Franklin Half Dollar
1,286+ LuckyCoin collectors track this series
Spanning 1948 to 1963, the Franklin Half Dollar catalog contains 50 year-and-mintmark variants. Across the series, the key date is the 1950 Franklin Half Dollar at just 51,386 struck and the highest-value variant is the 1950 Franklin Half Dollar Proof at up to $24,000 in top grade.
Franklin Half Dollar · All Strikes Mintage by Year
Peak 92MCombined mintage per year across every strike type (circulated, proof, and specimen) and all mintmarks.
About the Franklin Half Dollar
The Franklin Half Dollar was released by the United States Mint in 1948, and was the first regular-issue United States coin to feature the portrait of a historic figure. This half dollar commemorates Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a scientist, inventor, statesman, printer and perhaps most famously, a diplomat and the leading writer of the Declaration of Independence.
The United States Congress authorized the Franklin Half Dollar in order to replace the Walking Liberty Half Dollar, which stopped being minted in 1947. The obverse side of the coin features a bust of Franklin along with the inscription "Liberty" and the year of mintage. The reverse side features the Liberty Bell with the motto "E Pluribus Unum" and the half dollar's denomination. This design was created by Chief Engraver John Sinnock who also designed the Roosevelt dime.
The first strike of the Franklin Half Dollar was minted in Philadelphia in 1948, and then it was produced additional seven years before it was replaced by the Kennedy Half Dollar in 1964. During its run, the Franklin Half Dollar was minted in various mints across the United States, including San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. Over 420 million Franklin Half Dollars were minted over the course of its production, with the Philadelphia Mint producing the most at a total of 280 million.
Today, many collectors consider the Franklin Half Dollar to be one of the most beautiful and iconic coins in American history. Its combination of historical significance and beauty makes it a popular collectible for coin enthusiasts. Furthermore, the Franklin Half Dollar is relatively affordable, making it an excellent option for new and experienced collectors alike.
The U.S. Mint continues to honor Benjamin Franklin's legacy by not only minting the Franklin Half Dollar for sixteen years, but by also honoring him in other commemorative coins. For example, in 2000, the U.S. mint issued a commemorative $10 gold coin in honor of Franklin’s 300th anniversary.
Whatever your reason for collecting this iconic coin, the Franklin Half Dollar is sure to be a great addition to any collection. With its historic significance and beautiful design, this coin is loved by all types of collectors.
Most-collected Franklin Half Dollar coins on LuckyCoin
Looking for coins from a specific year across every denomination? Browse US coin values by year →
Which Franklin Half Dollar coins do collectors actually own? See the 2026 rarity & ownership report →
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the Franklin Half Dollar minted?
- The Franklin Half Dollar was minted by United States from 1948 to 1963.
- How many Franklin Half Dollar coins were minted?
- Across every year and mintmark, approximately 481,701,409 Franklin Half Dollar coins were struck.
- What mintmarks exist for the Franklin Half Dollar?
- Franklin Half Dollar coins were struck with the following mintmarks: D, S. Some years were also produced without a mintmark.
- What is the Franklin Half Dollar made of?
- The Franklin Half Dollar is made of silver (.900), weighs 12.5 grams, and measures 30.6 mm in diameter.
- How much is a Franklin Half Dollar worth?
- Value depends on year, mintmark, and condition. Common dates in average circulated condition trade for near face value, while the rarest varieties in top grade can fetch up to $24,000. See individual year pages for grade-by-grade estimates.