½ Dollar "Franklin Half Dollar"
United States • ½ Dollar • Silver (.900) • 1948–1963
- Denomination
- ½ Dollar
- Issuer
- United States
- Struck
- 1948–1963
- Composition
- Silver (.900)
- Currency
- Dollar
- Weight
- 12.5 g
- Diameter
- 30.6 mm
- Catalog refs
- KM 199 · Schön 200
Where to find one
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Where it came from
The Franklin Half Dollar was introduced in 1948, replacing the long-running Walking Liberty design that had been in circulation since 1916. Minted during a period of transition in American numismatics, the coin was authorized by Director of the Mint Nellie Tayloe Ross, who sought to honor Benjamin Franklin by placing him on the nation's half-dollar. This marked the first time a non-president was featured on a circulating United States coin of that era, reflecting Franklin’s enduring status as an American icon.
The design was executed by John R. Sinnock, the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. His obverse design featured a portrait of Franklin based on a bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon, while the reverse displayed the Liberty Bell, accompanied by a small eagle added to satisfy legal requirements regarding the inclusion of an eagle on all silver coins. Upon its release, the coin received mixed reviews from the public; while many praised the historical tribute, critics took issue with the inclusion of the eagle as an afterthought and debated the artistic merit of the Liberty Bell depiction.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
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About ½ Dollar "Franklin Half Dollar"
½ Dollar "Franklin Half Dollar" is a coin in the Coins catalog on collecto.rs. United States • ½ Dollar • Silver (.900) • 1948–1963. Catalog data is sourced from Numista. No collectors on collecto.rs publicly track this coin yet — adding yours would make you the first.
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