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Editor’s Note: Michael Bugeja’s columns are based on his online buying experiences
Category Archives: franklin Half Dollars
Rare Chance to Own Tied-for-Finest Proof DCAM 1951 Franklin Half Dollar
Among the 14-year run of Franklin half dollar Proofs, the second-year 1951 Franklin Proof is second only to the key date (and first-year issue) 1950 Proof, and as such it can be a real challenge for collectors. Yet the 1951 tends to come nicer than the inaugural Proof issue, with the United States Mint improving its production every year even as it ramped up the mintage numbers. Still, these mintage numbers were determined by demand for the Mint’s annual Proof set, and only 6,114 sets were sold in 1951.
Having said that, High Gem Cameo and Deep/Ultra Cameo examples are hard to come by – not least of which because the plastic sleeve that the 1951 Proof set came in was quite abrasive.
But not only does the December 31 auction from GreatCollections represent a rare opportunity to own such a quality piece but it’s also a chance for the competitive collector to obtain one of the two finest known Proof 1951 Franklin half dollars graded PR67+ DCAM by PCGS. On the PCGS CoinFacts page for the issue, this coin is one of the featured images at the top of the entry. Pedigreed to the Blue Ocean Collection, the coin is also approved by CAC as strong for the grade.
The Blue Ocean coin sold in an August 2017 public auction for $82,250 USD–an auction record for the date and grade. At the time of publication, PCGS estimates a Proof 1951 Franklin half in PR67+ DCAm to be worth $85,000.
With nine days left before the auction, the starting bid on this Deep Cameo 1951 Proof Franklin half dollar is $40,000.
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To search through GreatCollection’s archive of over 600,000 certified coins the company has sold over the past eight years, please visit the GreatCollections Auction Archives.
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Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963) : A Collector’s Guide
The Franklin Half Dollar Ends a 156-Year Era of Liberty on American Coins
The Franklin half dollar was a silver half dollar coin produced by the United States Mint from 1948 to 1963. The coin featured the likeness of founding father Benjamin Franklin on the obverse and the Liberty Bell on the reverse. It was the first circulating half dollar to feature a historical portrait instead of an allegorical portrait of Liberty.
The Act of September 26, 1890 specified that the Treasury Department could modify coin designs without explict Congressional authorization only after a minimum of 25 years of use. Based on this law, the Walking Liberty half dollar design, which had proven difficult to strike, was eligible for replacement in 1941.
Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross was interested in using Benjamin Franklin’s image on a coin. After seeing Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock’s portrait of the Founding Father on a medal he created in 1933, Ross had Sinnock prepare a Franklin coin design. Implementation was delayed because of World War II, but Sinnock completed the obverse and reverse models a few weeks before his death in May 1947.
In her speech to the public when the Franklin half dollar was presented, Director Ross noted that some had urged her to place Franklin’s portrait on the penny because of his maxim “A penny saved is two pence clear” (usually misquoted as “A penny saved is a penny earned”). Her justification for using the half dollar was that the size and the silver composition of the half dollar were better suited to the “impressive effect” that was Franklin’s life.
An Overview of the Franklin Half Dollar Series
Franklin half dollars were produced in significant quantities and there are no date rarities in the series, though a fully-struck 1953-S is considered the series’ key date.
Nearly 900,000 Franklin halves have been certified by NGC and PCGS combined. Almost all of these coins are in uncirculated condition and CoinWeek estimates that at least another million uncertified uncirculated Franklin half dollars are held in coin collections throughout the country.
What Are They Worth?
Franklin half dollars are made of .900 silver and contain .036169 troy ounces of silver. With a spot price of $23.20 USD at the time of this writing (November 2023), the base value of a Franklin half dollar is approximately $8.40. Uncirculated examples are worth at least $20, and some examples in high grade with a complete strike can be worth as much as $70,000. Ultra-high-end Proof examples have brought prices as high as $80,000 at auction.
Specialist Collectors Look for Franklin Half Dollars with Full Bell Lines
Circulation strike Franklin halves have a tendency to be softly struck with some of the detail in the design not clearly brought up. Enthusiast collectors seeking the best quality coins look to see if the lines at the bottom of the Liberty Bell are extend uninterrupted from one side of the bell to the other.
