The Poe Collection
1959-D


Obverse
Enlarge  
Reverse
Enlarge  

Coin Details

  

Set Details
Origin/Country: United States
Design Description: HALF DOLLARS - FRANKLIN
Item Description: 50C 1959 D
Grade: NGC MS 64 FBL
Owner: physics-fan3.14
 
Winning Set: The Poe Collection
Date Added: 1/12/2004
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

The 1959D is one of the best struck Franklin’s in the entire series. Of course, remember that this does not mean that it has all the detail – the master had deteriorated to the point that most of the fine details had been obliterated. This only means that all the details that are still present on the master have been transferred to the final product. You can actually find coins of this date with the three wisps of hair defined, and Pass & Stow mostly readable. Luster on this date tends to be well above average, but, like almost all Denver issues, bagmarks are a problem. I guess the Denver mint employees just didn’t handle the coins as well as the other mints. The biggest thing to note about the 1959D is the lack of color coins – in 1959, the mint switched to cellophane wrappers for the mint sets. Thus, the prime source of color coins before, the cardboard mint holders, was taken away. Brilliant coins are the norm for this date, and color coins, when they can be found, will garner a noticeable premium. <br /><br />My coin is a very good example of this issue – it has very good luster, and a great strike. The three wisps of hair are actually distinct, and you can discern individual feathers on the eagle. The bell lines are crisp, and while not quite full and bold like the 1952D or 1954D, they are very good for a late date Franklin. Marks on the obverse are few; most of the marks present are on the bell. My coin is brilliant white, which is by far the most common way to find Franklins of this issue. I got this coin at the same time as my 1952D Franklin, for $20 at FUN 2004. <br /><br />Entertainment in 1959:<br />“Ben-Hur” came out and swept everything – the box office was blown away, and so were the Academy Awards. Ben-Hur garnered 11 Academy awards, a feat only rivaled a couple of times, once by a deserving picture, and once by a not-so-deserving picture (I’ll let you decide which was which!)<br />Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” placed a distant second at the box office.<br />The classic comedy “Some Like it Hot” also came out.

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