Hobbies Coin Collecting U.S. Coin Values Guide

Franklin Half Dollar Values and Prices

How Much Is My Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963) Worth?

United States Franklin half dollars.

 James Bucki

The United States Mint produced Franklin half dollars from 1948 through 1963. This coin series is easy to assemble in circulated condition and only slightly challenging to assemble a set in uncirculated condition. Depending on the price of silver, the set can be quite affordable for a beginning collector on a limited budget. As you can see from the prices and values, it is an affordable series of coins to collect no matter what your coin collecting skill level.

History of the Franklin Half Dollar

In 1948 Chief Engraver for The United States Mint, John R. Sinnock sculpted the design for the Franklin half dollar based upon a bust statue of Benjamin Franklin created by Jean Antoine Houdon. The reverse features a large rendition of the Liberty Bell that is very similar in design to the reverse of the 1926 Sesquicentennial of the American Independence commemorative half dollar. When they were first released, the blasé design on the obverse paled in comparison to the previous Walking Liberty half dollar design by Weinberg. American public greeted the new Franklin half dollars with lackluster appreciation.

At this time in the history of the United States, half dollars were the workhorse of the economy and circulated freely. Because of its lackluster design not many people collected them for their numismatic value. However, some people retained bank-wrapped rolls of uncirculated Franklin half dollars which would later come on the market for today's coin collectors looking to assemble a nice collection of uncirculated Franklin half dollars.

Market Analysis for Franklin Half Dollar Prices

Franklin half dollars are made of 90% silver and have approximately 0.3617 troy ounces of pure silver in them. Depending on the current price of silver, the coin could be worth more because of its silver content than its value to a coin collector. The value of a coin that is solely based on its metallic content is known as the intrinsic metal value (or bullion value) of the coin.

Key Dates, Rarities, and Varieties

Franklin half dollars do not have any rare dates or varieties. This makes them very affordable for the average coin collector in just about any grade. However, there are some mint errors that are highly sought after by collectors that specialize in error coins.

Condition or Grade

If your coin is worn and looks similar to the one illustrated below, it is considered a circulated coin.

Franklin Half Dollar Graded Very Fine-30 (VF30)
Franklin Half Dollar Graded Very Fine-30 (VF30) Teletrade Coin Auctions

If your coin looks similar to the one illustrated below and has no evidence of wear due to being in circulation, it is considered an uncirculated coin.

Franklin Half Dollar Graded Mint State-63 (MS63)
Franklin Half Dollar Graded Mint State-63 (MS63) Teletrade Coin Auctions

Mint Marks

As illustrated in the photo in the photo below, the mint mark is located on the reverse of the coin, just above the top of the Liberty Bell and below the word "STATES". Franklin half dollars were produced at three different mints: Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D) and San Francisco (S). 

The Mint Mark Location on a Franklin Half Dollar
The Mint Mark Location on a Franklin Half Dollar Heritage Auction Galleries, Ha.com

Franklin Half Dollar Average Prices and Values

The buy price is what you can expect to pay to a dealer to purchase the coin, while the sell value is what you can expect a dealer to pay to you if you sell the coin to him. The first column lists the date and mintmark followed by the buy price and the sell value for an average circulated Franklin half dollar. The next two columns list the buy price and the sell value for an average uncirculated coin. These are approximate retail prices and wholesale values. The actual offer you receive from a particular coin dealer will vary depending on the actual grade of the coin and a number of other factors that determine its worth.

The last section in the table lists values and prices for Proof Franklin Half Dollars. Coins that exhibit a cameo (CAM) or deep cameo (DCAM) contrast are worth considerably more. The United States Mint at Philadelphia prepared all proof coin dies for the Franklin half dollar series. Proof coin die preparation before 1971 consisted of a process that yielded inconsistent cameo contrast on Proof coins. This was especially true for the Proof Franklin half dollars. Only the first 100 or so coins produced from a set of coin dies yielded a cameo contrast between the devices and the field. Remaining coins pressed from the same dies exhibited a weakening cameo contrast as the coin die deteriorated.

