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 Replies: 29 / Views: 923 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
4,244 Posts |
I confess that I have done zero research before posting this question. How difficult and expensive is the Franklin half dollar set to complete? I'd do circulated examples decent quality specimens. Won't go crazy buying AUs. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
3,273 Posts |
with circulated example, extremely doable.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
9,290 Posts |
It is relatively easy if you are making a set of circulated halves. Just the cost of silver for most with a small premium on the several key or semi keys.
An uncirculated set can run you around $1000.00. "Full Bell Lines" is another matter.
All dates are available. Proofs are affordable for most except the 1950 1951 and 1952.
I have an unc set, and would never part with it but only the highest MS coins seem to really increase in value long term. I suppose that could change but there were a lot of BU rolls tucked away.
My favorite album! Image hosting is provided by CCF. Thank you for your generosity! World's Fair Exposition Medals and Tickets http://www.coincommunity.org/galler...p?album=2020 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
4,244 Posts |
Edited by chafemasterj
11/26/2020 11:37 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
2,115 Posts |
There are a lot of nice circulated Franklin's out there. Take your time and choose the best available for the date as you go along. You'll surprised how many BU examples you'll be able to pickup for just a bit more than circulated as you get into the late 50's and 60's.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
4,244 Posts |
Thanks everyone and thank you nfine will do.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
53,643 Posts |
Like most series, everything depends on the grade level you're trying to achieve.
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Moderator
United States
18,294 Posts |
No stoppers in circulated condition though, right?
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
2,363 Posts |
It will depend on where you look to obtain your coins. Roll searching to complete a full set might take a couple decades. Wise ebay and coin shop purchases may do the trick much sooner.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
677 Posts |
I completed my circ set for a little over melt value. Upgraded
when I found better examples. Probably 60-70% BU now.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
899 Posts |
Quote:How difficult and expensive is the Franklin half dollar set to complete? I'd do circulated examples decent quality specimens. This is exactly how I completed my set. Just a consistent (straight grade, not cleaned or damage) looking set. The best ones I could find for a few dollars over melt. A BU with major luster, next to an avg. circulated Franklin in my Whitman album (IMO) is an inconsistent look. I actually avoided buying BU's when appropriate. I was in no rush. Basically looking during my everyday travels. Had the list of dates I needed in my wallet at all times. I'd stop it coin shops and even pawn shops looking through their scrap silver. Plus eBay.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
55 Posts |
It is one of the first sets I started working on two years ago because it was compatible with my initial desire to stack silver. In less than a year I got all but three of the business strikes from silver that I bought at bullion prices. And I just picked up one of those three missing ones at melt price. The remaining two can be had for around $20 bucks in lower MS grades. I looked at that circulated Franklin collection At the time as a no cost or risk beyond just buying 90% silver. I probably had 75% of them out of the first few rolls.
Like previous posters, I now have the nagging desire to upgrade, but I am doing that slowly as I don't feel skilled enough grading MS Franklins and making the strict FBL determination.
I have also gotten caught on a slippery slope—I started acquiring the proofs, beginning with the cheaper issues of the sixties. I have worked my way back through 1954. The pricing is beginning to hurt now! But, I cannot stop!
Edited by Numiscrat
11/26/2020 7:07 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
2,920 Posts |
Personally I find the Ben Franklin 50 cents the ugliest coin the US has ever produced even uglier than bald Ike on the $1 dollar. But if you want to complete a circulated set just look in the junk silver. My LCS has probably each ugly Ben for a little over melt. I was there a few days ago, another collector was going through the Ugly Ben junk silver and we started talking and he was only missing about 5 coins and he had found 3 of the missing 5 while I was there. He commented that he completed his set just from the junk silver. So if you want to do a circulated set no proofs you should be able to do it just from the junk silver. But the question why? It's such an ugly coin.
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
3,947 Posts |
Quote:
Personally I find the Ben Franklin 50 cents the ugliest coin the US has ever produced even uglier than bald Ike on the $1 dollar. Now now... I admit that it ranks quite a few steps lower in attractiveness than one of the the Lady Liberties, but I am a great fan of Benjamin and wish the series had continued longer. I have a complete set, xf-low ms, and it was easy enough to assemble even in Canada, although some of the dates take a bit longer to find unless you go to a larger coin show.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
899 Posts |
Quote:
Personally I find the Ben Franklin 50 cents the ugliest coin the US has ever produced even uglier than bald Ike on the $1 dollar. But if you want to complete a circulated set just look in the junk silver. My LCS has probably each ugly Ben for a little over melt. I was there a few days ago, another collector was going through the Ugly Ben junk silver and we started talking and he was only missing about 5 coins and he had found 3 of the missing 5 while I was there. He commented that he completed his set just from the junk silver. So if you want to do a circulated set no proofs you should be able to do it just from the junk silver. But the question why? It's such an ugly coin. With the exception of the ugly coin thing, this was pretty much exactly how I completed my set. One of the reasons I like the coin is because it was actually designed and created by a real Mint Chief Engraver.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
55 Posts |
Why the expression of hate on the Franklins? I know that there are people on here who collect coins that I might find far less attractive than the Franklins. I won't name coins, but there are a couple of coins in my type set that are many times more expensive, but much less attractive, in my eyes than the best Franklins I have. I agree with oriole that some US series are prettier, but I am not going to use that as a reason to insult and demean what someone else chooses to collect.
Franklins are a great series of coins for some of us. We have a chance, for a reasonable budget, of obtaining all business strikes in BU condition, and even proofs and varieties on top of that. I couldn't dream of pulling that off with Morgans or Barber anything. If I had the budget, I would be working on a set of MS, full head SLQ's, but I am not ever going to be that wealthy...
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Replies: 29 / Views: 923 |
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Posted 11/26/2020 10:58 am
