1960 Franklin Half Dollar

The Franklin fifty-cent piece, otherwise referred to as the Franklin Half Dollar, is a silver bullion coin that was produced by the U.S. Mint from 1948 to 1963. This coin is revered for its beautiful yet simple design and for its tribute to Benjamin Franklin, one of the most important figures in American history.

These coins have been circulated for some time, and given their age many of these half dollars exhibit obvious signs of age. You can, however, still find Franklin Half Dollars in brilliant, uncirculated condition as well.

These coins are very popular among collectors for their limited mintage and historical significance.

Grading the 1960 Franklin Half Dollar

The coin grading process is designed to ensure that coins are authentic and contain the right amount and mix of metals. The grading process is also used to make an accurate and fair determination of a coin’s overall condition. The process involves several steps, and a team of expert coin graders is used to manage these steps. These same coin graders, after gathering all necessary analysis, then assign a coin its final grade. While the process is quite subjective in nature, these expert numismatists also use a degree of experience and judgment when grading coins. You can get a good idea of how your coin may be graded by performing a close inspection of your coin’s surfaces and details.

Use the specifications below to determine how your Franklin Half Dollar coin might be graded.

Uncirculated: Coins that are given a grade of uncirculated will look as if they are brand new. These coins will have crisp and clean details, lines and edges, and will appear as if they were just removed from the mint’s presses. All of the coin’s details, no matter how small, will be robust and clear. Many of these coins will have a nice, shiny luster and finish as well, although some may have a very slight difference in color due to age. You can use a magnifying glass to closely examine details on your coin while checking for any wear or erosion.

Extremely Fine: A coin that is graded to be extremely fine is in slightly inferior condition to a coin with a grade of uncirculated. Coins in this condition may have very minor imperfections or blemishes on the surfaces or details. The coin’s texture may also feel smoother to the touch, as years of exchanging hands have taken a toll on the coin’s surface.

Fine: A step below extremely fine, coins in fine condition have all of their images and text intact, but also have very easy-to-see signs of age and wear. Coins in this condition may have considerable erosion on their surfaces, and their overall appearance may be dull.

Good: Another step lower on the grading scale, coins in good condition will often have significant damage to details and surfaces. In addition, the coin’s edges may be worn or deformed. Sometimes, the damage is severe enough that you cannot identify the coin or its details without the use of a magnifying glass or other visual aid. Even though these coins are often not in great shape, they may still be quite valuable if they are difficult to obtain or are historically significant.