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Third Edition of
"The Complete Guide To Franklin Half Dollars"?
What's Your Vote? This isn't a political question. Politics and coin collecting don't mix well. This has to do with my response to collectors asking two questions:
1. When is the book on U.S. proof coins going to be released? And
2. When will you be doing an update on the Franklin half dollar book?
Originally, my plan was to finish the U.S. proof coin book, and then perhaps follow up with an updated Franklin guide.
The U.S. proof coin book is a BIG project. I started this project over 5 years ago, and am well beyond the half way point. Then we pulled up coin pictures in our computer files we had taken 5 and 6 years ago that were to be used in the book and were shocked at the difference in quality between pictures taken then, and now. Computer technology has come a long way in a very short time! A good book needs the best possible pictures, so I decided we will need to re-shoot all the coins from those early years that are to be pictured in the book.
At the same time I have decided to slightly expand the scope of the U.S. proof coin book to include proof gold and proof copper, as some experts in these fields have agreed to contribute in these areas, including Rick Snow, long a noted expert in the Flying Eagle and Indian cent series.
By comparison I believe I can write the next Franklin Guide and have it ready for the printer in about 12 months. Most importantly, while working on the Franklin book, work on the U.S. proof coin book would not be shelved - it will still receive attention, though for the time being with a little less energy while I devote my efforts to this next Franklin Guide.
Collector demand for another Franklin Guide
1. By the time it is released, it will have been about 7 years since the previous book. Much has changed in the market since the release of the last book. Some features I would like to see addressed in a third edition:
1. The FBL standard has undergone a drastic change the past several years, most notably at PCGS, where they have stiffened the standard considerably. While NGC has always had an extremely strict (in my opinion, too strict) FBL standard, the PCGS standard at the time the first two books were written was a bit more liberal. That is currently not the case. Both services are now extremely strict with their FBL standard. This has a profound affect on the rarities of many issues in FBL! A third edition of the Franklin Guide will have updated rarity rankings reflecting the current tougher standards.
2. The gap in value between exceptional brilliant and color toned Franklins vs. average eye-appeal specimens has continued to grow, as eye-appeal is now more important than ever among collectors in determining the value of a coin. I can foresee writing a chapter on this subject.
3. Updated population totals for proof and mint state Franklins are needed.
4. Updated pricing for proof and mint state Franklins, including record prices, are also needed.
5. COLOR PICTURES! While the cost of color throughout the book might be prohibitive, at the minimum I would like to include a 16 page color interior - 8 pages devoted to superb mint state Franklins, brilliant and toned, and 8 pages devoted to proof Franklins.
Finally and most importantly, while I handled the production of my first book, "Cameo And Brilliant Proof Coinage Of The 1950 To 1970 Era", I was not involved in the production of either of the Franklin Guides - I was only the author.
For the next Franklin Guide, I would want to be involved in the production of the book, to insure the book includes excellent color photography, etc.
The Franklin half dollar series deserves no less.
What do you think? Should I go full steam ahead and crank out the 3rd edition of the Franklin Guide asap?
I welcome your input on this subject. My email is
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. I can be reached at 1-800-753-2646.
Warmest regards,
Rick Tomaska
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