When this occurs, the coin is said to have Full Bell Lines (FBL). Full Bell Line coins will always carry a higher premium than non-Full Bell Line coins, but in order for a Franklin half dollar to trade with the designation, it must be certified as such by a reputable third party grading service, such as CAC, NGC, or PCGS.
Generally speaking, coins struck at the Denver Mint were more likely to be struck with Full Bell Lines than coins struck at the Philadelphia or San Francisco mints. Coins struck at the San Francisco Mint tend to be the softly struck and for some dates, like the 1953-S, Full Bell Line examples are rare. CAC, NGC, and PCGS report a combined population of 2,769 Philadelphia Franklin half dollars from 1953 and 10,440 1953-D Franklin half dollars with Full Bell Lines. The 1953-S, on the other hand, is so rare with Full Bell Lines, that all three services report a combined population of just 69 examples.
Auction prices for Full Bell Lines 1953-S Franklin half dollars reflects the coin’s rarity. On May 31, 2020, GreatCollections sold a beautiful NGC MS66+ FBL example for $52,875. Amazingly, this is not the record price paid for an uncirculated Franklin half! Another example graded PCGS MS66FBL once sold for nearly $70,000.
Not all Full Bell Lines Franklin half dollars are prohibitively rare. Gem uncirculated examples from some of the more common dates are affordable and can trade for as little as $60-$70. The 1954-D is a popular date for collectors interested in finding an attractive, fully struck Franklin half at an affordable price.
Franklin Half Dollar Proof Coins are in a League of Their Own
Proof Franklin half dollars were produced from 1950 to 1963 and were sold as part of each year’s annual U.S. Mint Proof Set. Proof Set mintages increased dramatically as the series progressed, in large part due to the exploding popularity of coin collecting in the mid-1950s onward.
Proof Mintages by Year
- 1950 – 51,386
- 1951 – 57,500
- 1952 – 81,980
- 1953 – 128,800
- 1954 – 233,300
- 1955 – 378,200
- 1956 – 669,384
- 1957 – 1,247,952
- 1958 – 875,652
- 1959 – 1,149,291
- 1960 – 1,691,602
- 1961 – 3,028,244
- 1962 – 3,218,019
- 1963 – 3,075,645
Proof Franklin halves are scarce in surviving populations in relationship to demand only for the first two years of the series. Within the series, there are notable varieties, which can be quite rare, including the dramatic 1961 Doubled Die Reverse.
Beyond simply collecting one Proof example of every Franklin half dollar date, some collector enthusiasts seek out examples struck with fresh dies that exhibit frosted cameo contrast. Examples with thick cameo contrast are certified as Deep Cameo or Ultra Cameo by the grading services.
These examples sell at significant premiums and can be worth as much as $90,000 depending on a variety of factors.
Noteworthy Franklin Half Dollar Varieties
A few varieties are known, most consisting of die doubling and differences in the details of the small reverse eagle. Those identified in census/population reports are the 1951-S DDR (doubled die reverse) circulation strike; the 1956 Type 1 and Type 2 Proofs, which differ by the number of separated feathers shown on the eagle’s right wing; the 1960 DDO (doubled die obverse) Proof varieties; and the 1961 DDR varieties.
In-Depth Franklin Half Dollar Date Analysis by CoinWeek IQ
Below is a listing of more in-depth coin profiles of specific dates in the Franklin half dollar series.
Circulation Strikes:
- 1948 Franklin Half Dollar
- 1949 Franklin Half Dollar
- 1954-S Franklin Half Dollar
- 1960 Franklin Half Dollar
Proofs
Franklin Half Dollar Design
Sinnock’s portrait is modeled after a bust by 18th-century French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. The design, arguably a cleaner and bolder effort than Adolph Weinman’s acclaimed Liberty Walking motif, was not without controversy. The Fine Arts Commission objected to the small reverse eagle (added to the design because an eagle on coins was required by statute) and, oddly, to the obvious presentation of the crack in the Liberty Bell. As it turned out, public controversy was instead generated by Sinnock’s JRS initials, which during the fears of the Cold War were mistakenly thought by some to be a reference to Joseph Stalin. The reverse Liberty Bell was adapted from John Frederick Lewis’ original sketch for the 1926 Sesquicentennial half dollar, information not revealed by Sinnock at the time but discovered and reported in the 1960s by Don Taxay. Another rumor was that the small “O” in oF, part of UNITED STATES oF AMERICA, was a mistake and would soon be corrected, making the original issues more valuable; the text remained the same for the entire series.
