The Poe Collection
1951-D


Obverse
Enlarge  
Reverse
Enlarge  

Coin Details

  

Set Details
Origin/Country:
Design Description:
Item Description:
Grade: NGC MS 64 FBL
Owner: physics-fan3.14
 
Winning Set: The Poe Collection
Date Added: 10/12/2008
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

The 1951D is a rather difficult date, but not nearly as difficult as some others. Ehrmantraut warns beginners to stay away from this date, and I probably agree. The 1951D is the first of what I like to call the 4 sisters – the series of D mint Franklins from 1951 to 1954 that all have very similar characteristics. The luster is generally average to sub-par, but the important things to note are that bagmarks are usually very heavy, and the strike is usually excellent. Most of the pieces from this group are very heavily marked and abraded; the mint employees just did not take the time and care to handle them properly. It is so unfortunate then that they have such a great strike. The four sisters are generally highly ranked among the best struck coins in the Franklin series. I wish that we could get the strike of one of these D mints on one of the S mint coins, which were usually very well handled but terribly struck. Color is also usually pretty hard to find on the 4 sisters; brilliant coins are uncommon but not extremely rare, but good color is very hard to find. Mint set toning tends to be gold and russet, and is a bit more attractive than the typical earlier mint set toned pieces. <br /><br />The 1951D is generally the hardest of this group to find attractive. It usually has the weakest strike of the group (although, remember, that still puts it at one of the top strikes for the series). Bell lines are usually full, although not quite as bold as the ‘52D or ‘54D. The 1951D also has generally the worst luster of the four sisters. Luster on the ‘51D is comparable to the ‘50D, maybe a little better. Bagmarks, however, tend to be about the worst for the entire Franklin series! Overall, the 1951D is just a little more difficult to find a nice example of than the 1951P. <br /><br />My eldest sister is a nice example of this difficult issue. The luster is very frosty, and bagmarks are plentiful, typical for the issue. The strike is nice and full, with the hair detail and all the bell details full. The three wisps of hair, however, appear to have been wiped out by a bagmark. It matches the gash Franklin has on his cheek. Looks like he lost a knife fight – he really needs to watch out: the streets of Philadelphia can be a rough place. I am not sure if what I’m seeing on his cheek is minor high point pitting or abrasions, but I’m probably going to go with the latter. The reverse is actually very clean; I’m guessing the reverse probably would have graded a nice 65 if you were to split grade this coin. My coin is also nice because it is white. This is a nice original coin, there is enough of a patina to tell it hasn’t been dipped, but it is pleasing to the eye. I got this coin for $75 on Ebay in October 2008, which is a fair price. <br /><br />Entertainment in 1951:<br />The sword and sandal epic “Quo Vadis” topped the box office, but Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland” came in a pretty close second. <br />Gershwin’s “American in Paris,” starring Gene Kelly, takes best picture. <br />Humphrey Bogart takes Best Actor in the classic “The African Queen.”<br />The rest of the acting Oscars go to the Tennessee Williams masterpiece “A Streetcar Named Desire.”<br />Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift sizzle in their first of several pairings, “A Place in the Sun.”

To follow or send a message to this user,
please log in