1955 Proof Franklin Half Dollar: A Collector's Gem
The 1955 Proof Franklin Half Dollar is a highly coveted coin among collectors, known for its exceptional quality and limited mintage. This proof coin, featuring a mirror-like finish and sharp details, showcases Benjamin Franklin on the obverse and the Liberty Bell on the reverse. With a mintage of only 378,200, the 1955 Proof Franklin Half Dollar is rarer than its regular strike counterparts. Its value can range from $100 to over $500, depending on its condition and grade, making it a prized addition to any numismatic collection.
1955 Franklin Half Dollar Proof Coin
Raise the bar on a Franklin half dollar coin collection with this 1955 Franklin half dollar proof. The Franklin series was minted between 1948 and 1963 with the coin struck regularly at all three mints – Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco – until it was replaced with the Kennedy half dollar. The proofs were minted between 1950 to 1963 and in their stunning preserved condition, the coins can be quite valuable.
History
The U.S. Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross long admired Benjamin Franklin, one of America's founding fathers, and wanted his depiction on a coin. The Mint's Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock was tasked with the designs, although the final rendering is an amalgamation of Sinnock's early work and sketches, the inspiration of other artists, including Jean-Antoine Houdon and John Frederick Lewis, and due to Sinnock's passing in 1947, Gilroy Roberts completed the ben franklin half dollar.
Design specifics
A side profile portrait of Franklin appears on the obverse of the half dollar piece and the Liberty Bell is on the reverse. The crack in the bell is visible, a detail disliked by the Commission of Fine Arts at the time, and a small eagle can be seen to its right. The eagle's inclusion is said to be an afterthought as it was a legislative requirement that all U.S. currency above the value of a dime has the bird depicted on it. The coin is 90% silver with reeded edges. The proof versions are uncirculated, produced and preserved for collection, and are in stunning condition.
1955 Proof Franklin half dollar value and mintage
The 1955 Franklin half dollar proof has a lower mintage than other coins struck that year – 378,200 – and its value in a mint state condition is around $100 but auction prices have reached $2,000.