Franklin’s right-facing portrait occupies much of the obverse. LIBERTY forms an arc inside the top rim and IN GOD WE TRUST a second arc inside the bottom rim. The date is placed to the right of the portrait, below the chin, extending nearly to the T in TRUST.
The Liberty Bell dominates the center of the reverse, with UNITED STATES oF AMERICA encircling around the top and HALF DOLLAR, in slightly larger text, around the bottom. The phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM, in three lines and with a dot on both sides of E, is to the left of the bell, and a small eagle is to right. The eagle rests on a perch, with wings partially outstretched. San Francisco (S) and Denver (D) mintmarks are located above the wood beam holding the bell.
The edge of the coin is reeded.
Coin Specifications
| Franklin Half Dollar | |
| Years Of Issue: | 1948-63 |
| Mintage (Circulation): | High – 67,069,292 (1963-D); Low – 2,498,181 (1955) |
| Mintage (Proof): | High – 3,218,019 (1962); Low – 51,386 (1950) |
| Alloy: | 90% silver, 10% copper |
| Weight: | 12.50 g |
| Diameter: | 30.60 mm |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| OBV Designer | John R. Sinnock |
| REV Designer | John R. Sinnock | Gilroy Roberts |
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References
Bowers, Q. David. The Experts Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins. Whitman Publishing.
–. A Guide Book of United States Type Coins. Whitman Publishing.
Breen, Walter. Walter Breen’s Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins. Doubleday.
Feigenbaum, David Lawrence and John Feigenbaum. The Complete Guide to Certified Barber Coinage. DLRC Press.
Guth, Ron and Jeff Garrett. United States Coinage: A Study by Type. Whitman Publishing.
Lange, David W. The Complete Guide to Lincoln Cents. Zyrus Press.
–. Coin Collecting Boards of the 1930s and 1940s. Pennyboard Press.
Taxay, Don. The U.S. Mint and Coinage. Arco Publishing.
Yeoman, R.S and Kenneth Bressett (editor). The Official Red Book: A Guide Book of United States Coins. Whitman Publishing.
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Oklahoma Woman’s Franklin Half Dollars May Be Worth $100,000+
A canvas bag containing 2,000 silver half-dollars struck in 1963 at the Denver Mint and sewn shut there 60 years ago will bring a pretty penny for an elderly northeast Oklahoma woman who received the coins as a gift from her father a half-century ago. “This original, mint-sealed bag contains $1,000 face value of fifty-cent […]
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Doubled Die Proof 1961 Franklin Half Dollar at Stack’s Bowers
By Chris Bulfinch – Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… The Red Book lists only one doubled die variety for Franklin half dollars: the 1961 Proof DDR. Though there are three major DDR varieties known for the issue, only one, the FS-801, is truly notable. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is pleased to be offering the finest known example […]
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The Franklin Half Dollar Turns 75
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for PCGS …… Benjamin Franklin, the subject of the Franklin Half Dollar is perhaps one of the most famous Founding Fathers to have never become president of the United States. The Boston-born Franklin became a Philadelphia icon after running away from home at the age of 17 and serving as a printer, […]
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Franklin Half Dollar Registry Set Offered by David Lawrence Rare Coins
Sunday Auction #1266 from David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC) is now live and features over 450 total lots, including more than 200 No Reserve lots and over 20 Vault Values plus the Bocian Franklin Half Dollar Collection Included in the variety of PCGS-, NGC-, and CAC-approved items in this week’s sale is a lowball registry […]
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Choice Franklin Half Dollars at David Lawrence Rare Coins
Sunday Auction #1248 from David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC) is now live and features over 500 total lots – including more than 150 No Reserve lots and over 20 Vault Values. Included in the variety of fantastic PCGS-, NGC-, and CAC-approved items in this week’s sale is a shocking 1875 20c NGC Proof 65 UCAM; […]
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United States 1948 Franklin Half Dollar
First released in 1948, the Franklin half dollar was the last circulating U.S. denomination to adopt the portrait of a real individual, instead of the allegorical Lady Liberty. As this design was replacing the Walking Liberty half dollar–which, even at the time, was widely considered to be one of the most beautiful coins ever struck […]
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United States 1960 Franklin Half Dollar
The specific design of the Franklin half dollar–Founding Father Benjamin Franklin on the obverse and the Liberty Bell on the reverse–was heavily advocated for by the pioneering United States Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross, who served from 1933 to 1953. Unfortunately for Ross, the law required the reverse design of the US half dollar to […]
