The Franklin half Dollar is a highly regarded and sought after silver coin produced by the U.S. Mint. These half dollar pieces were minted from 1948-1963, and pay tribute to one of the most famous Founding Fathers in American history-Benjamin Franklin.
Because these coins ceased to be produced in 1963, many of the half dollars available on the market today will have noticeable signs if age-related damage. Because these coins were intended for circulation and have been around for so long, they have been handled extensively as well over the years and all of that handling takes a toll. You can still find Franklin Half Dollars in brilliant, uncirculated condition, however.
While Franklin Half Dollars are not considered “rare,” they do garner a decent premium for their historical significance and silver content.
When a coin goes through the grading process, it is put through a series of steps in order to make sure that it receives the proper grade based on its condition. In addition, coins are verified for authenticity and their precious metals content. While the entire process is very subjective, an expert grader or team of experts makes the final determination on a coin’s grade. Obviously, the better the overall condition the coin is in, the more valuable it may be. You can get a good idea of how your coins may be graded by scrutinizing them for any imperfections, scratches or other damage.
Use the specifications below to determine how your Franklin Half Dollar coin might be graded.
Uncirculated: Coins that are assigned a grade of uncirculated look to have never been touched by human hands. Despite their advancing age, these coins are in pristine condition as if they were just struck today. The coin will have no damage or wear to its text or imagery. The coin may, however, have a very slight difference in color or hue. You can closely examine your coins surfaces with a magnifying glass to look for any imperfections in the coin’s details or text. You can also see if there has been any wear and tear to the coin’s surfaces.
Extremely Fine: Coins given a grade of extremely fine are one step below a grade of uncirculated. Coins in this condition may have extremely minor wear and tear on their surfaces. In addition, some of the coin’s details such as imagery or text may appear worn or have scratches. Because the coin has likely exchanged hands many times over, the coin may also take on a smoother feel to the touch. Despite these minor imperfections, coins in this condition are still very attractive to collectors and remain quite beautiful to the eye.
Fine: A coin in fine condition has maintained all of its images and text, although it may have some signs of age. The coin’s finish may appear different and coin details such as text or pictures may be worn from use.
Good: Coins assigned a grade of good have some significant damage to the surfaces, details, edges or color. A magnifying glass may be needed to make out the coin’s images, text or other details. While these coins may appear slightly beat up, they may still be coveted by collectors depending on coin type, mintage and other factors.
All mint editions of Franklin Half Dollars are fairly easy to buy from precious metals dealers. A 1953 edition half dollar may trade for about $13 in very fine condition while a coin in extremely fine condition may exchange hands for $14. Prices may potentially increase from this level according to the coin’s grade and condition. Below exists a chart aimed at giving you a better idea of what you might be asked to pay for one of these coins given their condition and type.