CoinWeek Giveaway # 654 Sponsored by…CoinWeek Giveaway: Win a Superb 1956 Type 2 Franklin Half Dollar PR68★

This week’s CoinWeek Giveaway reaches back to the golden age of American Proof coinage.

One lucky winner will receive a 1956 Type 2 Franklin Half Dollar graded NGC PR68★. CoinWeek acquired this impressive silver Proof from noted Franklin Half Dollar specialist Rick Tomaska of R&I Coins.

At first glance, 1956 might seem like just another date in the short Franklin Half Dollar series. Look closer, however, and the tiny eagle beside the Liberty Bell reveals a fascinating chapter in U.S. Mint history.

A Franklin Half Dollar With a Secret in the Eagle

The Philadelphia Mint produced 669,384 Proof Franklin Half Dollars in 1956. During that production run, however, the Mint changed the reverse hub. As a result, collectors can pursue two distinct reverse types.

The original Type 1 reverse shows a less sharply defined eagle. Most notably, collectors can identify four prominent feathers to the left of the eagle’s perch.

Then the Mint improved the design.

The Type 2 reverse sharpened the eagle dramatically and reduced those prominent feathers to three. NGC reports that the Philadelphia Mint used this improved reverse for the majority of the year’s Proof half dollars. Therefore, the giveaway coin captures an important mid-year design transition that sharp-eyed Franklin specialists actively recognize.

The Liberty Bell Design Almost Didn’t Make It

The Franklin Half Dollar itself has an equally colorful history.

Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross championed the idea of honoring Benjamin Franklin on the half dollar. Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock developed the design, adapting Franklin’s portrait from earlier medallic work. He also adapted the Liberty Bell from his work on the 1926 Sesquicentennial commemorative half dollar. Sinnock died in 1947, so Assistant Engraver Gilroy Roberts helped complete the project.

Yet the design encountered resistance.

The Commission of Fine Arts disliked the tiny eagle and even questioned the prominent crack in the Liberty Bell. Mint officials moved forward anyway. The Franklin Half Dollar entered circulation in 1948 and remained America’s 50-cent design through 1963.

That once-criticized little eagle became especially important eight years later when the Mint reworked it for the 1956 Type 2 Proof.

What Makes the NGC Star Special?

NGC graded this giveaway coin PR68★, putting it deep into superb Proof territory.

Moreover, that little star matters.

NGC reserves its Star Designation for coins with exceptional eye appeal for their assigned grade. On Proof coins, qualifying characteristics can include exceptional brilliance, attractive toning, or unusually strong contrast. NGC also requires a Star coin to avoid distracting spots, blemishes, and obvious planchet problems.

In other words, PR68 describes technical preservation. The ★ tells collectors that this particular coin brings something extra to the table visually.

1956 Type 2 Franklin Half Dollar Specifications

• Denomination: Half Dollar
• Mint: Philadelphia
• Finish: Proof
• Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
• Weight: 12.50 grams
• Silver Weight: approximately 0.3617 troy ounce
• Edge: Reeded
• Proof Mintage: 669,384
• Variety: Type 2 Reverse
• Grade: NGC PR68★

For Franklin Half Dollar collectors, this giveaway offers much more than 90% silver. It combines a classic American design, a one-year transitional reverse story, superb Proof preservation, and NGC’s coveted Star designation.

And one CoinWeek reader gets to add it to their collection.

Entries into our Contest are accepted from August 15th until 8 AM on Saturday August 22nd, 2026

Links to Entry Forms,  Extra Entry Options and Terms are Below

The CoinWeek Giveaway is open to all US Citizens 18 yrs and older. Just submit your Email Address into the Entry Form – CLICK HERE, and you will recieve One entry into the Giveaway. Good luck and enjoy the contest! Get up to 6 Extra Entries into this week’s Giveaway……. Follow the Links below. NOTE: ALL Entry pages and Options links  OPEN in new windows, so once you have finished your entry, just close the tab and you will return to this Main Giveaway Page to continue selecting additional Entry opportunities !

Do you want to get additional enties to this weeks contest? Just go to our Facebook Page and find the CoinWeek Giveway announcement. Click on the “LIKE Button” and get 1 extra entry.  If you choose to Add A Comment, you will receive an additional extra entry into the Giveaway. That’s  all there is to it. More Chances to win !

Remember: Close the Entry Window Tab in your browser and you will return to the Giveaway Home page

We have another way to recieve additional entries to the CoinWeek Giveaway.  Just go to the CoinWeek website and browse ANY of the articles we have on the Home page. Open and read the any article then place a comment at the bottom of the page. You will recieve an additional 4 entries into the CoinWeek Giveaway for the current giveaway. Note:  You need to stay on the CoinWeek site for at least a minute. In order for us to record your entry and comment, we need enough time to verify the additional entries. Thanks!

Sign up for SMS and we will text you with the latest Rare Coin News, Special Offers,  Discounts, and More……..  It is 100% free, and you can cancel at any time.

Sign Up for our FREE TEXT Message Alerts. and Get 5 EXTRA enties into EVERY Giveaway  as long as you remain an SMS subscriber

PLUS: You are automatically entered into Special CoinWeek MEMBER ONLY Quarterly Giveaways that will be announced via Text Message Only! This will be FUN!

Finally, CoinWeek offers 8 Different Newsletters you can subscribe to.  Go To The Newsletter Signup Form, select which newsletter topic(s) you are interested in and Subscribe.

Newsletters include: Auctions, US Coins, Ancient Coins, World Coins, Bullion & Precious Metals, Paper Money, New Coin Releases, and the Generic Mailing List.

For each Newsletter you select, CoinWeek will give to an Additional Giveaway Entry automatically, EVERY WEEK you remain a subscriber. No need to re-subscribe unless you wish to change or add new newsletters

Note:  Newsletters are sent every two weeks unless there is a special reason to send a special announcement or breaking news event specific to the newsletter topic.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. MAKING A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW……
Read ALL the Rules, Terms and Conditions of the Giveaway Here.

If you have signup for extra enties, made comments, read articles and joined Newsletters, Why does the main entry form just show One Entry?    Here is the answer !….. Extra Entries – How are they recorded ?

To see a list of the Names and states of most of the Past Winners of the CoinWeek Givaway , along with the coins and paper money that has have given away. For over 11 years CoinWeek has held the free coin giveaway weekly, bring new classic and interesting Ancient, World and US Coins and currency to our readers. Click Here to view the list

NOTE: DO NOT RESPOND TO ANY WINNER NOTICE FROM FACEBOOK MESSENGER, or anyone asking you to call them or click on a link they send you.   

ALL COINWEEK GIVEAWAY WINNERS are ONLY contacted with the email you used to enter the Giveaway

If you are contacted by anyone Pretending to be CoinWeek, or Asking for Payments or Friend Requests  please email us at security@CoinWeek.com and send us a copy of any communications you have received.