Bring some shine to your coin collection with this 1951 Franklin half dollar proof. Produced in the Philadelphia mint, as were all proof versions of this coin, the Franklin half dollar is 90% silver and has stunning quality. This ensures the coin has solid value, including a decent intrinsic value due to the weight of the silver.
1951 Proof Franklin Half Dollar History
The Franklin half dollar was produced between 1948 and 1963, and it was designed by John R Sinnock, the eighth chief engraver of the United States Mint. This would prove to be one of his last coins, as he left the position in 1947. The choice of Franklin was down to Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross, who asked Sinnock to create a design, which was based on a medal Sinnock had created in 1933. Sinnock's initials, JRS, were inscribed on the bust.
On the reverse, the Liberty Bell was depicted with a crack, which garnered some criticism from the Commission of Fine Arts. It considered that puns and derogatory statements were likely due to this, although this proved to be unfounded. It also complained about the size of the eagle, a bird Franklin considered a scavenger and inferior to the wild turkey. The complaints were ignored.
Bizarrely, it would prove to be John Sinnock's initials that were the cause of most controversy: A small number of people genuinely thought that the Treasury had been infiltrated by the Kremlin and put Joseph Stalin's initials on the coin. Given that Stalin's middle name was Vissarionovich and thus didn't begin with "R," this rumor died quickly.
Design of the 1951 Proof Franklin Half Dollar
- Edge: Reeded
- Diameter: 30.61mm
- Thickness: 1.8mm
- Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
- Mint marks: None on proofs
- Circulation: 57,500
1951 Proof Franklin Half Dollar Value
Proofs always fetch a higher value than those that went on to be circulated. Part of the reason is that proofs often require substantial handcrafting and are therefore much rarer. 1951 Franklin half dollar proofs can fetch three figures quite easily, with some going for around $600 to $700.