Date & Mint Circ. Buy Circ. Sell Unc. Buy Unc. Sell
1948 $10.00 B.V. $24.00 $19.00
1948-D $12.00 B.V. $24.00 $19.00
1949 $10.00 B.V. $47.00 $37.00
1949-D $12.00 B.V. $49.00 $40.00
1949-S $10.00 B.V. $73.00 $59.00
1950 $10.00 B.V. $35.00 $27.00
1950-D $11.00 B.V. $34.00 $27.00
1951 $11.00 B.V. $22.00 $18.00
1951-D $11.00 B.V. $36.00 $29.00
1951-S $10.00 B.V. $30.00 $23.00
1952 $11.00 B.V. $23.00 $19.00
1952-D $11.00 B.V. $21.00 $17.00
1952-S $11.00 B.V. $57.00 $45.00
1953 $11.00 B.V. $25.00 $19.00
1953-D $11.00 B.V. $23.00 $18.00
1953-S $11.00 B.V. $26.00 $20.00
Date & Mint Circ. Buy Circ. Sell Unc. Buy Unc. Sell
1954 $11.00 B.V. $22.00 $17.00
1954-D $10.00 B.V. $22.00 $17.00
1954-S $10.00 B.V. $22.00 $17.00
1955 $10.00 B.V. $28.00 $20.00
1956 $10.00 B.V. $20.00 $15.00
1957 $10.00 B.V. $20.00 $15.00
1957-D $10.00 B.V. $20.00 $15.00
1958 $10.00 B.V. $19.00 $13.00
1958-D $10.00 B.V. $20.00 $15.00
1959 $10.00 B.V. $19.00 $12.00
1959-D $10.00 B.V. $20.00 $15.00
1960 $10.00 B.V. $20.00 $15.00
1960-D $10.00 B.V. $20.00 $15.00
1961 $10.00 B.V. $19.00 $14.00
1961-D $10.00 B.V. $18.00 $11.00
1962 $10.00 B.V. $18.00 $11.00
1962-D $10.00 B.V. $18.00 $11.00
1963 $10.00 B.V. $18.00 $11.00
1963-D $10.00 B.V. $18.00 $11.00
PROOF COINS
Date & Mint Circ. Buy Circ. Sell Unc. Buy Unc. Sell
1950 - - $310.00 $230.00
1950 CAM - - $340.00 $240.00
1950 DCAM - - $3,000.00 $2,300.00
1951 - - $250.00 $180.00
1951 CAM - - $270.00 $210.00
1951 DCAM - - $620.00 $470.00
1952 - - $110.00 $90.00
1952 CAM - - $150.00 $120.00
1952 DCAM - - $490.00 $360.00
1953 - - $57.00 $45.00
1953 CAM - - $100.00 $70.00
1953 DCAM - - $350.00 $260.00
1954 - - $35.00 $28.00
1954 CAM - - $45.00 $32.00
1954 DCAM - - $70.00 $54.00
1955 - - $28.00 $20.00
1955 CAM - - $37.00 $29.00
1955 DCAM - - $63.00 $46.00
1956 TI - - $23.00 $18.00
1956 TI CAM - - $68.00 $49.00
1956 TI DCAM - - $200.00 $150.00
1956 TII - - $22.00 $17.00
1956 TII CAM - - $23.00 $17.00
1956 TII DCAM - - $26.00 $19.00
Date & Mint Circ. Buy Circ. Sell Unc. Buy Unc. Sell
1957 - - $21.00 $16.00
1957 CAM - - $22.00 $17.00
1957 DCAM - - $33.00 $24.00
1958 - - $20.00 $15.00
1958 CAM - - $25.00 $19.00
1958 DCAM - - $50.00 $37.00
1959 - - $21.00 $16.00
1959 CAM - - $33.00 $24.00
1959 DCAM - - $1,500.00 $1,100.00
1960 - - $20.00 $15.00
1960 CAM - - $21.00 $16.00
1960 DCAM - - $25.00 $19.00
1961 - - $20.00 $15.00
1961 CAM - - $21.00 $16.00
1961 DCAM - - $27.00 $21.00
1962 - - $19.00 $14.00
1962 CAM - - $22.00 $17.00
1962 DCAM - - $28.00 $20.00
1963 - - $20.00 $15.00
1963 CAM - - $22.00 $16.00
1963 DCAM - - $25.00 $20.00
Complete
Date-Mint Set

Total Coins: 34
$340.00 $190.00 $900.00 $660.00
Complete
Date Set

Total Coins: 16
$160.00 $90.00 $340.00 $270.00

B.V. = Bullion Value; Look up the Current Intrinsic Bullion Value of U.S. Silver Coins
"-" (dash) = Not Applicable or not enough data exists to calculate an average price.