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Auction 1368 | Lot 3017 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS66+ Full Bell Lines NGC. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS66+

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Jun 16, 2024

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Sold For: $66,000.00
Auction 267 | Lot 6331 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS66 Full Bell Lines PCGS. The '53-S is the well known key among Full Bell Lines Franklin Halves. On the surface, this issue does not seem like a numismatic rarity. The San Francisco Mint produced 4.1 million Half Dollars this year, a limited, yet not excessively low total by the standards of this series. Typically (i.e. weakly) struck examples, even with Gem quality surfaces, are readily obtainable, as evidenced by the fact that PCGS alone has seen 1,797 coins in MS65. On the other hand, fully struck representatives are of the utmost rarity and desirability. Both major grading services have seen only 29 Full Bell Lines examples in grades that range from MS63-66 (5/01), and the present example is tied with one other MS66 PCGS specimen for finest certified honors.

Soft pink, blue, orange-russet, and lavender color swirls intermingle over both sides to form a continuous blanket of iridescent toning. The strike is the sharpest that we have ever seen on a '53-S Half Dollar, with the all-important reverse bell lines being razor sharp from end to end. Of course, the number of abrasions is also uncommonly few for the type. A coin of singular beauty and technical quality, and a must-have example for the dedicated Franklin Half Dollar collector.
Ex: Rarities Sale (Bowers & Merena, 1/01), lot 246, where it realized $69,000. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS66

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Aug 11, 2001

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Sold For: $35,075.00
Auction 1256 | Lot 3705 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS66 Full Bell Lines NGC. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS66

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Jun 11, 2017

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Sold For: $32,900.00
Auction 414 | Lot 3584 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS. If your numismatic fervor is Franklin half dollars, this legendary coin needs no introduction, as 1953-S Franklins are by far the rarest with full bell lines, as the present specimen offers. This sparkling Gem is brilliant and untoned, with pristine silver-white surfaces and frosty luster. But the best news is, unlike some "iffy" specimens, this piece has no-questions split full bell lines all the way across both sets of lines. Elsewhere the coin shows a notable lack of surface indignities as well, with only a few stray reeding marks and scrapes noted. Indeed, the piece appears high-end for the Gem grade. Writing in 2002, Franklin half guru Rick Tomaska said of this issue, "Now ranking among the most significant rarities in 20th century coinage, this date seems to establish new price records on an annual basis. Like the 1927-S Standing Liberty quarter in Full Head and the 1945-P Mercury dime in Full Split Bands, the 1953-S Franklin [in Full Bell Lines] is the key issue in its respective series." Population: 20 in 65 Full Bell Lines, 1 finer (7/06). (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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Aug 14, 2006

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Sold For: $32,200.00
Auction 1344 | Lot 3766 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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May 8, 2022

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Sold For: $31,200.00

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Auction 1166 | Lot 3281 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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Jan 8, 2012

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Sold For: $28,750.00
Auction 1204 | Lot 5613 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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Apr 27, 2014

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Sold For: $28,200.00
Auction 1383 | Lot 3231 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS. (PCGS# 86666)

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Grade MS65

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May 4, 2025

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Sold For: $26,400.00
Auction 1169 | Lot 5143 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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Apr 22, 2012

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Sold For: $25,300.00
Auction 1154 | Lot 5220 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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May 1, 2011

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Auction 407 | Lot 2613 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS. This is the premier Franklin half dollar issue when certified with Full Bell Lines, a true "strike rarity." Rick Tomaska commented: "The 1953-S is consistently softly struck, with very little high point detail. Only an occasional fluke of nature, a bolt of lightning, will occasionally intervene, and voila, a well struck FBL may come onto the market." Without a doubt, the present example is more sharply struck than the typical example of this issue. Both sides have mostly brilliant, frosty silver luster with a trace of olive and gold toning near the borders. It is a visually pleasing example. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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Jul 8, 2006

