CoinWeek Giveaway # 604 Sponsored by…
The 604th CoinWeek Coin Giveaway
1951-D Franklin Half Dollar MS-64 PCGS (FBL)
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
