1955 50C Franklin Half Dollar NGC PF69

Coin Highlights

• Issuer: United States of America

• Date: 1955

• Mint: Philadelphia (no mintmark)

• Denomination: 50 Cents (Half Dollar)

• Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper

• Weight: 12.5 g

• Diameter: 30.6 mm

• Grade: NGC PF69 (near perfect proof)

• Obverse Design: Bust of Benjamin Franklin, designed by John R. Sinnock, with inscriptions LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.

• Reverse Design: The Liberty Bell with small eagle at right; inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and HALF DOLLAR.

• Edge: Reeded

• Orientation: Coin alignment (↑↓)

Historical Significance

• The Franklin Half Dollar series (1948–1963) was the first circulating coin to honor a Founding Father outside of the presidency.

• The 1955 issue is noteworthy as the Philadelphia Mint struck just 378,200 proofs, one of the lowest proof mintages of the series.

• This makes the 1955 proof a key date in the Franklin proof run, especially in high-end grades.

Collectibility

• In PF69, this coin represents near perfection, as only a handful of survivors are graded higher (PF70).

• The low proof mintage combined with superb preservation makes this coin highly sought after among Franklin Half specialists and registry set collectors.

• Its mirrorlike brilliance and strong strike capture the best of 1950s proof silver coinage.