Franklin Half Dollar
1948 - 1963
Coin Specifications
| Years Minted | 1948 - 1963 |
|---|---|
| Silver Percentage | 90% |
| Silver Content, as struck | 0.3617 troy oz |
| Silver Content, worn (trading convention) | 0.3575 troy oz 0.715 troy oz per $1 of face value, the figure dealers quote from |
| Face Value | $0.50 |
| Denomination | half dollar |
Franklin Half Dollar value by year
Every year the Franklin Half Dollar was struck in silver, with mintage by mint and a melt value that follows the live silver spot price. The series ran from 1948 to 1963 across 16 years of coinage.
- 1948 7,035,414 struck
- 1949 13,478,600 struck
- 1950 15,773,723 struck
- 1951 39,973,302 struck
- 1952 52,113,693 struck
- 1953 27,716,520 struck
- 1954 43,627,183 struck
- 1955 2,498,181 struck
- 1956 4,032,000 struck
- 1957 25,080,850 struck
- 1958 28,004,412 struck
- 1959 19,253,750 struck
- 1960 24,239,812 struck
- 1961 28,566,442 struck
- 1962 45,187,281 struck
- 1963 89,233,292 struck
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.