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The Franklin Mint
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21 posts in this topic

I have 3 of the only 789 minted 1977 Jimmy Carter Inaugural Proof commemoratives minted in 24K Gold with AGW of .41 Troy. Seems to me as if this might be the rarest of all the Issues released by the Franklin Mint. I understand that FM currently gets zero respect from the numismatic community. Regardless, these are incredibly difficult to find for purchase on the internet. They are beautiful coins (medals). If anything in FM universe ever catches fire. I would think, these would be it. Any thoughts?

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Welcome to the forum.

I think the way that the Franklin Mint products have been marketed has much to do with the lack of respect in the numismatic and collectibles community. It (in most cases) has little to do with the quality of the workmanship, or the actual products themselves. I have stated in the past that I really like some of their designs, like in the History of the US set. (Not too fond of the President set designs, though.) I even have some Three Stooges plates, but that is because I am a Stooges fan, not because I think there is any chance they will go up in value.

The key is your phrase "catches fire." That is not likely to happen in the near future.

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You have a lot of obstacles to overcome. The major downside is that the medal has $900 worth of gold in it. The second major downside is that it has Jimmy Carter on it. He is wildly viewed as a loser president. Even though history has softened on him, he is still not considered a good president. 

You need to find:

  1. A collector of Presidential Inaugural medals.
  2. Who wants one in gold, not the cheaper silver, copper, plated, etc other versions.
  3. Who has $900+ to spend for one.
  4. Who wants a Jimmy Carter one.
  5. Who doesn't already have one.

Best of luck on that. The odds of you finding that is just slightly better than the odds of SETI finding extraterrestrial life. 

If they were mine, they'd be off to the smelter as soon as possible.

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Welcome to the forum. I have many coins that should have gone to the smelter a long time ago. Keep what you enjoy - discard the rest. I'm no Jimmy Carter fan, but you should post a photo of the medal. Gmarguli was correct regarding selling - selling it for near melt might work.

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Ford and Carter were/are both good men and honest, honorable Presidents. Neither acquired a public persona of distinction, but neither sank to the depths of incompetence of Jackson, Buchanan or another unmentionable. Inaugural medal collecting seems to have declined in the past 2 decades much the pity since Dr. Crane did so much to explore the subject. With Joe Levine largely inactive there is no dedicated specialist around.

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On 12/5/2020 at 11:09 AM, DougMo said:

I just bought a 4th one. President Carter was not a popular President but history will be kinder to him after he passes because of his charitable work. He is a good man. 

:roflmao:

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7 hours ago, James_OldeTowne said:

Franklin mint products, with few exceptions, are widely considered sub-bullion pieces.  I'd melt that off without a second thought.

Some of my favorite proof sets were minted by the Franklin mint

s-l1600 (2).jpg

s-l1600 (1).jpg

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On 12/5/2020 at 8:09 AM, DougMo said:

I just bought a 4th one. President Carter was not a popular President but history will be kinder to him after he passes because of his charitable work. He is a good man. These medals are not the easiest things to find online.I know where there is one now. I might get it too!

General McCaffrey liked and agreed with my comment on Twitter. I was overjoyed with that. General McCaffrey had a post about President Carter's failed Iranian hostage rescue mission. I responded with saying "Changed history forever" It did. I would like to have one of the OP's Carter Inaugaration Medals in my keeper collection.

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Yes and there are really at a least a couple of types of FM collectors...

FM art rounds and collectibles, mostly silver and gold.

FM coins minted for foreign countries, there are more than you might expect once you start researching! If I'm remembering correctly including Belize, Tonga, Brazil...a bunch more.

I got hooked on FM pieces made for various sporting events in the 60's and 70's and the moon landing, beautiful silver art rounds!

My full on Franklin Mint brag is that I also own an unbelievably rare Franklin Mint piece which was actually a gold coin minted for Papua New Guinea https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/papua-new-guinea-100-kina-km-29-1990-1992-cuid-1087524-duid-1521904 Arguably the absolute queen of all Franklin Mint pieces ever...but even so...very little interest in this kind of thing from the coin people who don't collect any FM pieces.

 

Apollo 11 FM Silver.jpg

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I bought some of the early proof sets from FM and the bicentennial set in silver, but nothing after that. The bicentennial set designs remain far superior to any of the US Mint products in execution, concept and creativity.

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They put out some good looking products. Their designers and engraver were talented folks and there products had strict quality control guidelines.  Their time will come around I'm hoping! The Papua New Guinea coin is very cool. 

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