1948-1963 Franklin Half Dollars
John R. Sinnock based the obverse design of the new Franklin Half Dollar on a bust of Franklin in marble by Jean-Antoine Houdon. The French artist Houdon had made the bust in 1778, when Franklin was in France, promoting the cause of the new nation. On the Franklin Half Dollar the bust is facing to […]
The Franklin Half Dollar was struck in the standard composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. The coins have a weight of 12.50 grams, a diameter of 30.60 mm, and a reeded edge. Franklin Half Dollars were produced at the Philadelphia (for each year of the series), Denver (all years but 1955 and 1956) and […]
The Franklin Half Dollar was produced from 1948 to 1963, with mintages spanning a wide range. The lowest mintage issue was for the 1955 Franklin Half Dollar at 2,498,181, while the highest mintage was for the 1963-D Franklin Half Dollar at 67,069,292. Coins were produced for circulation at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints. […]
Full Bell Lines (Buy on eBay) is a grading designation used for the Franklin Half Dollar series. It refers to the horizontal lines running across the lower portion of the Liberty Bell on the reverse of the coin. Franklin Half Dollars exhibiting Full Bell Lines will display uninterrupted lines, generally indicative of a fully struck […]
Proof Franklin Half Dollars (Buy on eBay) were struck for nearly every year of the series from 1950 to 1963. The Proof coinage of this era was offered by the United States Mint within complete Proof Sets, containing a Proof version of each denomination struck for circulation during the year. The Proof coinage of this […]
The 1963 Franklin Half Dollar (Buy on eBay) represented the final year for the series. This was despite the fact that there was a law in place requiring a duration of at least 25 years before the design for a circulating coin could be changed. Legislation was rushed through Congress at the end of 1963 […]
Although it was unknown at the time, the 1962 Franklin Half Dollar (Buy on eBay) would be the second to last year for the series. Coins were produced for circulation at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints with proof coins also produced at Philadelphia. The circulation strike 1962 Franklin Half Dollar from Philadelphia represents a significant […]
The 1961 Franklin Half Dollar (Buy on eBay) saw its most dramatic change in the surging mintage for the proof version of the coin, which nearly doubled from the prior year. Since 1950, the Philadelphia Mint had produced proof coins for inclusion in the annual proof set. From the initial mintage of 51,386 coins, the […]
For the 1960 Franklin Half Dollar (Buy on eBay), the United States Mint introduced a newly reworked master die, which resulted in a very different appearance for the coins. Whereas, the issues from the mid-1950’s onwards had a lack of detail in Franklin’s hair and the Liberty Bell resulting in a sometimes mushy appearance, the […]
The 1959 Franklin Half Dollar (Buy on eBay) was produced at the Philadelphia and Denver mints for circulation and at the Philadelphia Mint in proof version for collectors. While the coins are relatively common, they become scarce in grades above gem, particularly with full bell lines. The proof version of the coin is most desirable […]