The Franklin half dollar is a silver coin struck by the U.S. Mint from 1948 until 1963. It was created in honor of Benjamin Franklin and is comprised of ninety percent silver with edges that are reeded. There were three regional mints which were responsible for its manufacture, which were the Denver, San Francisco and Philadelphia Mints.

Origins of This Coin

Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and was also a notable polymath, excelling in multiple disciplines. In addition to being a diplomat and political theorist, he was also a scientist, author and inventor. Nellie Tayloe Ross was the director of the U.S. Mint and during her tenure she decided to spear head the production of a coin featuring Franklin due to the admiration she had for the man. John R. Sinnock, the chief engraver in 1947, was asked to produce designs for the half dollar.

Coin Design Characteristics

This coin has a face value of fifty cents. An image of Benjamin Franklin can be seen on the coin’s obverse side while the Liberty Bell is shown in the reverse. A miniature eagle was positioned to the Liberty Bell’s right side so that legal requirements could be fulfilled requiring all half dollars to showcase an eagle’s image.

Collection Value

In the decades which have passed since its introduction, the value of the silver within the Franklin Half dollar has greatly exceeded its face value. In fact, by 2016 the silver’s value had increased to over $6.50, which is a growth of about 1300 percent. In the first few after its release, the coin was struck in limited qualities, and demand was somewhat low due to a large influx of the walking liberty half dollars. Few Franklin half dollars were produced from 1955 to 1956 as a result of low demand, but things changed starting in the early 1960s, as demand for the coins started to grow.

Today, Franklin Half dollars are not rare, the result of lower mintage variants being saved. Proof coins were produced at the Philadelphia Mint, and Cameo proofs (which feature surfaces which were frosted) were struck in lower numbers and as such do carry a premium over standard editions. It is estimated that a total of about 500 million Franklin half dollars were produced.

The Franklin Half dollar series is comprised of just over 30 mintmarks and dates, meaning it is a great starting coin for those who are new to silver collecting of investing. They are affordable, exceptional in quality, and are widely recognized. The highest quality Franklins are those which display bell lines that are full. A lot of Franklin Half dollars have sustained a type of wear called roll friction, which is where parts of coins in loose rolls will rub together frequently, causing abrasions which are steel gray in color. The most important dates for this coin are 1948, 1955, 1949 S, and 1953.