FRANKLIN HALVES 1948-1963

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                             AVERAGE CIRCULATED  BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED            Proof     
                     Date      Inv #    Price         Inv #    Price
                     1948      08666    27.50         09201    52.50 
                     1948d     08667    27.50         09202    49.95 
                     1949      08668    27.50         09203    59.95 
                     1949d     08669    27.50         09204    79.95 
                     1949s     08670    27.50         09205   129.95 
                     1950      08671    27.50         09206    52.50 
                     1950d     08672    27.50         09207    57.50 
                     1951      08673    27.50         09208    44.95 
                     1951d     08674    27.50         09209    57.50 
                     1951s     08675    27.50         09210    47.50 
                     1952      08676    27.50         09211    44.95 
                     1952d     08677    27.50         09212    44.95 
                     1952s     08678    27.50         09213    97.50 
                     1953      08679    27.50         09214    44.95 
                     1953d     08680    27.50         09215    44.95 
                     1953s     08681    27.50         09216    49.94 
                     1954      08682    27.50         09217    44.95 
                     1954d     08683    27.50         09218    44.95 
                     1954s     08684    27.50         09219    44.95 
                     1955      08685    27.95         09220    44.95 
                     1956      08686    27.50         09221    44.95          04003    59.95 
                     1957      08687    27.50         09222    44.95          04004    49.95 
                     1957d     08688    27.50         09223    44.95 
                     1958      08689    27.50         09224    44.95          04005    52.50 
                     1958d     08690    27.50         09225    44.95 
                     1959      08691    27.50         09226    44.95          04006    47.50 
                     1959d     08692    27.50         09227    44.95 
                     1960      08693    27.50         09228    44.95          04007    47.50 
                     1960d     08694    27.50         09229    44.95 
                     1961      08695    27.50         09230    44.95          04009    47.50 
                     1961d     08696    27.50         09231    44.95 
                     1962      08697    27.50         09232    44.95          04010    47.50 
                     1962d     08698    27.50         09233    44.95 
                     1963      08699    27.50         09234    42.50          04011    44.95 
                     1963d     08700    27.50         09235    42.50

Franklin Half Dollar Sets

Option 1	35 coin Franklin Half Dollar Set	Inv #	Price
	Average Circulated	08796	$895.00

Option 2	35 coin Franklin Half Dollar Set
	Average Circulated with Dansco® Coin Album	08797	$935.00

Option 3	35 coin Franklin Half Dollar Set
	Brilliant Uncirculated	08798	$1650.00

Option 4	35 coin Franklin Half Dollar Set
	Brilliant Uncirculated with Dansco® Coin Album	08799	$1695.00

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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