Collecting Franklin Half Dollar Coins

The Franklin Half Dollar coin was issued from 1948 to 1963 to celebrate one of the most well known figures from the American Revolutionary period. He was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and among other things was a leading author, scientist, and inventor. Although the coin series issued in his honor was short lived, it provides coin collectors with many unique aspects and challenges.

Franklin Half Dollars followed the highly popular Walking Liberty Half Dollar series which ended in 1947. The new design continued the trend of replacing the allegorical figure of Liberty with historical American figures. Within the same time frame, George Washington was honored on the quarter dollar and Franklin Roosevelt was honored on the dime.

The new coin featuring Ben Franklin was designed by John R. Sinnock under United States Mint Director Nellie Taloe Ross. The obverse design of the coin features a portrait of Benjamin Franklin based on a medal previously designed by Sinnock in 1932.

The reverse design of the coin features the Liberty Bell located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The choice was appropriate because of Franklin's close ties to Philadelphia and the bell's association with the American Revolutionary War. Sinnock had used a similar rendition of the Liberty Bell on the 1926 Sesquincentennial Commemorative Half Dollar. Credit for the design was also subsequently provided to John Frederick Lewis. Sinnock had apparently based his original 1926 rendition on a sketch prepared by Lewis.

The reverse also features a small bald eagle placed to the right of the bell. Because of the small size of the eagle, this design aspect often seems like an afterthought. The odd inclusion of the eagle was actually the result of prevailing legislation which required the Bald Eagle's appearance on the reverse of the half dollar coin.

During its run, Franklin Halves were produced at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints. Proof coins were produced at the Philadelphia mint from 1950 to 1963. The lowest mintage coin is the 1953 Franklin Half with only 2,796,820 produced at the Philadelphia Mint. Even though it did not have the lowest mintage, the 1949-D Franklin Half is considered to be the key date of the series. The mintage was 4,120,000.

Coin collectors of the series often take focus on two unique aspects. First, collectors will seek out coins with sharp strikes and well defined features. The key aspect for differentiating these factors are the two sets of horizontal lines included on the Liberty Bell. Sharply struck coins will display "Full Bell Lines." To qualify for Full Bell Lines, the two sets of horizontal lines must be well defined and uninterrupted by bag marks or other abrasions. Some dates are exceedingly difficult to find with Full Bell Lines and can carry significant premiums.

Collectors of the proof coins will often seek out coins with a cameo or deep cameo finish. Proof coins struck during this era typically have a mirrored finish throughout the entire surfaces of the coin. A small number of coins display frosted raised features over mirrored backgrounds. This is known as a cameo finish. The most difficult coins to find with a cameo finish are the early proof coins from 1950 to 1953.

The Franklin series was ultimately cut short by events which took place in 1963. On November 22, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The idea to memorialize the fallen president on a circulating coin quickly emerged. By the end of 1963 legislation had been passed to authorize production of the new Kennedy Half Dollar. The legislation overruled a requirement for circulation coin designs to have a duration of 25 years. As a result, the life of the Franklin Half was cut short in 1963 at only 16 years.

By: Michael Zielinski

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Michael Zielinski is an internet entrepreneur and coin collector. Find more details on Franklin Halves or further your interest in coins by joining the new coin collecting social network.