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United States 1949 Franklin Half Dollar
As United States Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross’s brainchild, she continually pushed the government to design and release a half dollar depicting Benjamin Franklin and the Liberty Bell. However, there was a law that required the reverse design of the US half dollar to include an eagle. Ross was so attached to the idea of […]
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Gem Proof Franklin Half Dollars Offered by David Lawrence Rare Coins
Sunday Auction #1196 from David Lawrence Rare Coins (DLRC) is now live and features 390 total lots – including 20 Vault Values and 70 No Reserve Lots. Included in the variety of fantastic PCGS-, NGC-, and CAC-approved items in this week’s sale is a conditional rarity 1831 H10c PCGS MS67 ex: Eliasberg; a rare Cameo […]
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Jeff Garrett: A Guide to Coin Strike Character Rarities
Certain US coins with specific designations can fetch a premium price among collectors By Jeff Garrett for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) …… When I started collecting rare coins about 45 years ago, there was only modest interest in later-date 20th-century coins. Anyone who has collected Jefferson nickels, Mercury dimes, Roosevelt dimes, and Franklin half […]
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United States 1951 Franklin Half Dollar Proof
This second-year Proof issue of the Franklin half dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint and represents a challenging issue for collectors looking to complete this popular 20th-century half dollar series. Replacing the Walking Liberty half dollar in 1948, the Franklin half dollar obverse was designed by United States Mint Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock, […]
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Proof Franklin Half Dollars: A Date-by-Date Analysis
By Dan Duncan – Pinnacle-Rarities …… The short-lived Proof version of the popular Walking Liberty half dollar was discontinued during World War II as metals were scarce and the country’s attention was focused on more important things. During the economic hardships that followed the war, the United States Mint didn’t begin striking proof coinage again […]
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Proof Franklin Half Dollars: A Date-by-Date Analysis
By Dan Duncan – Pinnacle-Rarities …… The short-lived Proof version of the popular Walking Liberty half dollar was discontinued during World War II as metals were scarce and the country’s attention was focused on more important things. During the economic hardships that followed the war, the United States Mint didn’t begin striking proof coinage again […]
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The 10 Most Valuable 20th-Century US Half Dollars
By Bullion Shark LLC …… During the 20th century, the United States Mint issued a variety of different types of half dollars, including the final issues of the Barber half dollar (1892-1916), the Walking Liberty half dollar (1917-1947), the Franklin half dollar (1948-1963), and the Kennedy half dollar (1964 to present). The following are the […]
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United States 1954-S Franklin Half Dollar
By CoinWeek IQ ….. The last Franklin half dollar struck at the San Francisco Mint, the 1954-S, offers a window into an evolving postwar United States Mint. Replacing the Walking Liberty half dollar in 1948, the Franklin half dollar obverse was designed by Mint Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock, and the reverse was created by […]
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Incredible PF-67+ CAM CAC 1950 Franklin Half Featured in Stack’s Bowers March Las Vegas Auction
By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… While the Franklin half dollar was first introduced for circulation in 1948, Proof examples were not issued by the United States Mint until 1950. The Mint had suspended Proof coinage in 1942 with the onset of World War II, and would not produce these special […]
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Common Date Proof Franklin Half Dollar Sells for $3,612 at GreatCollections
By CoinWeek …. A Proof 65 Franklin half dollar is not typically considered a valuable coin, and your typical 1962 Proof Set will likely yield one. Recent auctions yield prices of $20 and under. However, on Sunday, February 14, bidding on GreatCollections.com for this PCGS Proof 65 1962 Franklin half dollar yielded an astonishing result of […]
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Altered Coin Detection: Cameo 1960 Franklin Half Dollar
Altered Cameo 1960 Franklin Half By Max Spiegel, Numismatic Guaranty Corporation(NGC) ……. A white “frost” was applied to this Franklin Half Dollar to give its elements a cameo appearance. There are a number of ways that nefarious individuals altered coins in an attempt to trick unsuspecting buyers into thinking that the coin is better than it […]
