The Poe Collection
1954-S


Obverse
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Reverse
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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: 9/8/2006
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

The 1954S is no exception to the San Francisco fate of weakly struck coins. Ehrmantraut even goes so far as to say that the 1954S was originally considered to be the scarcest S mint in FBL, before the extreme scarcity of the 1953S FBL was appreciated. Unlike most weakly struck bell lines however, the problem on the 1954S is actually the top set of lines. Normally, high point pitting and an incomplete strike will wipe out the bell lines, as they are one of the high points of the coin. On the 1954S, it appears that the detail was worn from the hub and so only the freshest dies would strike FBL coins. Tomaska estimates that no more than 5% of gems qualify for FBL, and I personally think even that number is high. The 1954S is the last of the S mint Franklins, and was the ending of an era at the San Francisco mint. <br /><br />Besides their weak strike, there are a couple of other things that make the 1954S interesting. They are generally among the best handled coins of the Franklin series, which means that bagmarks are usually very few. Luster tends to be above average, and color is usually an average golden brown. <br /><br />My 1954S is rather interesting, I think. It has a good enough strike to garner the NGC recognition as FBL, but the three wisps of hair are barely discernable. Luster is very good, and there are almost no marks on it. The negative eye appeal of spotty toning is apparently what held this coin back from a 65, as can be seen above the date and eagle. What is interesting about this coin, though, is the lamination on Franklin’s head. It is difficult to see in the picture I show below, but the most noticeable part is at the base of his jawbone. There is a small planchet flaw there, and planchet streaks up to his eyebrows. Now, I don’t know if NGC recognized it as a planchet flaw or just thought it was a ding, because a planchet flaw should not downgrade it from a 65 to a 64, whereas a bagmark that large as prominently placed as it is would. I think I will eventually resubmit this coin to NGC by way of NCS, because the upside potential is worth it. <br /><br />I also really like the somewhat severe die polish lines around the bell on the reverse. To some collectors, die polish lines are an immediate turn off – some argue that the eye appeal is seriously hurt by these polish lines. I disagree, and think that they are interesting. When a mint worker noticed a die that had clashed, or needed cleaning, he would take a wire brush and polish the die. This left raised lines on the coin, and can range from light to very heavy. These die polish lines are often used to positively attribute a die variety, since the polishing on two different dies never looks the same. Collectors must be aware, however, of the difference between die polishing lines and lines due to cleaning. After a coin is cleaned by a wire brush or some other harsh method, ugly and unsightly lines will be left on the surface of the coin. Two important differences aid the collector in identifying the two different kinds of lines – 1.) Die polish lines are raised on the surface of the coin, since they are scraped onto the surface of the die. Remember, the die is the inverse of the coin. Cleaning lines are sunk into the surface of the coin. With proper lighting and experience, the difference can be ascertained. 2.) Die polish lines will appear to go under the devices; cleaning lines go across the devices. Think about how a die appears: anything that is going to be raised on a coin is sunk into a die. When the mint worker polishes the fields of the die, his brush does not go down into the devices. When someone cleans a coin, however, the devices are now raised above the fields. The brush must go across the devices, and will leave marks on the top of the devices. This is an important difference, and one of the first things to look for if you suspect a coin has been cleaned. <br /><br />I got this coin for $42 off of the great EBay. <br /><br />Music in 1954:<br />Bill Haley and His Comets record "Rock Around the Clock"<br />Les Paul commissions Ampex to build the first eight track tape recorder, at his own expense.<br />The Chordettes’ “Mr. Sandman” and Rosemary Clooney’s “Hey There” and “This Ole House” top the charts, along with Doris Day’s “Secret Love.”

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