Silver Franklin Half Dollar

The "Franklin Half" is a coin of the U. S. , minted from 1948 to 1963. The coin pictured Benjamin Franklin on the obverse and the Freedom Bell on the reverse. Roughly 510 million Franklin halves were minted in the period 1948 to 1963.

Coins without a mintmark were minted in Philadelphia, while those with a "D" were minted in Denver and with an "S" in San Francisco. The mintmark on specimens having one is plain on the back side targeted above the bell yoke. Engraver John R Sinnock's initials appear at Franklin's shoulder on the obverse. Sinnock's initials accidentally reflected the tensions of the times. Sinnock had also designed the Roosevelt dime, released 2 years earlier, placing his initials "JS" on the obverse.

As of this notation in June 2009, common date circulated ninety percent silver coins are priced at 9-14 times face price. Well-struck uncirculated pieces showing full bell lines in the Freedom Bell design on the coin's reverse command an important premium. The damage to the die resulted from the obverse and reverse dies striking one another without a coin planchet between. The blunder is present in 1955 coins minted in Philadelphia.

There are 0.3617 troy ounces of silver in each 1948-1963 Franklin half dollars. There are 20 Franklin half dollars in a roll. That means that there are 7.2339 troy ounces of silver in a roll of silver Franklin half dollars.