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The Market for Collecting Modern Key Date Half Dollars: Bullion Shark
By Bullion Shark LLC …… It probably comes as no surprise that the three most widely collected United States half dollars are the Walking Liberty, Franklin, and Kennedy half dollars. Below is some information related to the markets for these coins, intended to help collectors make fruitful decisions when adding to or upgrading their collections. […]
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CoinWeek Streaming News: Franklin Half Dollar Full Bell Line Designations
CoinWeek editor Charles Morgan discusses Franklin Half Dollars in this CoinWeek Streaming News segment, sponsored by NGC. Franklin Half Dollars are a popular silver coin series that was produced by the United States Mint starting in 1948 and continuing until the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Each coin in the series […]
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Top Pop Proof 1958 Franklin Half Dollar Featured in Stack’s Bowers June 2020 Santa Ana Auction
By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers …… The Proof 1958 Franklin half dollar is a modern rarity that presents a severe challenge to specialists seeking the highest grade levels. With only 875,652 Proof half dollars struck, the 1958 is the lowest mintage issue from the second half of the series, which would eventually […]
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NGC-Certified Franklin Half Dollars Highlight GreatCollections Auction
Online bidding ends soon for the May 31 sale One of the leading auction houses, GreatCollections, currently has some of the finest-known NGC-graded Franklin half dollars listed in their auctions, including the single-finest 1953-S business strike with Full Bell Lines, as well as the single-finest 1951 Proof. Key Date 1953-S: a Rarity with Full […]
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NGC Attributing Tomaska Die Varieties for Franklin, Kennedy Half Dollars
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) is now attributing Proof Franklin half dollars and Proof Kennedy half dollars according to the die varieties cataloged by Rick Tomaska in Cameo and Brilliant Proof Coinage of the 1950 to 1970 Era. Submitters can request the attribution for applicable coins through NGC’s VarietyPlus® service. Tomaska, a renowned numismatic researcher and […]
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Five Highlights From the Legend Rare Coins Regency Exclusively Legend Auction
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for CoinWeek ….. Legend Rare Coins will soon be offering an extraordinary array of coins in its upcoming Regency Exclusively Legend Auction, slated for October 24. The event, to be hosted at Harrah’s in New Orleans, promises to be an extravagant affair as Legend Rare Coins auctions typically are and buyers are […]
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Proof 68+ Cameo 1953 Franklin Half Dollar Offered Sunday at GreatCollections
Amazing Proof Franklin Half Dollar at GreatCollections On Sunday, September 29, bidding ends on GreatCollections.com for this 1953 Proof Franklin half dollar, graded PF-68+ CAMEO by NGC and approved by CAC. Proof Franklin half dollars with Cameo have always excited collectors and the issues struck between 1950 and 1953 represent the most difficult to obtain […]
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Full Lines MS-67 1948-D Franklin Half Dollar One Highlight of Sunday’s GreatCollections Sale
By CoinWeek …. In just two days, bidding ends Sunday, August 4 on GreatCollections.com for this 1948-D Franklin half dollar, graded MS67 FBL by NGC. 1948 was the first year of issue for the Franklin half dollar, and 4,028,600 of the coins were struck at the Denver Mint. But while it’s not a minuscule mintage, […]
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Modern US Coins – Why Did the Number of Cameo Proofs Increase from 1950 to 1964?
By David Schwager for CoinWeek ….. An experienced collector once told me that when he started collecting a series, the first coin he bought was a proof. A proof, he explained, is the ideal version of the coin and shows the best possible expression of the artist’s and manufacturer’s vision. Proof coins from about the […]
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NGC Coin Grading: What Are Full Bell Lines?
NGC’s designation gives collectors a more comprehensive assessment of Franklin Half Dollars By Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) …… NGC uses a numeric grade to succinctly describe a problem-free coin’s condition. Certain coins, however, are eligible for a more nuanced description of their condition and appearance. For these coins, NGC graders follow the numeric grade […]
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Learn grading: What are full bell lines?
NGC’s designation gives collectors a more comprehensive assessment of Franklin half dollars.
