The June 2-5, 2002, Pre-Long Beach Sale, Sale 14
Lot 2311
1948-D. PCGS graded
MS-65 Full Bell Lines. Satiny and bright, with good luster and a sharp
strike. About as nice as these are ever found, with few graded higher.
Estimated Value $175-275.
Lot 2312
1949. PCGS graded
MS-66 Full Bell Lines. The luster is especially bright on this coin, and we
note medium to light gold toning mostly near the rims. Fully struck by the
dies, and scarce this nice, especially in high end gem grades.
Estimated
Value $600-700.
Lot 2313
1949. PCGS graded
MS-65 Full Bell Lines. This one has deep speckled gold toning on both
sides, probably from a mint set. Sharply impressed and clean surfaces for the
grade.
Estimated Value $250-350.
Lot 2314
1949-S. PCGS graded
MS-66 Full Bell Lines. Gorgeous mint set toning here, with mottled gold and
greens over vibrant luster. Long known as one of the key dates to the series,
the 1949-S has always been hard to find in fully struck gem condition. This one
is another notch higher, earning the coveted "66" grade for very clean
surfaces.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,200.
Lot 2315
1950-D. PCGS graded
MS-64 Full Bell Lines. One of the scarcer dates of the Franklin half dollar
series, this one has great luster and is untoned. Minor handling marks, mostly
in Franklin's hair.
Estimated Value $50-100.
Lot 2316
1952. NGC graded
Proof 65"*" Cameo. Blazing white in color, with no traces of toning. Full
frosted on the devices, enough so to earn the coveted Cameo designation, plus a
"*" from NGC.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 2317
1952. PCGS graded
MS-66 Full Bell Lines. This one boasts sunset yellow toning on the obverse
and reddish yellow toning on the reverse. Pristine surfaces and boldly struck
throughout. Franklin Half dollars are very difficult to locate in high end gem
grades, the open fields and devices allowed every bagmark to show, which makes
a nearly perfect coin like this so desirable.
Estimated Value $400-500.
Lot 2318
1952-D. PCGS graded
MS-65 Full Bell Lines. Scarce in this grade, with 228 so graded and just 13
graded higher according to PCGS in their Population Report. Satiny luster with
a light gold tone on the obverse, a bit more on the reverse. Quite nice!
Estimated Value $250-300.
Lot 2319
1952-D. PCGS graded
MS-65 Full Bell Lines. Golden flecks of toning around the periphery, and
very sharp. Excellent luster and surfaces throughout.
Estimated Value
$250-300.
Lot 2320
1952-D. PCGS graded
MS-65 Full Bell Lines. A scarce early date in full gem, especially so with
the full bell lines on the reverse. Hazy gold toning on the obverse, with some
rainbow hues on the reverse around the small eagle on the right. A beautiful
coin in every regard. PCGS has graded 276 this high, with just 15 higher.
Estimated Value $250-300.
Lot 2321
1953. NGC graded
Proof 68 W. One of the finest graded of this date, and further, this one
has a "W" on the holder, making it worth ever more of a premium. Blast white in
color and well frosted on the devices. NGC has graded 31 this high, with a
single coin graded higher in Proof.
Estimated Value $300-400.
Lot 2322
1954. NGC graded
Proof 68 W Cameo. Pristine surfaces and stark white in color.
Estimated
Value $150-200.
Lot 2323
1954. PCGS graded
Proof 66. Superb quality for the date, with an extremely sharp strike on
Franklin. Toned with a touch of haze typical of proofs of the period.
Estimated Value $70-90.
Lot 2324
1955. PCGS graded
MS-65 Full Bell Lines. Glowing light gold toning with hints of blue and
red, and from an original mint set.
Estimated Value $90-110.
Lot 2325
1956. PCGS graded
MS-66 Full Bell Lines. Toned with medium speckled gold on both sides,
likely from an original mint set. The surfaces are simply superb throughout,
with nary a tick to be found even with a strong glass. PCGS has graded only 400
this high, with a tiny 5 graded higher making this one well worth a good bid.
Estimated Value $100-125.
