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Loved by many coin collectors for decades, Franklin half dollars were produced by the U.S. Mint from 1948 to 1963.
When it comes to collecting coins, one of the easiest and least-expensive obsolete coin series to complete is a set of Franklin half dollars.
That’s because there are just 35 coins in the entire series! (This includes all date-and-mintmark combinations.)
A Franklin half dollar collection can be completed for very little money, or quite a lot — depending on the quality of the coins.
Many Franklin half dollars have mintages of less than 10 million. Yet, in lower circulated grades, nearly the entire series can be had for a slight markup over bullion value.
How Much Are Franklin Half Dollars Worth?
All Franklin half dollars are made of 90% silver.
A few Franklin halves are considered to be scarce — at least compared to other Franklin half dollar dates in the series.
These are the scarce Franklin half dollar values:
- 1948 Franklin half dollar: 3,006,814 struck — $20 to $35
- 1948-D Franklin half dollar: 4,028,600 struck — $20 to $25
- 1949-S Franklin half dollar: 3,744,000 struck — $60 to $75
- 1953 Franklin half dollar: 2,796,920 struck — $25 to $40
- 1955 Franklin half dollar: 2,876,381 struck — $25 to $40
*Values are for problem-free coins in typical uncirculated condition.
In terms of mintage, those are the 5 scarcest Franklin half dollars. Yet the prices for those scarce coins are not that high… even in uncirculated grades!
Interestingly, some of the more “common” Franklin halves are more expensive than the scarce dates listed above. In fact, several Franklin half dollars are considered downright scarce in uncirculated grades.
Why? Because many coin collectors saved some of the lower-mintage coins when they were first released. More common coins were not spared from circulation.
Decades later, the result is that some modern-era coins with low mintages actually cost less to obtain in uncirculated grades than some coins with higher mintages!
Less than $300 can complete a collection of lower circulated grade Franklin half dollars. But you could spend between $1,000 to $1,200 for a collection of typical uncirculated Franklin half dollars.
Prices go far higher than that if each Franklin half dollar in the collection is a high-grade uncirculated specimen with few abrasions, detractions, or other imperfections.
Did You Know?…
The Franklin half dollar series was struck for a short 16 years — because the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963 set in motion rapid approval of a coin honoring the slain leader. Kennedy half dollars were first struck in 1964.
John R. Sinnock designed the Franklin half dollar, but Gilroy Roberts is responsible for placing the small eagle just to the right of the Liberty Bell on the reverse.
U.S. coinage law requires an eagle be depicted on all silver coins larger than the dime.
Books & Supplies For Your Franklin Half Dollar Collection
Here are some coin folders, coin albums, and helpful price guides / resource books for your Franklin half dollar collection:
READ NEXT: The Most Valuable Silver Half Dollars
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