The Poe Collection
1958


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Origin/Country: United States
Design Description: HALF DOLLARS - FRANKLIN
Item Description: 50C 1958
Grade: NGC MS 64 FBL
Owner: physics-fan3.14
 
Winning Set: The Poe Collection
Date Added: 1/6/2007
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

Toning on silver coins is loved by some, and hated by others. Some collectors love the unique color patterns and the vibrant displays of rainbows, recognizing their rarity and desirability. Other collectors prefer their coins to be blast white and brilliantly lustrous as the day they were minted. Many of these collectors view toning as damage. It can be an extremely polarizing subject, but I am very much in favor of it.<br /><br />The series most commonly found attractively toned is the Morgan dollar; the most famous toned hoard of these is known as the Battle Creek collection. Also known for their toning are the 1957 and 1958 US Mint sets. Something in the cardboard holders these years produced a significantly larger number of well toned, multicolored, rainbow coins, across all denominations. Some of the hardest coins to find toned are the Peace dollar, Standing Liberty quarter, and Walking Liberty half dollar.<br /><br />Many collectors will pay large premiums for toned coinage, a fact which white coin collectors often loudly criticize. Because vibrant toning is so rare, there is a large demand for these coins. It is definitely a niche market, but toned coin collectors are often willing to pay many multiples of the coin’s normal price for special toning. Some premiums are considered unsustainable, even by toned coin specialists. For much more info on the toning premium, read TomB’s exemplary thread here: http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1235162#Post1235162<br /><br />In the early days of mainstream collecting, toning was often considered highly undesirable by many collectors. During the coin roll boom of the early 1960’s (see my entry for the 1949D), many collectors prized coins that looked like they were just minted. Many coins were dipped or scrubbed to return them to the blast white that would sell more easily, and thus rendered the coins polished, damaged, and unoriginal. Above all, originality is prized by today’s collectors.<br /><br />Which leads me to one of the most controversial aspects of a controversial niche: artificial toning. Recognizing the large premiums that toned coins often garner, coin doctors developed methods of simulating natural toning. Toning specialists can usually distinguish many of these methods, but less experienced collectors are often duped into paying large premiums for unnatural and often unappealing coins. However, there are many cases where the artificial toning is made in a pleasing, or very deceptive, manner. In borderline cases, the coins are termed “market acceptable.”<br /><br />Only experience and knowledge can arm the collector against artificially toned coins. Examining hundreds of toned coins is necessary. With experience, and a mental catalogue of natural and eye appealing toning, a collector can eventually spot the majority of artificially toned coins. For much more on the differences and characteristics of AT versus NT, read CTcollector’s thread, the very first WYNTK post, here: http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1088837#Post1088837<br /><br />1958 is the highlight of color coins in the Franklin series, both P and D mint coins. Very few of the mottled mint set toned examples exist, either a coin is brilliant or it has at least some color. Luster also tends to be exceptional on this issue. Waterspots and bagmarks play their part, but are not as bad as some other dates. The strike is usually pretty weak on 1958 Franklins, but remember that the master was only used for one more year due to the wear. Even the best struck 1958 Franklins are going to show some weakness.<br /><br />My 1958, while it doesn’t display the amazing toning that the date is famous for, is still very eye appealing. The luster is very good, there are very few if any water spots, and the only bagmarks to mention are the gashes across Franklin’s head and the bell. The strike is actually very good for the date, but what makes this coin special is the golden rim toning. That’s actually what attracted me to this coin in the first place, and why I bought it. I’m a big fan of rim toning – sometimes all you need is a little splash of color to make a coin very eye appealing. Obverse and reverse both display primarily golden toning around the edges, and it makes for a very nice effect when combined with the very good luster. I paid $40 for it at FUN 2007.<br /><br />Notable events in 1958:<br />Sputnik falls to earth from its orbit, and the first American satellite, Explorer 1, is launched.<br />A B-47 mistakenly drops an atomic bomb on South Carolina. Luckily, it did not go off.<br />The bodies of several unidentified soldiers are buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns.<br />Castro overthrows Batista in Cuba, making it a Communist country.<br />Alaska becomes a state.<br />NASA is formed.<br />France ratifies the constitution of the Fifth Republic.

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