wonder if maybe this ‘52-S coin had that nice frosty sheen that gave some of the Franklins that came out of San Francisco in the 50’s an attractive, light cameo-like appearance.
Also, with PCGS’ definition of FBL being that only the lower set of bell lines need to be ‘full’ and that disturbances very close to the crack in the bell may be ignored - AND zooming out to the size of a half dollar, it just might have received an FBL. But I don’t think so.
Then I read it again & realized its south of MS63.
So - my final answer: MS62 (no FBL).

 

MS65 and a killer look, IMO.

 

BTW, what looks like terminal toning around the rim, is actually an emerald green and cherry red. My photography skills are terrible but, i was trying to show every nick, ding and planchet mark in the 1st photo. The 2nd obverse photo is closer to the in-hand look.

+ 10000000
This !!!!! The luster is very frosty on this Franklin, the likes of which i dont recall ever seeing one like this before. Then again, this is the 1st S mint ive bought.

 

so what's the TPG grade?

 

That's a big coin... I Like that kind of toning.
I see a quality coin...MS65+
But I am not Sure with the FB Designation.
Could be.....

 

Notice how those cheek marks are gone?
I cant explain it, i guess i need a new camera.
For those who wanna play, or for those who might be curious as to how much dough i threw down. This coin is currently up in the THE TONING PREMIUM THREAD .
Found Here >>>>
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-toning-premium-thread-part-2.299570/page-187#post-3000806

 

Nice!

 

I'm guessing that a lot of what we see as "hits" are planchet marks that did not get fully struck out. This can be fairly common on this series. I did notice that most of those "hit's" are on the highest parts of the design, giving credence to this hypothesis. Nice coin though, and I can accept it as a 66. I'd love to see the reddish toning though.

 

Out of my league. When the coin is all kinds of toned. I fold

 

how can the "hits not be struck out and the strike be acceptible for gem status?

just asking

 

Fbl. Help me guess. L is luster.

 

Oh full bell line

 

Because strike carries very little weight at the TPG nowadays, up to and beyond gem grade sometimes even. Remember that long thread that we went round and round about the Jefferson nickel?? Also, early 50s S mints are notorious for a weak strike. Im a guessin, these get graded on a curve so to speak.

 

well, they do get graded on a curve. All 52-S Frankies on one continuum, and the best get the best grades.

My problem was more with the theory than the answer.

If a coin wasn't struck well enough to strike out the planchet flaws and hits, then the strike would never be strong enough for this level of detail. (at least in my mind)

I would think that those dings, hits, marks, and even what look like etching bubbles (from pickling brine) on Franklin's chin are either on the die, or happened post strike IHMO

the "lines" in the toning are likely breaks in toning and not dings or bagmarks, but the ones on Franklin... I'm not so sure

 

This coin is overgraded to be honest

 

Heavy, I think you need to have Jet Lee take some photos of this one...

 

My guess is that under different lighting the fullness of the luster on this coin takes the eye appeal to another level.