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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,376 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
887 Posts |
I've been working on a Franklin set, but not going FBL, just MS+/-. Really just going for a look. This got me somewhat interested in Franklins, and I've done a bit of reading and research in general, but I've also read quite a bit about the FBL designation. My understanding of what is considered as FBL is as follows (taken from an earlier post of mine): Quote:Also, when we talk about FBL, there are four schools of thought on qualifying. 1) - For PCGS and ANACS, only the lower set of lines have to be complete 2) - For NGC, both upper and lower sets need to be complete 3) - Old school collectors look for complete upper and lower sets, AND the 3 wisps of hair by his ear need to be well defined. 4) - For ebay sellers, there has to be a line visible on any coin within a 5 mile radius of the sellers, or your home, for their coin to be an FBL. (J/K, but it sure seems that way sometimes!) Basically, it's my understanding that the bell lines must be present from the strike (ie., a weak strike that doesn't define each bell line wouldn't qualify), and un-blemished from circulation or from bag marks. So if all the lines are struck, and there is a scratch that breaks the line, it's not FBL. Hairlines through bell lines can kill it, and also wear that blends 2 lines would be a disqualifier. How correct, or incorrect am I in my understandings? |
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Pillar of the Community
7234 Posts |
Well ya sure got the ebay seller description right!!  I go with ALL lines visible, and, unbroken by scratches/damage. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
You've done a commendable job of listing those details with considerable accuracy.
I quit buying PCGS FBL specifically because of their rather lax definition.
On the other hand, NGC is so tough that it takes forever to build a set.
Franklin's seem to be upgraded far to often from AU to MS for raw coins. I gave up on trying to buy what appeared to be high MS based on photos of raw.
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Valued Member
United States
338 Posts |
I never understood why PCGS doesn't look at the top set of lines.
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Pillar of the Community
7234 Posts |
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I never understood why PCGS doesn't look at the top set of lines. Thee almighty dollar? Could be why Tomaskas sells NGC FBL's on his TV show and Coin Vault sells PCGS FBL's |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Maybe it's just me , but I will always go with top lines only.  |
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Pillar of the Community
7234 Posts |
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top lines only. Then how is that Full Bell Lines? |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
887 Posts |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Right now there are 9 different people that think it's a FBL Benjie .  |
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Valued Member
United States
338 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
887 Posts |
Just going to throw the pics of that ebay coin here so people in the future can actually see what I'm talking about.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
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Right now there are 9 different people that think it's a FBL Benjie . More like 9 people that think that since the label says FBL it must be a FBL coin. After all it's PCGS, are you going to believe your eyes or what the label says. In todays hobby often it's the label that is more important. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
887 Posts |
Quote:
More like 9 people that think that since the label says FBL it must be a FBL coin. After all it's PCGS, are you going to believe your eyes or what the label says. In todays hobby often it's the label that is more important. I'm probably the only one, but I almost treat PCGS as I would SEGS or PCI. I think PCGS is for the 'I really don't know anything about coins, but if they it's XX, it must be..' crowd. I've seen a number of questionable slabs from PCGS, moreso then NGC or ANACS. Not saying they all don't make mistakes, or are too liberal, but I scratch my head more on PCGS slabs then the others. |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
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I never understood why PCGS doesn't look at the top set of lines. Because the bottom lines are the problem lines. Quote:
Just saw this, and it's currently at $600. Who the heck at PCGS saw Full Bell Lines on this coin? Can't tell if the slab is real or not on this small screen. Assuming its real there are two possibilities. The first is that is a terrible picture and it really is there given how blurry the reverse is. The second would be it was a mechanical error they would have fixed for free but the initial submitter decided to sell it for the higher price instead. To answer the question, no one at PCGS thought that was an FBL if that picture is accurate. Quote:
'm probably the only one, but I almost treat PCGS as I would SEGS or PCI. I think PCGS is for the 'I really don't know anything about coins, but if they it's XX, it must be..' crowd. You're on a very small island with that belief. |
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Moderator
 United States
187934 Posts |
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...that is a terrible picture and it really is there given how blurry the reverse is. I agree. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Just my opinion , but I disagree . I think the photos are sufficient enough to show at least a couple of full lines on a FBL designated slab . |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,376 |
Posted 07/09/2017 6:46 pm
