From a design and popularity standpoint, creating the replacement for the Walking Liberty half dollar was never going to be easy. But, in 1947, Mint Director Nellie Ross, a long-time fan of Benjamin Franklin, instructed Chief Engraver John Sinnock to prepare a half dollar design featuring this legendary American hero. Sinnock created a draft based on previous designs including the reverse of the Sesquicentennial commemorative half dollar. He fell ill and died in 1947, and the design was finished by Gilroy Roberts. The series was launched at the Philadelphia and Denver mints in 1948.
Franklin, the first non-president to be shown on U.S. coinage, features prominently on the obverse with a somewhat controversial depiction of a “cracked” Liberty Bell dominating the reverse. Ironically, a small eagle was added to meet the requirements of the 1792 coinage act. Franklin, a long-time fan of the turkey, despised the eagle as a “bird of bad moral character” who “does not get his Living honestly….and is too lazy to fish.” As with the Roosevelt dime, there was also some objection to including Sinnock’s initials “JRS,” as members of the general public incorrectly interpreted it as a reference to Joseph Stalin (though Stalin had no middle name!).
As a collecting series, the Franklin half dollar is among the more accessible projects. There are only 35 different dates and mintmarks and no major rarities in circulated or even Mint State grades. Collecting high grade “full bell lines” or cameo/deep cameo Proof coins is an entirely different matter because the series was used heavily in circulation and showed wear easily.
Our December 18 Old Holders CCO Auction features lot 95037, a 1962 NGC Proof-66 Cameo example with a coveted CAC gold sticker. This lot offers a lovely opportunity for Franklin collectors to round out or upgrade their sets.