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Sold For: $23,000.00
Auction 1216 | Lot 4150 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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Jan 12, 2015

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Sold For: $21,150.00
Auction 1224 | Lot 3980 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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Sep 20, 2015

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Sold For: $21,150.00

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$31,725 or more
Auction 388 | Lot 2183 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS. Light olive and rose colors enrich this lustrous and carefully preserved Gem. Among all Franklin Half issues, the 1953-S is regarded as the key to the Full Bell Lines series. Throughout all grades, PCGS (9/05) has certified only 34 pieces as Full Bell Lines, since the vast majority of Mint State pieces exhibit softness of strike on the lower bands to the west of the bell crack. In addition to its importance as a strike rarity, the present example does not possess any distracting contact marks on the devices, uncommon for the type. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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Nov 5, 2005

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Sold For: $20,125.00

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$30,188 or more
Auction 1344 | Lot 3576 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS64 Full Bell Lines PCGS. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS64

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May 8, 2022

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Sold For: $19,200.00

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Auction 1183 | Lot 3663 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS64 Full Bell Lines PCGS. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS64

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Mar 24, 2013

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Sold For: $18,800.00
Auction 1390 | Lot 4155 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS64 Full Bell Lines PCGS. CAC. (PCGS# 86666)

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Grade MS64

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Jan 17, 2026

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Sold For: $18,300.00
Auction 1362 | Lot 3088 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS64 Full Bell Lines PCGS. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS64

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Jul 23, 2023

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Auction 1316 | Lot 3080 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines NGC. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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Jun 7, 2020

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Sold For: $18,000.00
Auction 360 | Lot 30261 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS. One of the premier rarities of the Franklin half dollar series and a very difficult date to locate with the Full Bell Lines. This particular coin actually shows a slightly better strike than the famous example graded MS66 Full Bell Lines according to Mark Borckardt, who has studied both examples. Most of the 1953 San Francisco half dollars are weakly struck on the reverse, and at best are found in Gem grades. To get a combination Gem quality with the Full Bell Lines is quite a challenge for the collector. Furthermore, the surfaces of this Gem are very clean, we note one reeding mark just behind Franklin's head just below the line extended from his ear and a very minor tick below his eye. The reverse is quite clean for the grade too, with one nick between the bell and the tiny eagle, and a couple of others of less consequence. These nicks are listed as identification markers for the future. Toned with a faint blush of iridescent colors over luster, and we also note two minor dark specks on the reverse rim, one above the first T of STATES, the other lodged between the CA of AMERICA.
From The Kenny's Bennies #3 All-Time PCGS Registry Set of Full Bell Line Franklin Half Dollars. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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Jan 15, 2005

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Sold For: $17,250.00
Auction 1201 | Lot 5278 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS Secure. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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Jan 12, 2014

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Sold For: $16,450.00

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Auction 1347 | Lot 3123 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS64 Full Bell Lines NGC. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS64

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Jul 14, 2022

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Sold For: $16,200.00

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Auction 349 | Lot 6103 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines PCGS. Most serious collectors of Franklin Half Dollars agree that, while available without any difficulty as a Gem, the 1953-S is the single greatest strike rarity in the series. This radiant, virtually untoned example does have some unavoidable softness on the details of the Liberty Bell, but near the base it is possible to follow each line all the way across without interruption. Extremely scarce as such. Population: 19 in 65, 1 finer (3/04). (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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Jun 5, 2004

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Sold For: $16,100.00
Auction 1292 | Lot 3631 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS65 Full Bell Lines NGC. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS65

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Jan 31, 2019

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Sold For: $15,600.00

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$23,400 or more
Auction 1314 | Lot 3608 » Half Dollars » Franklin Half Dollars
1953-S 50C MS64 Full Bell Lines PCGS. (PCGS# 86666)
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Grade MS64

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Apr 26, 2020

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Sold For: $14,400.00

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