1956 Type 1 Franklin Half Dollar NGC PF68 Ultra Cameo We The People Label Rick Tomaska Signature Series
1956 Type 1 Franklin Half Dollar NGC PF68 Ultra Cameo
We The People Label
Rick Tomaska Signature Series
From the Desk of Rick Tomaska:
Question: What is the rarest Franklin date in ULTRA CAMEO condition???
Most collectors and dealers would answer, “Well, of course – the 1950!”
Well, if they had a copy of my book “Cameo And Brilliant Proof Coinage Of The 1950 To 1970 Era” (the 2nd edition is currently being laid out in the art department at Whitman books !!!), they would know that, while the 1950 is a tremendous rarity in Ultra Cameo condition, the 1950 ranks as the SECOND rarest date in the series in this coveted condition!
What Franklin is the #1 RAREST in ULTRA CAMEO condition? On page 72 of my book you will find the answer. Since you may not have a copy handy, the answer is: the 1956 Type 1 Franklin!
On the April 20th show I will be featuring the following proof Franklin:
1956 Type 1 Franklin Signature NGC PF 68 ULTRA CAMEO!!! AND IT IS THE FINEST KNOWN!
The 1956 Type 1 refers to the reverse design of the coin, which uses the reverse design from the 1950 – 1955 proof Franklin half dollars. Early in January of 1956, the mint made some design changes to the reverse, the most noticeable in the feathers of the eagle, which have much more definition in the new Type 2 reverse. Based on having looked at literally over 100,000 1956 proof sets, I estimate only about 25,000 1956 proof sets were issued with a 1956 Type 1.
Most importantly, virtually all the top cameo dies in 1956 were struck with the Type 2 Reverse!!! At the time of publication of my first book, “Cameo And Brilliant Proof Coinage Of The 1950 to 1970 Era”, the Type 1 was unknown in ULTRA CAMEO condition!!! Hence, I have a question mark ? for the rarity estimate for this date on page 72! The 1956 type 1 is the ONLY date in the series where I have NO RARITY ESTIMATE – it is THAT RARE!
This specimen offered is spectacular for a Type 1. It is HIGHEST GRADE in ULTRA CAMEO condition!
NGC has only certified 9 examples in all grades of ULTRA CAMEO, with four specimens being certified in PF 68 ULTRA CAMEO – the highest ULTRA CAMEO grade given this date by either service.
The specimen offered is the ONLY Signature Series specimen certified in PF 68 ULTRA CAMEO!
In the NGC Set Registry, this coin ranks among the most highly valued Franklins ever certified.
The only Franklin with a higher Registry Point Value is the lone 1954 NGC PF ULTRA CAMEO, with 12,013 points. That also is a Signature Series Franklin. However, understand that the rarest of rare 1954 Franklin sold for a record $180,000!!!
If one were to assemble the most highly valued Signature Series Franklins ever certified by NGC for every date in the series, the list below features those coins.
Most Highly Valued Registry Franklins Certified by NGC in Signature Series by Date
1950 Franklin NGC PF 68 CAMEO 10,166
1951 Franklin NGC PF 67+| STAR ULTRA CAM 10,208
1952 Franklin RT-9 NGC PF 66+ ULTRA CAM 6,658
1953 Franklin RT-17 NGC PF 68 ULTRA CAM 10,515
1954 Franklin NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAM 12,013
1955 Franklin RT Top Die NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAM 9,918
1956 Type 1 Franklin NGC PF 68 ULTRA CAM 11,754
1956 Type 2 Franklin, Top Dies NGC PF 69 ULTRA 4,403
1957 Franklin, Top Die 38 NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO 8,849
1958 Franklin NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO 9,307
1959 Franklin NGC PF 68 ULTRA CAMEO 7,704
1960 Franklin, Top Die NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO 9,160
1961 Franklin, Top Die NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO 9,084
1962 Franklin, Top Die NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO 4,888
1963 Franklin, Top Die, NGC PF 69 STAR ULTRA CAMEO 5,620
- 1954 Franklin NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO 12,013
- 1956 Type 1 NGC PF 68 ULTRA CAMEO 11,754
In other words, when you review the above list of the finest, if you acquired the TOP REGISTRY coin for each date, the 1956 Type 1 being offered would be the second highest rated coin, with the 1954 69 ULTRA CAMEO being the highest. Again – the 1954 sold for $180,000!!!!
NGC Price Guide 1956 Type 1 Signature PF 68 ULTRA CAMEO: $79,000
The current Price Guide Value appears to be on the low side. Two weeks ago, we featured a 1950 Franklin NGC PF 67+ CAMEO with a Price Guide Value of $65,000, that ended up selling in our April 6th live auction for $81,000! That same evening we featured a 1951 Franklin in NGC PF 68 CAMEO with a Price Guide Value of $55,000 that hammered for $61,000.
The bidder will be getting an ULTIMATE example of the RAREST Franklin issue in the HIGHEST GRADE ULTRA CAMEO
If he or she is building an NGC Registry Set, this FINEST KNOWN 1956 TYPE 1 is a MUST acquisition, with this 1956 Type 1 in ULTRA CAMEO offering more point value than any other Franklin in the entire series ever certified by NGC, with the lone exception of that 1954 NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO!
