Franklin Half Dollar Die Varieties

Nellie Tayloe Ross, a former Wyoming governor, served Director of the United States Mint from 1933 to 1953 – an unusually long time to serve in that position and one that saw great changes in U.S. coinage such as the end of circulating gold coins and the start of several major circulating coins like the Roosevelt dime and  Franklin Half dollar. When Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed her, she became the first woman to head the Mint.

Ross was a great admirer of founding father and polymath Benjamin Franklin, who was everything from a statesman, diplomat, scientist and inventor to a printer, freemason and the first postmaster general. She had long wanted to see coins issued for this great man and initially tried to have him appear on the nickel, which in 1942 saw a change to its composition because copper and nickel were needed for the war.

Ross had Chief Engraver John Sinnock prepare designs for a new silver half dime that would be a temporary replacement for the Jefferson nickel, but that plan was killed when the nickel’s composition was changed.

By 1947 it had been 30 years since the Walking Liberty dime had appeared – more than the 25 required by law to change a coin’s design – so she had Sinnock prepare models of Franklin, who would become the first famous American to appear on a circulating coin who had not served as president.

For the obverse he would use a right-facing bust of Franklin he developed for a 1933 medal that was proposed in 1942 for the nickel, while the reverse would feature the Liberty bell in Philadelphia as t had appeared on the 1926 commemorative half dollar for the Sesquicentennial of American Independence along with a small eagle on the right.

Sinnock completed work on the obverse but died in May 1947 before finishing the reverse, which was then assigned to Gilroy Roberts, the new Chief Engraver. The coins debuted in 1948 and were issued through 1963.

When first issued, mintages were kept rather low because there were still so many Walking Liberty half dollars in circulation and because there was more demand for lower denominations.

In addition, half dollars were not widely collected in the period when Franklin halves were issued and were it not for roll collectors who put away large numbers of bank-wrapped rolls, this series would have some rare issues.

Business strikes were issued every year and proofs were struck from 1950 to 1963. Mint state coins were produced each year at the Philadelphia Mint; at the Denver Mint every year except 1955 and 1956; and at the San Francisco Mint where they were only made in 1949 and 1951-1954. The total set includes 29 coins.

However, that does not include the numerous die varieties of this series, which primarily include the two reverse types, the famous Bugs Bunny variety and various  doubled die reverse coins.

Franklin Half Dollar Type 1 and Type 2 Reverses

First, in 1956 the reverse design was modified mainly on the eagle. On 1955 coins the eagle’s central feather are worn flat, which is considered the type 1 reverse. In 1956 10% of that year’s issue was struck with the type 1 reverse, while the rest have type 2 reverses in which there are far more feathers on the eagle. Proofs issued from 1957 to 1963 have type 2 reverses as do many of the business strikes except 1956 and 1957 and 1960 to 1963.

Bugs Bunny Variety

As a result of die clashing, some coins issued in 1949, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1954-D, 1954-S, 1956, 1959 and 1963 are known as having  “Bugs Bunny” variety because of what appear to be two buck teeth near Franklin’s mouth.

This happens when a coin becomes jammed in mechanical feeders, and the planchet is not fed in between the obverse and reverse dies. If not fixed, this results in the dies clashing with each other multiple times.

On the reverse clashing is also seen on the eagle’s bottom wings and on the bell.

Franklin Half Dollar Doubled Dies

The most well-known of the many Franklin half dollar doubled dies is the 1961 Proof doubled die reverse. There are several versions of this variety but only one of them exhibits the kind of dramatic doubling that is similar to that seen on the famous 1955 doubled die Lincoln cent.

The doubling appears on the reverse inscriptions “E Pluribus Unum,” “United States” and “Half Dollar”.

These coins are much rarer than the 1955 doubled die cent even though they sell for less probably because they are not as widely known, and a very small number of them exhibit cameo contrast.

Only 105 of these have been graded by PCGS and only 4 of them with the cameo contrast, yet the top graded examples sold to date –PF68 for the regular doubled die and PF66 for the cameo doubled die – have only sold for $14-15,000.

This means these coins probably have excellent potential for appreciation since a 1955 Doubled Die cent in the top grade that is not nearly as rare is worth $125,000!

1956 is another year that has an important variety – the doubled die obverse in which doubling is clearly evident in the thickness of “Liberty,” “In God We Trust” and the date.

For more detailed information on the numerous other die varieties of Franklin halves, see  NGC’s Variety Plus section on these coins.

FAQ

1. What are die varieties on the Franklin Half Dollar? Die varieties on the Franklin Half Dollar refer to any deviations or anomalies in the minting process that result in coins with slightly different appearances. These can include doubled dies, repunched mint marks (RPMs), and overdates.
2. What is a doubled die Franklin Half Dollar? A doubled die Franklin Half Dollar is a coin that shows doubling of design elements, such as letters, numbers, or parts of the portrait. This happens when the die used to strike the coin is improperly prepared, causing a misalignment during the impression.
3. How can you identify a 1955 Bugs Bunny Franklin Half Dollar? The "Bugs Bunny" die variety is characterized by a clash mark that appears as teeth protruding from Franklin’s mouth, resembling the famous cartoon character. This variety is most famously seen on some 1955 Franklin Half Dollars and can be identified by examining Franklin’s upper lip area.
4. Are there any notable repunched mint mark varieties of Franklin Half Dollars? Yes, several Franklin Half Dollars feature repunched mint marks, where the mint mark letter was initially punched incorrectly and then corrected. Notable years for RPMs include 1949, 1956, and 1963, all from the Denver Mint (marked as D).
5. What is the FBL designation on Franklin Half Dollars? FBL stands for "Full Bell Lines," a term used in numismatics to describe Franklin Half Dollars where the two horizontal lines at the bottom of the Liberty Bell on the reverse are fully struck and unbroken. Coins with FBL are typically more desirable and valuable.
6. Which Franklin Half Dollar die varieties are the rarest? Some of the rarest die varieties include the 1956 Type 2 proof variety, characterized by a clearer and more distinct eagle design on the reverse, and the 1961 doubled die reverse, where significant doubling appears on the E PLURIBUS UNUM lettering.
7. What causes die varieties like the Franklin Half Dollar Bugs Bunny? Die varieties such as the Bugs Bunny occur due to die clashes—when the obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a coin blank between them, transferring part of the design from one die to another.
8. Can a Franklin Half Dollar die variety increase the coin’s value? Yes, certain die varieties can significantly increase the value of a Franklin Half Dollar, especially if they are rare or particularly striking. Collectors often seek out these varieties, adding a premium to their value.
9. How do you grade a Franklin Half Dollar with die varieties? Grading a Franklin Half Dollar with die varieties follows the same general principles as grading any other coin, assessing aspects like strike, surface quality, and wear. However, the presence of a die variety might be noted separately on the grading label by reputable grading services.
10. Where can collectors find more information about Franklin Half Dollar die varieties? Collectors can find more information on Franklin Half Dollar die varieties from numismatic reference books, reputable coin grading services like PCGS or NGC, numismatic websites, and collector forums.