Owner Comments:
The 1952S – ah, what a difficult coin! There is a reason this coin was the last one I needed to complete my set. It ranks only behind the 1953S as the second rarest coin in the entire series in FBL. Ehrmantraut estimates there are less than 100 pieces in gem FBL condition, and I would have to agree. The NGC census indicates it may be even rarer than that – only 15 are graded 65FBL, 2 higher, and a scant 47 in FBL total. This is an incredibly rare coin, make no mistake!
Besides the abysmal strike, the 52S also suffers from well below average luster, more bagmarks than are typical for an S mint, and usually spotty mint set toning. Happy yet? Chiong calls the luster for the 52S “grainy” – an interesting description which definitely applies to many S mint coins. It’s probably due to worn dies, but the effect can sometimes have a very interesting look resembling orange peels. Brilliant, well struck gems are incredibly scarce, most gems are mint set toned.
My coin, and the final coin to complete my set, is one of those 15 NGC graded 65FBL’s. The strike is strong for the date, with complete and full bell lines. Luster is not so great, but it is hiding under the expected mint set toning. The speckled center gives way to attractive multicolored toning at the edges – orange, red, and blue on the obverse, Christmas colors on the reverse. I am incredibly proud of this coin, which I won for $670 on Ebay from greattoning. I was expecting to pay quite a bit more, and I had my max bid set for over twice that. There wasn’t anybody going to get in the way of me completing my set, after 8 years of hard work!
Music in 1952:
Sun Records is formed.
Kay Starr’s “Wheel of Fortune” and Very Lynn’s “Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart” top the charts.
Hank Williams records country classics “Jambalaya” and “Kaw-liga”
Fletcher Henderson, jazz musician, died.