Franklin Half Dollar (1948 - 1963)

The Franklin Half Dollar is an important coin in the history of American coin collecting. It was created somewhere between 1948 and 1963. The U.S. Mint has produced a wide variety of coins since it began operations. The mint has created a variety of coins, including those meant for circulation as well as several commemorative and symbolic coins. The Franklin Half Dollar is a coin that pays tribute to Benjamin Franklin, who is one of the most well-known Founding Fathers. Franklin had an important role in the founding of the United States. In 1948, John R. Sinnock, who was the head engraver of the Philadelphia Mint, created a new half-dollar coin.

Features

• • The front side has a profile image of Benjamin Franklin, highlighting his contributions to politics and intellectualism. The inscriptions on the coin include "LIBERTY" over Franklin's head, and "IN GOD WE TRUST" at the bottom. The date is located on the right side.
• • On the reverse side, the Liberty Bell is seen with the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" above it and "HALF DOLLAR" below it. The phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM is on the left, while a little eagle is on the right.

History

This design was intended to replace the Liberty Walking symbol, which had been in use since 1916. Treasury Secretary John W. Snyder decided to pay tribute to Franklin by this coin, who was an important person in American history. The series came to an end in 1963, when it was replaced by the Kennedy Half Dollar when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

Important Dates and Uncommonness

Collectors are particularly interested in many dates in the Franklin Half Dollar series:

• • 1949-D and 1949-S: These coins are more desirable since they were minted in lower quantities.
• • 1955: This coin is a notable date since it has the lowest mintage in the series.
• • 1953-S: Because of its weak strikes, well-struck copies are particularly sought for.
• • Full Bell Lines (FBL) Coins: Coins that have completely defined horizontal lines on the Liberty Bell are worth more money, particularly if they are in uncirculated condition.

The Franklin Half Dollar is made of 90% silver and 10% copper. It weighs 12.5 grams and has a diameter of 30.6 mm. Each piece contains 0.3617 troy ounces of pure silver, which makes it a desirable investment for anyone who is interested in bullion.