1949-S Franklin Half Dollar
Secure the 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar, the second year in the Franklin series! Minted from 1948 to 1963 with founding father Benjamin Franklin's portrait on the coin's obverse and the iconic Liberty Bell on the reverse, these half dollar coins are beloved by collectors. The Franklin halves are popular amongst coin collectors as they are made of 90% silver. The Franklin series was also a remarkable change to U.S. half dollars, as it was the first to feature a real historical figure on the coin rather than depiction of a metaphorical Lady Liberty. This 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar is one of the top 5 lowest mintage Franklin Half Dollars from the entire series. Its mintage is only slightly larger than the 1955-P, 1953-P and 1948-P issues, yet it can be harder to find. Secure this rarity for your coin collection today!
History
The U.S. Mint's Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock designed Franklin's portrait based on a bust by 18th-century sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon with the inscriptions "Liberty" and "In God We Trust" above and below Franklin. The reverse, a depiction of the Liberty Bell, was based on Sinnock's own design for the 1926 Sesquicentennial Commemorative half dollar, although credit was later given to artist John Frederick Lewis as they were based on his sketches.
The Franklin series ended abruptly with the assassination of John F. Kennedy. A commemorative half dollar coin was put into circulation based on a new bill that overruled an existing law mandating circulating coin designs are used for 25 years before being replaced.
Design Specifics
In addition to Franklin's likeness and the Liberty Bell, the other distinctive feature is the eagle's inclusion, which unlike other half dollars is relatively small. It was the law that all half dollars include a depiction of the eagle. The piece also has a reeded edge with the mint mark "S" below the inscription "United States of America," representing its San Francisco minting.
1949-S Franklin half dollar value and mintage
Although there are lower mintages, the 1949-S Franklin half dollar is still one of the lowest in the series at 3,744,000. It is the fourth lowest mintage in the Franklin Half Dollar series, behind the the 1955-P, 1953-P and 1948-P. Its value in circulated form is derived mostly from its silver, although its uncirculated worth still breaches the hundred-dollar mark.
