Some high end toned Franklin auction results from FUN.

[SkyMan]

As you might guess, I've had more than a passing interest in the high end toned Franklin's that have been in the Bowers & Merena and Heritage FUN auctions.

 

B&M link

(Just plug in the other lot numbers in the "jump to lot" box).

 

At B&M the 3 high end toners were lots 757, a '49-S in NGC MS67FBL, lot 759, a '54-S in NGC MS67, and lot 761 a '59 in NGC MS67 (all 3 Lots are on page 119 of the virtual catalogue). Lot 757, had sold in 5/08 for $8,050 (all prices in this thread will be bid AND commission). It did not sell in this sale, and had only one bid (the reserve maybe?) at $5,348. Lot 759 had sold in 9/05 for $431 and 8/06 for $1,064. It sold in this sale for $1,035. Lot 761, the only one I was interested in, had sold in 2/05 for $5,060. For the date/mm it had quite nice toning. I put a bid on it of $2,300. To the best of my knowledge, my bid was the high bid, but the coin did not sell. It sure would have been helpful if B&M had listed the reserve on this coin (not that I would have raised my bid, solely that I might not have bothered bidding in the first place).

 

Heritage Franklin link

 

At Heritage the 4 coins that interested me were Lot 6063, a '51-S PCGS MS67 that sold in 9/05 for $1,438. For the date/mm this coin had very nice toning. I bid seriously on this coin ($2,300) and was the underbidder. C'est la vie. It went for $2,530. Lot 6064 coin was a 1957 PCGS MS67FBL that sold in 1/05 for $2,070. It sold in this auction for $4,025. IMO it has a very attractive obverse, but a blah reverse, so that this was a pretty steep price to pay for it. Lot 6065 was a 1957-D PCGS MS67 with nice but not killer toning. I haven't been able to track it, but comparables for the date/mm/grade are about $2,400. It went for $2,760. Lot 6066 was a 1958-D PCGS MS67FBL with very attractive toning. I haven't been able to track it, but comparables for the date/mm/grade are about $3,500. It went for $3,738, which IMO was a reasonable price for that coin.

 

So, what does all the above tell me? A) That the buyers of the non-sold items in the B&M sale paid too much for the coins originally and kept unrealistic reserves on them. B) That attractively toned high-end Franklins are actually appreciating in price, even given the current economy.

[physics-fan3.14]

I don't really care for any of those B&M coins, but the heritage ones are nice (that 58D is killer!) Way out of my price range, but wow I sure would like to see some of those in hand.

[SkyMan]

I don't really care for any of those B&M coins, but the heritage ones are nice (that 58D is killer!) Way out of my price range, but wow I sure would like to see some of those in hand.

 

In general I agree with you, but I thought the B&M '59 was attractive enough AT THE RIGHT PRICE, e.g. $2,300 or under. The '51-S was the one I was hot to trot on (even though IMO the reverse in NOT a 67), that's why my bid was over 50% higher than what it had previously sold for. I agree with you that the '58-D is killer. However, given that I already have a bunch of '58-D's including one, not as nice, but still pretty nice, in 67FBL, a purchase of ~$4,100 (assuming I could get it at that price) was a rather high hurdle for a WTF purchase.

[PCcoins]

I love the reverse of that '58-d ms67 in the HA! A perfect symmetrical rainbow.

[k-dog-migration]

Out of my price range also....but I really like the 57-D at Heritage. The obverse looks really clean and the reverse rainbow is gorgeous.