Top grade Proof 1961 Franklin half dollar at FUN
- Published: Feb 6, 2019, 10 AM
At Heritage’s recent Florida United Numismatists auction in Orlando, a 1961 Franklin half dollar graded Proof 69 Ultra Cameo by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. brought a whopping $33,600.
As Heritage wrote in its lot description, citing NGC’s Condition Census figure of 11 in this grade with none finer, Proof 1961 halves are “plentiful in most grades but rare in PR69 Ultra Cameo,” before concluding, “This is the ultimate grade among Franklin half dollar proofs, seldom awarded and highly sought-after as the finest state of preservation for the type.”
Inside Coin World: Most fruitful series for die varieties missing in action: The Lincoln cent series is generally the most fruitful for collectors of die varieties like doubled dies and repunched Mint marks, but not this month.
The FUN auctions also saw a Special Mint set 1967 Kennedy half dollar graded Mint State 69 Ultra Cameo by NGC bring $31,200. It was the sole example of this date certified in this grade with none finer.
Both half dollars featured an Everest Seal from dealer Rick Tomaska, which he awards to coins that he considers to have exceptional eye appeal. Tomaska published a book on Franklin and Kennedy half dollars for Whitman Publishing in 2018, telling publisher Dennis Tucker, “The two series are closely tied together and they complement each other.”
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