PCGS and Franklin Half Dollars with FBL Designations
BR549
christened with the FBL designation that to my old eyes no where near
matches those of yesteryear. Now, I maybe talking through my hat, but PCGS
only looks at the bottom three lines of the bell and if they look like they
are there, it gets a FBL which increases the collectiblity, which in creases
the demand, which in turn increases the value.
Looks like the series is being washed out with many candidates that did not
or should never receive this anointing are being generously handed out
creating a stir within the hardened FBL collectors. There have also been
some bannings over on their chat boards as well, over this same issue. Those
members cannot speak their opinion on this matter without being
squelched...tis a sad day for Numismatics.
NGC on the other hand is very strict with this designation and takes into
consideration the two distinct lower set of bell lines when making their
decision. To this collector, graded NGC Franklins with a FBL designation,
out weighs the same date and year PCGS coin, 10:1
The softening of a designation means the coins that I purchased yesterday
will be worth less today because the standards have laxed for what ever
reason. Coin collecting within specific series and grades can attribute to
losses over time, all because a company starts to look at something with a
skewed perspective.
Sour grapes...
Beanie
"BR549" <br...@cointalk.com> wrote in message
news:ioojt1$f7h$1...@speranza.aioe.org...
> As of late, high grade (MS-65 and above) Franklin half dollars are being
> christened with the FBL designation that to my old eyes no where near matches
> those of yesteryear. Now, I maybe talking through my hat, but PCGS only looks
> at the bottom three lines of the bell and if they look like they are there, it
> gets a FBL which increases the collectiblity, which in creases the demand,
> which in turn increases the value.
Overgrading by the major TPGs seems to be getting more and more prevalent as
time goes by.
I can't say that PCGS is any worse or better than NGC.
ICG radically overgrades MS coins.
Older ANACS grading is pretty much spot on, esp. with circulated items but
examples I've seen of their recents slabs indicated overgrading in MS and Proof
condition.
As an ANA member, I've used NGC to grade some of my coins and have been
satisfied with the results .
One thing that bugs me is ultra-high prices for "rare in grade" examples of
fairly common coins.
I won't mention any names but there is a certain dealer who advertises
outrageously expensive Franklin and Kennedy half dollars every week in Coin
World.