1949-S Franklin Half Dollar

The 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar had one of the lower mintages in the entire series, right behind the 1948-P, 1953-P, and 1955-P Franklin Half Dollar coins. It was struck at the San Francisco Mint with a total mintage of just over 3.7 million. The Franklin Half Dollar was originally designed by John R. Sinnock before he died, and the coin design is also attributed to John Frederick Lewis because it is believed that Sinnock created the designs based on a Lewis sketch. 

 

History of the 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar

The 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar depicts a profile photo of Benjamin Franklin on the obverse of the coin. It has an image of the cracked Liberty Bell on the reverse with a small American Bald Eagle. The Eagle was added because it was a requirement that an eagle is represented on all half dollars. It was believed that Franklin would have been upset about the Bald Eagle being on his coin because he didn’t like eagles, calling them scavenger, and preferred that the national bird instead be a wild turkey. 

 

1949-S Franklin Half Dollar Value

The 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar value ranges from the hundreds to almost ten thousand dollars. Although the 1949-S Ben Franklin Half Dollar doesn’t have the lowest mintage in the series, it is believed to be somewhat more scarce than coins with a lower mintage. For the highest grades of this coin, it commands a higher price than others in the series. It seems to be fairly easy to find in circulated grades, though. 

 

Type of coin: Half Dollar

Year: 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar

Franklin Half Dollar Mint Mark: San Francisco

Total mintage: 3,744,000

Metal content: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

Face value: 50 cents

Weight: 12.50 grams

Edge: Reeded

Designer: John R. Sinnock and John Frederick Lewis

Diameter: 30.00 millimeters