Franklin Half Dollars (1948-1963)
The Franklin Half Dollar was minted from 1948 until 1963 and was designed by Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock. It was the first circulating U.S. coin to feature a non-president founding father, honoring Benjamin Franklin for his legacy as a statesman, inventor, and Founding Father. The reverse shows the Liberty Bell, a nod to Franklin’s connection with Philadelphia, along with a small eagle to satisfy legal requirements.
These coins were struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 12.5 grams with a diameter of 30.6 mm. They circulated widely until the Kennedy Half Dollar replaced them in 1964, following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination.
Why Collectors Value It
Franklin Half Dollars are popular among collectors because of their relatively short series (just 16 years), historical appeal, and affordability in circulated grades. Collectors often pursue full sets, including both circulation strikes and proofs (issued beginning in 1950). High-grade examples with strong details on the Liberty Bell are prized, especially with Full Bell Lines (FBL) designations, where the lines across the Liberty Bell’s lower rim are fully visible.
Key Dates and Rarities
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1949-S: Low mintage at just 3.7 million; scarcer in higher grades.
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1955: Low mintage of 2.5 million, the lowest business strike of the series.
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1953-S: Poor strike quality makes high-grade, fully struck coins especially valuable.
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1961 Proof and 1962 Proof: Proof issues with cameo or deep cameo contrast are highly collectible.
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Full Bell Lines (FBL): Across the series, FBL designations create significant premiums, with coins like the 1953-S FBL and 1955 FBL among the most sought after.
Collector Appeal
The Franklin Half Dollar is approachable for beginners while still offering significant challenges for advanced numismatists. Common-date coins are affordable, making it easy to build a basic set, while keys like the 1955 business strike and FBL-certified rarities provide depth and long-term value. Proof issues from 1950–1963 add another layer of collectibility, especially with cameo surfaces.
The Franklin Half Dollar (1948–1963) celebrates Benjamin Franklin and the Liberty Bell in a design both symbolic and historic. With its short run, it offers collectors the chance to complete a full series while still presenting exciting challenges in the form of low-mintage dates and Full Bell Line designations. Affordable, historic, and rewarding, it’s a staple of mid-20th-century U.S. coinage collecting.