Superbly Toned Mint Set Franklin Half with Straight Clip

[TomB]

We read so much about how the US Mint screws up orders, coinage design and coinage quality that sometimes I think this must be a new phenomena. However, I was fortunate enough to pull out of a 1958 US Mint Set a wonderfully toned Franklin half that has a straight clip. I had the coin slabbed by PCGS years ago, about the time that the first generation blue holders came out. This must have been late 1998. The coin is graded MS65 and is clearly overgraded as it's really no better than an MS64, and that is with taking the wonderful toning into account.

 

The image included is a scan and so much of the luster and nearly all of the radiance of the toning is gone. The coin is primarily emerald green and ruby red on the obverse and blast white on the reverse. The clip might be hard to see since it's in a holder, it's only a 3% clip, but it can be at 2 o'clock on the obverse and at 4 o'clock on the reverse, where it is particularly noticable. What might not be noticable is that the "IN" of IGWT is very weak, this is the Blakesley effect. If you even encounter a coin that is supposedly a clip (straight, curved or ragged), yet it has a strong rim and details opposite the clip, then it might be a post-mint alteration. The effect occurs because of a lack of pressure opposite the clip.

[michael]

wild!!!

 

what a great find and tomb you really explained this to a tee

 

another great thread

 

 

michael

[Hoot]

Very nice Tom. I've encountered the Blakesley effect but not so often that I don't need a good reminder that fake clips don't show it! Thanks!

 

Cool coin and pretty, if not overgraded as you state. I've come across many Frankies that had great toning on one side but not the other. Common with Jeff nickels too, those that come out of albums that have one side against a paper backing, or those that come out of the old green Mint sets.

 

Hoot

[solid]

Cool coin, Tom!

[DonHeath]

Tom,

 

It's pretty neat that you found a clip in a set. It's even more fortunate you found it on a nice toner, with a good bit of red hidden in various places. Nice find.

[darktone]

Nice coin Tom! I know what that toning looks like in person and I can tell it's a super looking coin. A one point upgrade for the eye appeal of this coin is fine in my book- afterall the grade is for the overall coin not just surface marks. Lets see the rest of that mint set. mike