NGC uses a numeric grade to succinctly describe a problem-free coin’s condition
Stack’s Bowers 2018 World’s Fair of Money preview: Rarities Night
In this second preview article for the various auctions held during the World’s Fair of Money in Philadelphia, PA, this month, we will take a look at some of the highlights of U.S
Third Edition of Whitman’s Guide Book of Franklin and Kennedy Half Dollars expanded with new research and market analysis
(Pelham, Alabama) — Whitman Publishing announces the release of the updated and expanded new third edition of A Guide Book of Franklin and Kennedy Half Dollars, by professional numismatist Rick Tomaska. The 320-page book will be available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide on May 8, 2018, for $19
Ron Drzewucki’s Grading Coins – Franklin Half Dollars
By Ron Drzewucki – Modern Coin Wholesale …… In this installment of Grading Coins, I’m going to talk about the popular Franklin half dollar series. The Franklin half dollar was struck for just 15 years, from 1948 to 1963. It was replaced in 1964 by the Kennedy half, under circumstances that need no explanation […]
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Groundbreaking Research Leads to New Rick Tomaska Book on Franklin and Kennedy Half Dollars
By Dennis Tucker – Publisher, Whitman Publishing …… I first met Rick Tomaska (virtually, through email and phone conversations) in the early weeks of 2005, not long after I came aboard as publisher at Whitman Publishing. Editorial work was under way on the 59th edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins (the hobby’s […]
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“Tried, tested, and true”—Rick Tomaska is the perfect author for a book on Franklin and Kennedy half dollars
I first met Rick Tomaska (virtually, through email and phone conversations) in the early weeks of 2005, not long after I came aboard as publisher at Whitman Publishing. Editorial work was underway on the 59th edition of the Guide Book of United States Coins (the hobby’s popular “Red Book”), and Rick shared his knowledge of Special Mint Sets, cameo designations, and coin pricing
You can be an expert on Franklin and Kennedy half dollars
Franklin and Kennedy half dollars—how exciting! These are two of the most popular series in American numismatics.
Today, Franklin half dollars (minted from 1948 to 1963) are avidly collected
You can be an expert on Franklin and Kennedy half dollars
Franklin and Kennedy half dollars—how exciting! These are two of the most popular series in American numismatics.
Today, Franklin half dollars (minted from 1948 to 1963) are avidly collected
In the Early Days of Stack’s: Growing up in a Numismatic Family, Part 3
By Harvey Stack – Co-Founder, Stack’s Bowers Galleries ….. Links to Part 1 | Part 2 The Postwar Years World War II came to an end in 1945. It brought home many a soldier, sailor, airman and marine, away from their families for as long as five years. They had to rebuild their lives in […]
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Three Modern Coins Grab Top Dollar At Heritage World’s Fair of Money Auction
By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez for CoinWeek.com …… Modern coins took some of the top bids at the Heritage Auctions sale during the American Numismatic Association (ANA) World’s Fair of Money Show in Denver, Colorado, August 2-6, 2017. Nearly 99 percent of some 5,095 lots, including United States and world coins as well as paper currency, were […]
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Modern US Coins – Why Did the Number of Cameo Proofs Increase from 1950 to 1964?
By David Schwager for CoinWeek ….. An experienced collector once told me that when he started collecting a series, the first coin he bought was a proof. A proof, he explained, is the ideal version of the coin and shows the best possible expression of the artist’s and manufacturer’s vision. Proof coins from about the […]
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Coin Shows – Endless Numismatic Summer at Anaheim ANA World’s Fair of Money
By Jim Bisognani – Numismatic Guaranty Corporation ….. Two Cent Red Rarities; Franklin Halves A Valuable & Economical Series I can’t believe that as this article posts we are only a day away from the largest coin show in the US, the ANA World’s Fair of Money. The big show traditionally confirms areas of market […]
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Ron Drzewucki’s Grading Coins: Franklin Half Dollars
By Ron Drzewucki – Modern Coin Wholesale In this installment of Grading Coins, I’m going to talk about the popular Franklin half dollar series. The Franklin half dollar was struck for just fifteen years, from 1948 to 1963. It was replaced in 1964 by the Kennedy half dollar. The circumstances behind the release of that […]
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