Donald E. Schultze Memorial Set
Private
Updated:
2/8/2026
Views: 4,479
This Mint State Franklin Set was assembled by a history buff who's favorite historical figure is Benjamin Franklin, but most importantly this set was assembled and collected by a man who's father instilled in him as a boy a love for coin collecting. Thus this set is named in his honor, thank you Dad!
As a boy growing up in this era my father loved collecting the Walking Liberty, Washington Quarters and Lincoln Pennies in Whitman albums, since he didn't collect Franklin's I chose to collect them. By the 1990's my Whitman albums had progressed to Capital Holders to display my collection. In 2007 I began the task of building this collection with the help of Paul Montgomery and NGC, moving to certified specimens. The focus of this collection is to built a high-end Mint State Franklin Set that shows the simple beauty of this John R. Sinnock classic modern coin design, whether it is a brilliant or a toned example.
Over the past ten years (2013-2022) this set has been the #1 NGC Registry Set as NGC Best in Category along with being recognized as the Best Presented Set in 2016. This collection has had over 3,850 views on the Registry which shows that it has become a tool for collectors who want to see and build a high quality Franklin collection.
What makes this set a true classic modern set is that it provides and demonstrates all the nuances of collecting high quality Mint State Franklin's. If you go to the NGC Registry under coin explorer and look under coin specifications you will discover that 20/35 coins are 1st or 2nd referred in the photo gallery images of the Franklin Mint Set specifications. The registry uses the collectors images to show what outstanding looking Franklin's look like.
This collector has also developed the "trifecta" the goal of any high quality collection of the Mint Set Franklin half. The trifecta goal of Franklin halves includes: 1) A NGC STAR designation for eye appeal, 2) A CAC green sticker by ( Certified Acceptance Corporation) for a quality strike, 3) A Everest sticker by Rick Tomaska designated for eye-appeal and conditional rarity. When you have a coin that has all three then you have a very special Franklin half dollar.
Whether the Franklin collector is collecting brilliant specimens or toned ones, whether it is a plus coin or FBL (Full Bell Lines) this collection shows you can have it all in collecting Franklin halves. Of the 35 Mint State Franklin's in this collection there are 15 STAR coins which demonstrates the importance of eye-appeal. There are 27 CAC sticker-ed coins with 19 being FBL showing the quality of the strike of each coin. Lastly there are 11 Everest coins identifying the conditional rarity of the Franklin.
Truly, this Mint State Set of Franklin halves shines and shows that a collector can assembly a high end quality set in the Modern era. The simple beauty of John R. Sinnock's design makes this series the ultimate classic modern set of coin collecting and this collection is that example.
Enjoy!
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Best Presented Set
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