Historical Context

The Franklin Half Dollar was minted from 1948 to 1963, honoring Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s Founding Fathers. Designed by John R. Sinnock, it features Franklin’s portrait on the obverse and the Liberty Bell on the reverse. The series was discontinued when the Kennedy Half Dollar was introduced in 1964.

Composition and Silver Content

Each Franklin Half Dollar contains 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 12.5 grams total. The silver content per coin is 0.3617 troy ounces, making these substantial silver coins highly valued by both collectors and investors.

Collectibility

Franklin Half Dollars are popular with collectors, with “Full Bell Lines” (FBL) examples showing complete horizontal lines on the Liberty Bell commanding premiums. Most circulated examples are readily available and trade near melt value, making them excellent for junk silver portfolios.