Well I decided that it was time to make a little upgrade to my Proof-66 Franklin Set As most people know I'm picky....about as picky as it can get....but on this date I've had to learn not to be soooo picky this date is hard to find in PF66 (Rare to find any higher) and is pricey the better the coin looks. Most of the time this coin sells for around $500 but sometimes you can find one for alittle over $400. Its the 1950 proof Franklin!.. graded NGC PF66.....NGC has graded less than 100 higher than PF66 and PCGS has just graded a handfull higher than PF66. most of the time this date doesn't look proof--its more of a satin proof---sometimes if its a late die strike it looks just like a Business Strike---I wanted to do the set where all of the coins had the "Proof" look and as many as I could with CAM--- I'm down to 2 coins to complete the set---and I have about 4 I need to upgrade--only a few are CAM with one being a PF66* coin by NGC. As of now almost all of my Proof 66 Franklins are in NGC slabs so I guess I'll try to complete it like that--- So here are the photos---the first set is the one that I had first---and the next ones are the one I just upgraded too!--I can't wait to get it in hand so I can take better photos! I think I did pretty good on it.....only now I have to go and sell some of my other coins :rolling: Speedy
Being picky(and patient) can have some serious rewards. The coin you picked up here is an excellent example....nice, very nice!:thumb:
Thanks guys---I just couldn't pass it up!....it was just too pretty and it was jumping up and down begging to be added to my set! Speedy
Looking Goooooood! I'm working on a set myself and lacking 50-53. Yeh, the most expensive ones. All mine are ungraded, but my 55 is a cameo for sure. Hope you get the ones you need soon. Sure would like to see that set when completed.
Thanks Walter I'll be sure to post some photos when I'm done--I have the 1953 but am hoping to upgrade it before I'm done. The ones I'm missing are 1951 and 1952. The ones I need to upgrade are: 1958/1960/1953/1959----some of the reasons go from a spot on the coin to just because its in a PCGS slab and since almost the whole set is in NGC slabs I'm going to change them over. I thought about doing my set raw but when I started this set (4-5 years ago) I didn't know a thing about grading....I had gotting a few coins that later had popped up with fingerprints and I wanted to do it in slabs....I'm still not good with grading proofs but feel alittle bit better about it. The thing I like about this set is after looking at sets registered on NGC and PCGS websites I don't see anyoen doing a COMPLETE matched set....they have a PF64 of this date and a PF68 of that date---I think when completed a total matched grade set will be great! Speedy
Speedy, how can you tell that the first coin is a proof? I would just think it was a business strike if it wasn't on the slab, but I don't know much about Franklin Halves either.
Great Job Speedy. I have been working on another set of Franklins here. I just got 4 of them in the mail yesterday. Going back to the ebay "dealer" today! (If these made it to AU I would be shocked, but... they do shine!) Set them next to our cookware and man they look good! : ) They are tough to find in true BU condition. a TON of dipped coins out there. Congrats on the accomplishment. I too would like to see the pics when completed! That 50 proof in the second picture, Wow. nice find!
Thanks Bone tcore Your not alone---I got it on Ebay and the seller didn't have the best photos---so I got it at rock bottom price....when I showed it to people they thought PCGS had messed up and slabbed a business strike....but with the coin in hand you can see some of the "proof" looks of the strike and coin....so I took a photo and just blasted the coin with light....with light right on the coin it showed up and mirrored the light back to me....business strikes don't normaly blast the light back at the person so it showed that it was a proof....in hand its a little easier to tell. It has alittle toning from being from a 1950 proof set...I don't think this coin has ever been dipper or anything. I'll try to see if I can find the photo I took with the light and post it. Jim Hope you complete your set!...after I get this set done I might work on a MS64+ set in NGC slabs..... I too have noted that on Ebay its almost like Franklins are getting dipped and cleaned more--I don't know why as they really aren't that rare---but I guess they will do it for anything. Speedy
Well tcore I couldn't find the photo and so I tried to get another and it wouldn't work.....so here is a photo that shows better the "proof" of the coin---but its not like I wanted. Speedy
Well CAMEO is the "frosting" on the coin....when looking at Proof Coins you will see how the coin looks BLACK and WHITE....the WHITE is the CAM....on newer coins almost if not all are CAMEO but the older proof coins didn't always get it and for most coins before the late 70's CAMEO is rarer... Here is a photo of a coin...not mine...that is CAMEO... Speedy
Well the coin came today---and its more than I had hoped for. IMHO NGC nailed this coin---there are NO marks/hairlines/milk spots/ etc--the "haze" on the W in WE isn't on the coin---the slab has some marks on it and it looks like haze on the coin in the photo this coin only is missing a tad and it isn't noteable untill you use a 10x. It has slight CAM---no where near what is needed for the CAMEO on the grade but just enought for me! Right now almost all of my coins have slight CAM--- So here are more photos!-- Speedy
Speedy, I think you're one of the most focused and knowledgeable collector here. You always end up with nice stuff and nice sets. Congratulations!
Hey Cloud Thanks for the nice words but I'm really neither---I'm far from knowledgeable and I have soo many small collections started that I'm almost never focused! I try to limit myself to a few sets a year to work on but it seems like I never get them done!--- As for buying the nice stuff---I have just worked up a network of guys that I know what I'm looking for and how much I'll pay---that and online auctions is about how I get all of my coins. I've got a good one that I'm hoping to close a deal with---if so it will be one of the prizes of my collection--only one graded at this grade from NGC and none higher---I just hope we can work out a good deal. Speedy
