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 Replies: 19 / Views: 1,858 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
580 Posts |
I've been kicking around the idea of starting a new collection. I've mainly stuck to IHCs and Lincolns, but I want to delve into the silver market. Morgan dollars are nice, I have a few of those, but they are so popular that the prices are inflated. Barbers are a bit on the pricey side for me...at least nice ones. Mercs are nice, plentiful but kinda small. So then I started to look into Franklins. They are a in a relatively short series, so assembling a collection won't be too difficult. There were millions minted so the availability for decent grades is not out of control. I think it's an attractive coin. I have strong ties to Philly. Ben's my son's name and I've always been a fan of Franklin as a statesman and inventor. And they have just as much silver content as other pre 1965 halves. So is anyone else out there collecting Franklins? Can you give me some tips and pointers? Thanks! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
mklpatrick, I'm a Franklin collector. I have some of the nicer ones pictured in my CCF photo gallery. I have a nearly complete collection and am missing only the 50/51/52/and 53 proofs. You are correct that the price is right and there are many to choose from. My only advice would be to study the grading points for this series so you are comfortable assigning an accurate grade. It's not as easy as it may seem as the devices don't have crisp edges. Wear is often difficult to discern. The best way to do this is to acquire some PCGS or NGC Frankies in various grades and compare to raw coins. Also, if you are considering a purchase, post a picture in the grading section and we'll walk you through it.  Edited by SeatedNut
12/17/2008 1:49 pm
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Valued Member
United States
442 Posts |
mklpatrick, If you like Franklins go with it. That's the beauty of collecting we all have our own tastes. I have completed but one set in my life - Two Cent business striks but that's certainly not the extent of my collection. I buy what I like and have lots of type coins. Just my preference. Recently I've begun delving into World coins. Nothing fancy. If I like it I buy it and there's ofen an inderesting little side story to it. So go with your gut. It is a fairly easy set to assemble if you're into sets. Good luck. clembo |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
580 Posts |
Thanks SuperDave and Clembo! I have an old issue of Coin World (I think?) that has a fairly comprehensive article on grading Franklin and Kennedy halves. I was gonna get that out and go through it again. And I will also post pics when I can to get everyone's thoughts as well. Clembo, I guess I am in the same boat as you. I seem to become interest in one or two types and stay on that for a while, then suddenly abandon or suspend it for a while and follow a different type. I've bought some type coins almost on a whim because they seemed like a good deal at the time. I just figured I should try and focus on one or two types and possibly develop some sort of "expertise" in it. |
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
Quote:
So then I started to look into Franklins Excellent decision!  Quote:
So is anyone else out there collecting Franklins? I have a complete set of the circulation issues (that is, no proofs) in a Dansco album. It was rather easy to complete over a couple a years since the local dealer was constantly acquiring them. Quote:
Can you give me some tips and pointers? SeatedNut has given some great advice! I will add that if you are going for a normal set (no proofs, varieties, FBL's, etc.) then it is an easy task. You might be able to find everything at a local dealer or a few coins shows in a short amount of time, but be patient and have fun! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1083 Posts |
I collect Franklins. I have a complete BU and Proof set, and recently inherited a circulated set that only lacks four coins. I will finish that one as well. For the best chance of future price appreciation try for an uncirculated set and jsut add the proofs as you find them. In ten years we will look back and laugh at the cheap prices for this series today. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
I just finished my Franklin business strike set about 3 weeks ago(plus proofs 1958-63)  The best bit of advise I can give you is to look for the best strike possible. FBLs are nice and all but try to get ones where PASS AND STOW PHILADELPHIA is nice and clear and the eaglet wings are strong- that gives you the fullest strike possible(not too many fine details on obv other than the hair curls around the ear). You may also want to check out my Christmas sales thread- I have a few Franklins for sale |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Congrats on completing your Franklin set! Quote:
look for the best strike possible Out of curiosity, how did that one Franklin I sent you look in-hand? Better or worse than pics?  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Quite a nice strike and it had a good original skin About a week after I bought the 54-S from you, I found a nice deal on a 52-S in MS65 to complete the set  Edited by biokemist6
12/17/2008 10:54 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4541 Posts |
i also collect the franklin.. I like it better than the kennedy.. I personally think Franklins are undervalued
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Valued Member
United States
317 Posts |
Franklins are a great place to start! My girlfriend and I recently managed to acquire over half of the dates for a Franklin set from roll hunting, and we're going to finish the set. Franklins really are one of the most affordable 90% series out there, and it's a set you can complete as quickly or as slowly as you'd like. I'd say go for it! Another recommendation I might make if you're thinking silver are Roosevelt dimes. I've been working on a set of those, silvers and clads, and I've found it to be quite enjoyable. It's also a set that's nice because none of the "keys" are big money coins. The big money coins are nice, but they can also be depressing when you keep looking at that empty hole in your album. Those empty holes are why I traded my Standing Liberty quarter set for a 1998 Matte Kennedy. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
580 Posts |
All good points...thanks! Another question: for those of you that do have sets of Franklins (and your set of Roosevelts, Terror) how do you keep and display them? Dansco albums with the plastic sleeve on each side? And when you get the MS Franklins are they TPG certified? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
I have my set in a Dansco. The album has two pages with five blank holes at the end. I solved that problem by filling them with the 1959-63 proofs so the album is completely full. A couple of mine have been certified by they got cracked out and the rest were purchased raw, mainly from a coin shop bid board and a briefcase dealer who has my want list.
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
As I stated above, my Franklins are in a Dansco album. All of them were acquired raw, some from roll hunting. The ones from roll hunting are around XF, but the ones I bought are AU-MS. I am a very sentimental person. The ones from rolls were the first acquired for my set, so I have a difficult time upgrading them. They do stand out in the album, but that just reminds me that they were the first coins I had in the set!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
580 Posts |
JBuck, you and Terror say you found some Franklins while roll hunting. Is this recently? I have a hard enough time just finding banks that carry halves at all, and when they do they are never in rolls. They may have 8 or 9 at the most.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3294 Posts |
I probably average 1 franklin for every 8-10 boxes of halves in roll hunting. They are not common but they do exist.
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Replies: 19 / Views: 1,858 |
Posted 12/17/2008 2:02 pm