Lot 2326
1957. PCGS graded
MS-66 Full Bell Lines. This one is probably from a mint set, as are several
other toned coins in this series, as the colors and "fabric" of the toning are
what are usually found in period mint sets. Sharply struck by the dies, and the
surfaces are very clean. One of the more available dates in this grade, but
still just 211 graded this high, with 6 higher.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 2327
1957. PCGS graded
MS-66 Full Bell Lines. About as nice as this date comes, we note that PCGS
has graded 248 as such, with just 7 graded higher. Toned with lovely gold and
amber hues, likely from a mint set over strong mint luster. The surfaces are
truly exceptional for a Franklin Half dollar.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 2328
1957. PCGS graded
MS-66 Full Bell Lines. Bright luster under mint set toning, we note that
PCGS has graded 248 as such, with just 7 graded higher. Outstanding quality
throughout.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 2329
1957-D. ICG graded
MS-66 Full Bell Lines. Outstanding surfaces on this one, with lovely light
green and gold toning around the periphery. Rarely are the Franklin half
dollars found in such high grades, as most were pretty well bagmarked up before
they left the mints. Even locating gems of each date is a challenge. Here's a
lovely toned MS-66 for the specialist.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 2330
1957-D. PCGS graded
MS-65 Full Bell Lines. This coin is particularly nice for the grade, with
gold and red around the periphery, and truly superb fields. As a date, the
1957-D is more difficult to find in grades of MS-66 or higher than one would
expect.
Estimated Value $60-80.
Lot 2331
1957-D. PCGS graded
MS-65 Full Bell Lines. Evenly matched colors on the obverse and reverse,
and taken from an original mint set many years ago. Boldly struck and very
clean for the grade.
Estimated Value $60-80.
Lot 2332
1958. PCGS graded
MS-66 Full Bell Lines. Silvery white luster and boldly struck throughout.
The fields and devices are very clean, and only a couple of minor ticks can be
found with a glass, which is quite unusual for these large half dollars.
Possibly from a mint set, as few regular issue coins would survive this nice.
PCGS has graded 213 this high, with just 7 higher! A jewel for an advanced
collection.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 2333
1958-D. PCGS graded
MS-66 Full Bell Lines. A lightly toned gem that has excellent surfaces and
luster. One of 302 graded with just a single coin graded higher.
Estimated
Value $150-200.
Lot 2334
1958-D. PCGS graded
MS-66 Full Bell Lines. Bright and lustrous, with a gold band around the
edge of the obverse, darker and more vibrant hues on the reverse. Exceptional
surfaces and strike for the date. Nearly impossible to find in higher grades.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 2335
1958-D. PCGS graded
MS-66 Full Bell Lines. This one is not only a high end gem, but also sports
fantastic toning of iridescent greens and bright yellow on the obverse, the
reverse with lighter gold around the periphery. Boldly struck and simply
superb. PCGS has graded 413 this high, and we note just 8 higher with Full Bell
Lines of this date.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 2336
1958-D. PCGS graded
MS-65 Full Bell Lines. Lilac gray toning throughout, with a bold strike and
vibrant luster. From an original mint set.
Estimated Value $80-90.
Lot 2337
1962. ICG graded
MS-66. A significant coin in this grade, this particular one is enhanced by
glowing gold and green toning on both sides, likely from an original mint set
as it shows the crackle finish which is common to toned coins out of mint sets
of the period. Examination will locate a few scattered ticks from handling,
mostly on the devices, and collectively they don't distract measurably. As to
the strike, the bell lines show minor weakness at the centers, as do most of
this date. A rare coin in this grade, and worth a look from the specialists in
the Franklin Half dollar field.
Estimated Value $200-UP.
Lot 2338
A complete BU Franklin
half dollar set, 1948-1963-D. Mounted in a blue Whitman coin album with
slides, a few coins are starting to tone, others show hairlines. Lot of 35
coins.
Estimated Value $250-300.
Lot 2339
A group of Franklin Half
dollars. This lot includes 1949-S (5 pieces), 1951-D, 1951-S (9 pieces),
1952-S, 1953 and 1954-D with grades from AU to BU. Lot of 18 coins.
Estimated Value $150-UP.