Afternoon everyone ….
This is one of the most undervalued coin series. The striking on this series was very light. Making nice examples very hard to find.
As a collector, I’m way more interested in unique and beautiful examples of old coinage, than stacking just weight.
You may be wondering by the title of this what exactly “Full Bell Lines” means.
Well….
It’s a designation giving during the grading process of a Ben Franklin half dollar.
Why does this matter?
Because Franklin half dollars were well known for having very weak strikes. Thus, leaving incomplete bell lines on the Liberty Bell reverse and this affects the value of the coin dramatically.
Experts over the years have determined that only fresh dies could produce these lines. Which means shortly into production the full lines started disappearing from the strike. Until a new die was inserted. The experts believe that less than one percent of all Franklin half dollars had “Full Bell Lines”.
If you look at the graded population of these coins I’d say even less than that exist still. Obviously they were put into circulation, so most of the ones that were struck well were probably used and became worn.
This designation on the coin makes it sell for roughly 35-50% more depending on the year. There are a few years that are way more difficult to find with these lines.
So today I’m sharing with you a 1962 Denver Minted Franklin half dollar. It has been graded by PCGS as an MS64 FBL, the FBL is for “Full Bell Lines”.
Here are the specs and mintage of this coin: Issuer United States
Mintage: 35,473,281 Period Federal republic (1776-date) Type Standard circulation coin Years 1948-1963 Value ½ Dollar = 50 Cents (½ USD) Currency Dollar (1785-date) Composition Silver (.900) Weight 12.5 g Diameter 30.6 mm Thickness 2.15 mm Shape Round Technique Milled Orientation Coin alignment ↑↓ Number N# 2835 Help References KM# 199, Schön# 200 Obverse Benjamin Franklin facing right
Script: Latin
Lettering: LIBERTY 1953 JRS IN GOD WE TRUST
Engraver: John R. Sinnock Read more on Wikipedia
Reverse Liberty Bell with a small eagle with the denomination below
Script: Latin
Lettering: UNITED STATES oF AMERICA ·E· PLURIBUS UNUM HALF DOLLAR
Translation: United States of America ·Out· Of Many One Half Dollar
Engravers: John R. Sinnock and Gilroy Roberts
Edge Reeded
