The Franklin Half Dollar was introduced by the United States Mint in 1948, replacing the Walking Liberty Half Dollar, which had been in circulation since 1916. The coin honored Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s Founding Fathers, and was the first regular-issue U.S. coin to feature a non-president on its obverse. This 1948 Franklin Half Dollar features a quality MS66+ certification and an FBL designation. Now, the 1948 Franklin Half Dollar is available online at JM Bullion.
Coin Highlights:
This 1948 Franklin Half Dollar is in MS66+ condition with an FBL designation, which stands for Full Bell Lines. This designation is unique to Franklin Half Dollars and refers to the superior strike quality on the horizontal lines on the bottom of the Liberty Bell. To qualify, these lines must be complete, sharp, and uninterrupted.
The obverse of the 1948 Franklin Half Dollar features a right-facing profile portrait of Benjamin Franklin, based on a bust by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. Franklin’s image appears without any headwear, which was unusual for U.S. coinage at the time. The word “LIBERTY” arcs along the left side of the coin, while “IN GOD WE TRUST” appears in smaller letters to the right of Franklin’s portrait.
On the reverse of the 1948 Franklin Half Dollar, the design features the Liberty Bell, one of America’s most iconic symbols of independence, centered prominently on the coin. To the right of the Liberty Bell appears a small eagle, included to satisfy the legal requirement that all U.S. half dollars must bear an eagle. The inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “HALF DOLLAR” curve along the top and bottom edges, respectively, while “E PLURIBUS UNUM” appears above the bell.
The 1948 Franklin Half Dollar marked the inaugural year of this series, with coins struck at both the Philadelphia and Denver mints. The Philadelphia issue had a mintage of approximately 3.0 million coins, while the Denver mint produced about 4.0 million pieces marked with a “D” mintmark. As the first year of issue, these coins generated significant public interest and numismatic attention, though they also faced criticism regarding the design’s artistic merit.
JM Bullion customer service is available at 800-276-6508 to help you buy 90% silver coins. You can also connect with us online through our web chat and email address.
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The Franklin Half Dollar was introduced by the United States Mint in 1948, replacing the Walking Liberty Half Dollar, which had been in circulation since 1916. The coin honored Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s Founding Fathers, and was the first regular-issue U.S. coin to feature a non-president on its obverse. This 1948 Franklin Half Dollar features a quality MS66+ certification and an FBL designation. Now, the 1948 Franklin Half Dollar is available online at JM Bullion.
Coin Highlights:
This 1948 Franklin Half Dollar is in MS66+ condition with an FBL designation, which stands for Full Bell Lines. This designation is unique to Franklin Half Dollars and refers to the superior strike quality on the horizontal lines on the bottom of the Liberty Bell. To qualify, these lines must be complete, sharp, and uninterrupted.
The obverse of the 1948 Franklin Half Dollar features a right-facing profile portrait of Benjamin Franklin, based on a bust by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. Franklin’s image appears without any headwear, which was unusual for U.S. coinage at the time. The word “LIBERTY” arcs along the left side of the coin, while “IN GOD WE TRUST” appears in smaller letters to the right of Franklin’s portrait.
On the reverse of the 1948 Franklin Half Dollar, the design features the Liberty Bell, one of America’s most iconic symbols of independence, centered prominently on the coin. To the right of the Liberty Bell appears a small eagle, included to satisfy the legal requirement that all U.S. half dollars must bear an eagle. The inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “HALF DOLLAR” curve along the top and bottom edges, respectively, while “E PLURIBUS UNUM” appears above the bell.
The 1948 Franklin Half Dollar marked the inaugural year of this series, with coins struck at both the Philadelphia and Denver mints. The Philadelphia issue had a mintage of approximately 3.0 million coins, while the Denver mint produced about 4.0 million pieces marked with a “D” mintmark. As the first year of issue, these coins generated significant public interest and numismatic attention, though they also faced criticism regarding the design’s artistic merit.
JM Bullion customer service is available at 800-276-6508 to help you buy 90% silver coins. You can also connect with us online through our web chat and email address.