DougMo Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 I have 3 of the only 789 minted 1977 Jimmy Carter Inaugural Proof commemoratives minted in 24K Gold with AGW of .41 Troy. Seems to me as if this might be the rarest of all the Issues released by the Franklin Mint. I understand that FM currently gets zero respect from the numismatic community. Regardless, these are incredibly difficult to find for purchase on the internet. They are beautiful coins (medals). If anything in FM universe ever catches fire. I would think, these would be it. Any thoughts? Link to post Share on other sites
Just Bob Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Welcome to the forum. I think the way that the Franklin Mint products have been marketed has much to do with the lack of respect in the numismatic and collectibles community. It (in most cases) has little to do with the quality of the workmanship, or the actual products themselves. I have stated in the past that I really like some of their designs, like in the History of the US set. (Not too fond of the President set designs, though.) I even have some Three Stooges plates, but that is because I am a Stooges fan, not because I think there is any chance they will go up in value. The key is your phrase "catches fire." That is not likely to happen in the near future. JKK and Modwriter 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
DougMo Posted October 3, 2020 Author Share Posted October 3, 2020 (edited) I wish I had anything else with as low a mintage as these. Edited October 4, 2020 by DougMo left the word "else" out Modwriter 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Moxie15 Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Franklin Mint products are 'collectible' items looking for a collector base. They are only 'valuable' when you are trying to buy them, they are only worth bullion when you try to sell them. Lancek and kenlee47 2 Link to post Share on other sites
gmarguli Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 You have a lot of obstacles to overcome. The major downside is that the medal has $900 worth of gold in it. The second major downside is that it has Jimmy Carter on it. He is wildly viewed as a loser president. Even though history has softened on him, he is still not considered a good president. You need to find: A collector of Presidential Inaugural medals. Who wants one in gold, not the cheaper silver, copper, plated, etc other versions. Who has $900+ to spend for one. Who wants a Jimmy Carter one. Who doesn't already have one. Best of luck on that. The odds of you finding that is just slightly better than the odds of SETI finding extraterrestrial life. If they were mine, they'd be off to the smelter as soon as possible. Link to post Share on other sites
Zebo Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Welcome to the forum. I have many coins that should have gone to the smelter a long time ago. Keep what you enjoy - discard the rest. I'm no Jimmy Carter fan, but you should post a photo of the medal. Gmarguli was correct regarding selling - selling it for near melt might work. Link to post Share on other sites
DougMo Posted October 4, 2020 Author Share Posted October 4, 2020 Modwriter 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Conder101 Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Being as it is the official Inaugural medal there may actually be a market for it. There are people who collect the inaugural medals. It is still going to be a very thin market though. Modwriter 1 Link to post Share on other sites
DougMo Posted December 5, 2020 Author Share Posted December 5, 2020 I just bought a 4th one. President Carter was not a popular President but history will be kinder to him after he passes because of his charitable work. He is a good man. These medals are not the easiest things to find online.I know where there is one now. I might get it too! Modwriter and Hoghead515 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
RWB Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 Ford and Carter were/are both good men and honest, honorable Presidents. Neither acquired a public persona of distinction, but neither sank to the depths of incompetence of Jackson, Buchanan or another unmentionable. Inaugural medal collecting seems to have declined in the past 2 decades much the pity since Dr. Crane did so much to explore the subject. With Joe Levine largely inactive there is no dedicated specialist around. Modwriter 1 Link to post Share on other sites
James_OldeTowne Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 Franklin mint products, with few exceptions, are widely considered sub-bullion pieces. I'd melt that off without a second thought. Link to post Share on other sites
MAULEMALL Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 On 12/5/2020 at 11:09 AM, DougMo said: I just bought a 4th one. President Carter was not a popular President but history will be kinder to him after he passes because of his charitable work. He is a good man. Link to post Share on other sites
MAULEMALL Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 7 hours ago, James_OldeTowne said: Franklin mint products, with few exceptions, are widely considered sub-bullion pieces. I'd melt that off without a second thought. Some of my favorite proof sets were minted by the Franklin mint Modwriter 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Hoghead515 Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 8 minutes ago, MAULEMALL said: Some of my favorite proof sets were minted by the Franklin mint I like the 2 dollars and 10 cents the best. Thats a lovely set. Modwriter and MAULEMALL 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
James_OldeTowne Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 That's one of the FM products that I would NOT melt down! MAULEMALL 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Modwriter Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 On 12/5/2020 at 8:09 AM, DougMo said: I just bought a 4th one. President Carter was not a popular President but history will be kinder to him after he passes because of his charitable work. He is a good man. These medals are not the easiest things to find online.I know where there is one now. I might get it too! General McCaffrey liked and agreed with my comment on Twitter. I was overjoyed with that. General McCaffrey had a post about President Carter's failed Iranian hostage rescue mission. I responded with saying "Changed history forever" It did. I would like to have one of the OP's Carter Inaugaration Medals in my keeper collection. Hoghead515 1 Link to post Share on other sites
DougMo Posted December 12, 2020 Author Share Posted December 12, 2020 The Bahama set is a good-looking set of coins. Modwriter and Hoghead515 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Kurisu Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 Yes and there are really at a least a couple of types of FM collectors... FM art rounds and collectibles, mostly silver and gold. FM coins minted for foreign countries, there are more than you might expect once you start researching! If I'm remembering correctly including Belize, Tonga, Brazil...a bunch more. I got hooked on FM pieces made for various sporting events in the 60's and 70's and the moon landing, beautiful silver art rounds! My full on Franklin Mint brag is that I also own an unbelievably rare Franklin Mint piece which was actually a gold coin minted for Papua New Guinea https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/papua-new-guinea-100-kina-km-29-1990-1992-cuid-1087524-duid-1521904 Arguably the absolute queen of all Franklin Mint pieces ever...but even so...very little interest in this kind of thing from the coin people who don't collect any FM pieces. Link to post Share on other sites
RWB Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 I bought some of the early proof sets from FM and the bicentennial set in silver, but nothing after that. The bicentennial set designs remain far superior to any of the US Mint products in execution, concept and creativity. Link to post Share on other sites
DougMo Posted December 16, 2020 Author Share Posted December 16, 2020 They put out some good looking products. Their designers and engraver were talented folks and there products had strict quality control guidelines. Their time will come around I'm hoping! The Papua New Guinea coin is very cool. Kurisu 1 Link to post Share on other sites
DougMo Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 I am up to six of them now. I bought the last two at melt. 789 of them ever made, I have 6! Hoghead515 1 Link to post Share on other sites
