Franklin Half Dollars Value

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

The United States Mint produced the Franklin half dollar coin from 1948 until 1963. Ben Franklin, one of the founding fathers, is depicted on the obverse of the fifty-cent piece, while the Liberty Bell is shown on the reverse.

To comply with the legal requirement that half dollars feature an eagle, a small eagle was positioned to the right of the bell. Minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco, the coin had a reeded edge and was made of 90% silver.

Franklin half dollars are more than just coins—they're windows into history and prized collectibles coveted by numismatists worldwide. If you want to know the Franklin half dollars value and history and learn some interesting facts about this half dollar, then dive into this article.

    Franklin Half Dollars History

The Franklin Half Dollar was created because Nellie Tayloe Ross, the director of the mint at the time, wanted a coin featuring Franklin's likeness. Ms. Ross gave John Sinnock, the mint's chief engraver, the order to start creating designs for such a coin in 1947. Sadly, Mr. Sinnock passed away before his designs could be finished, and Gilroy Roberts, his successor, finished the coin's final design.

When the coins were first made available in April 1948, there was some controversy surrounding them. Franklin's shoulder cutoff on the coin featured Sinnock's initials, JRS. There were some who thought that these initials were a tribute to the former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

But according to the mint, these initials were just Sinnock's initials—nothing more. The coin's design remained unchanged by the mint. Then, up until 1963, Franklin Half Dollars was consistently struck. The coin was changed to the Kennedy Half Dollar in 1964.

    Design

The obverse of the coin features Benjamin Franklin's portrait profile. The long, curly hair that falls over Franklin's shoulder is visible. The coin has the words "Liberty" at the top and "In God We Trust", with the minting year displayed at the bottom.

The American Eagle and Liberty Bell, however, are displayed on the reverse of the Franklin half dollar. Furthermore, the US Mint proceeded with the design of the coin despite receiving criticism for the small eagle in the initial response.

In addition to the eagle and informative bell, the reverse bears the following phrases: "E PLURIBUS UNUM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and HALF DOLLAR". The coin's design makes it one of the most symbolic coins ever made, and the Liberty Bell itself is exquisitely detailed and designed.

    Franklin Half Dollars Value

Collectors do not view the majority of Franklin half dollars as rare or scarce, but some variations and rarities can fetch thousands of dollars. The Franklin half dollars value can be affected by its condition and mint year.

For instance, a very fine 1963 Franklin half dollar might be valued at roughly $13, while an extremely fine one might be valued at roughly $14. In very fine condition, a 1952 Franklin half dollar could be worth roughly $13, while one in extremely fine condition could be worth roughly $1 extra.

In 2018, a 1958 Full Bell Line Franklin half dollar sold for $129,500, and a 1961 Proof DDR Franklin Half Dollar sold for $14,400.

     Franklin Half Dollar's Interesting Facts

• "Full Bell Lines", or FBL, is a designation that can be applied to a Franklin Half Dollar that has its bell lines visibly intact. This kind of coin can bring in up to thirty thousand dollars.

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• In addition to being a printer, Franklin was also a moneyer—someone who minted currency. He made the first cent in the country.

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• Franklin objected to having his likeness on coinage and didn't approve of the eagle as the nation's emblem. He joked that a turkey would be a better bird in a letter to his daughter.

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• The Franklin half-dollar contains 90% of silver content. The coin weighs 12.5 grams in total. The amount of silver remaining is 11.25 grams.

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• In 1979 and 1980, a lot of Franklin Half Dollars were melted down for their silver content. Some dates are more rare than one would think due to coin melting, regardless of the original minting. The important dates in this series, according to mintages, are 1948, 1949-S, 1953, and 1955.