FRANKLIN HALVES 1948-1963

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                             AVERAGE CIRCULATED  BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED            Proof     
                     Date      Inv #    Price         Inv #    Price
                     1948      08666    19.95         09201    42.50 
                     1948d     08667    19.95         09202    37.50 
                     1949      08668    19.95         09203    59.95 
                     1949d     08669    19.95         09204    79.95 
                     1949s     08670    19.95         09205   129.95 
                     1950      08671    19.95         09206    52.50 
                     1950d     08672    19.95         09207    49.95 
                     1951      08673    19.95         09208    29.95 
                     1951d     08674    19.95         09209    57.50 
                     1951s     08675    19.95         09210    39.95 
                     1952      08676    19.95         09211    29.95 
                     1952d     08677    19.95         09212    29.95 
                     1952s     08678    19.95         09213    97.50 
                     1953      08679    19.95         09214    37.50 
                     1953d     08680    19.95         09215    29.95 
                     1953s     08681    19.95         09216    49.94 
                     1954      08682    19.95         09217    29.95 
                     1954d     08683    19.95         09218    29.95 
                     1954s     08684    19.95         09219    29.95 
                     1955      08685    22.50         09220    32.50 
                     1956      08686    19.95         09221    29.95          04003    59.95 
                     1957      08687    19.95         09222    29.95          04004    49.95 
                     1957d     08688    19.95         09223    29.95 
                     1958      08689    19.95         09224    29.95          04005    52.50 
                     1958d     08690    19.95         09225    29.95 
                     1959      08691    19.95         09226    29.95          04006    39.95 
                     1959d     08692    19.95         09227    29.95 
                     1960      08693    19.95         09228    29.95          04007    39.95 
                     1960d     08694    19.95         09229    29.95 
                     1961      08695    19.95         09230    29.95          04009    39.95 
                     1961d     08696    19.95         09231    29.95 
                     1962      08697    19.95         09232    29.95          04010    39.95 
                     1962d     08698    19.95         09233    29.95 
                     1963      08699    19.95         09234    27.50          04011    39.95 
                     1963d     08700    19.95         09235    27.50          

Franklin Half Dollar Sets

Option 1 35 coin Franklin Half Dollar Set Inv # Price
Average Circulated 08796 $650.00
Option 2 35 coin Franklin Half Dollar Set
Average Circulated with Dansco® Coin Album 08797 $685.00
Option 3 35 coin Franklin Half Dollar Set
Brilliant Uncirculated 08798 $1250.00
Option 4 35 coin Franklin Half Dollar Set
Brilliant Uncirculated with Dansco® Coin Album 08799 $1285.00

The History of the Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963):

The first Franklin Half Dollar was issued in 1948. The obverse depicted the bust of Benjamin Franklin while the reverse pictured the Liberty Bell, crack and all (a controversial decision at the time). A small stylized eagle is also present to the right of the bell...solely because the law had required the presence of an eagle on every half dollar since 1792. It was not discovered, until the 1960s, that the reverse design was actually 'adapted' from John Fredrick Lewis' original sketch of the 1926 Sesquicentennial Commemorative Half Dollar.

The mint mark is located on the reverse just above the bell's yoke.

The Franklin Half Dollar was designed by John R. Sinnock. His initials 'JS' appear on the obverse, at the truncation of the shoulder. Sinnock had also designed the Roosevelt Dime which went into production two years earlier. It was rumored, by an ignorant and paranoid post-war public, that the 'JS' was placed these coins to show allegiance to Joseph Stalin. Although this is completely false, it can be noted that the next coin Sinnock designed bore his full initials JAS. (Stalin's middle name is Vissarionovich!)

The Franklin Half Dollar was composed of 90% Silver and 10% Copper. Since pure silver is very soft, copper was added to all circulating silver coins to harden them and prevent excessive wear. These 90% Silver Half Dollars had a weight of 12.50 grams, a diameter of 30.6 mm, a reeded edge. The edges of most silver coins were reeded to make evident any attempt to shave silver off the coin.

The Franklin Half Dollar was struck in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.


Key to abbreviations used on this page:

AVERAGE CIRCULATED: A typical circulated coin from the period. All major features are easily identifiable. Date and mint mark are clear and readable.

BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED (BU): A strictly uncirculated coin with attractive mint luster but noticeable detracting contact marks or minor blemishes.

D (Denver): The 'D' mint mark is located on the reverse just above the bell's yoke.

S (San Francisco): The 'S' mint mark is located on the reverse just above the bell's yoke.

Note: Franklin Half Dollars struck in Philadelphia bear no mint mark.


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