The Franklin Half Dollar was minted by the United States government from 1948 to 1963 in Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver. It is 30.6mm in diameter, composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, and has a net weight of .36169 oz. pure silver. The short period of production for Franklin Halves, 16 years, is due to the assassination of John Kennedy and the subsequent push to mint a coin commemorating him. Tremendous quantities of Franklin Halves were melted in the mid to late 1960s as the value of the silver bullion they contained far outstripped their 50 cent face value. Nonetheless, the coins remain relatively affordable today. They are sometimes known as Liberty Halves because of the Liberty Bell image on the reverse.
| Franklin Halves | G4 | VG8 | F12 | VF20 | XF40 | AU50 | MS60 | MS65 | PF65 |
| 1948 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $18.10 | $19.00 | $71 | .. |
| 1948 D | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $18.10 | $19.00 | $105 | .. |
| 1949 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $18.10 | $19.00 | $38.00 | $115 | .. |
| 1949 D | $16.20 | $17.10 | $18.10 | $19.00 | $19.00 | $28.50 | $48.00 | $500 | .. |
| 1949 S | $16.20 | $17.10 | $18.10 | $19.00 | $19.00 | $33.25 | $62 | $120 | .. |
| 1950 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $23.75 | $28.50 | $105 | $570 |
| 1950 D | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $23.75 | $28.50 | $285 | .. |
| 1951 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $18.10 | $19.00 | $71 | $450 |
| 1951 D | $16.20 | $18.10 | $19.00 | $20.00 | $14.30 | $19.00 | $28.50 | $165 | .. |
| 1951 S | $16.20 | $18.10 | $19.00 | $20.00 | $11.40 | $17.10 | $28.50 | $95 | .. |
| 1952 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $23.75 | $57 | $275 |
| 1952 D | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $33.25 | $135 | .. |
| 1952 S | $16.20 | $17.10 | $18.10 | $20.00 | $20.90 | $28.50 | $30.50 | $95 | .. |
| Franklin Halves | G4 | VG8 | F12 | VF20 | XF40 | AU50 | MS60 | MS65 | PF65 |
| 1953 | $16.20 | $17.10 | $18.10 | $20.00 | $20.90 | $28.50 | $30.50 | $95 | $210 |
| 1953 D | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $18.10 | $23.75 | $115 | .. |
| 1953 S | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $18.10 | $20.90 | $76 | .. |
| 1954 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $18.10 | $19.00 | $48.00 | $95 |
| 1954 D | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $23.75 | $38.00 | $120 | .. |
| 1954 S | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $28.50 | $52 | .. |
| 1955 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $18.10 | $19.00 | $30.50 | $62 | $81 |
| 1956 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $38.00 | $28.50 |
| 1957 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $48.00 | $28.50 |
| 1957 D | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $57 | .. |
| 1958 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $38.00 | $42.75 |
| 1958 D | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $38.00 | .. |
| 1959 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $62 | $28.50 |
| 1959 D | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $81 | .. |
| 1960 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $90 | $26.50 |
| 1960 D | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $260 | .. |
| 1961 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $62 | $26.50 |
| 1961 D | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $145 | .. |
| 1962 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $120 | $23.75 |
| 1962 D | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $165 | .. |
| 1963 | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $57 | $28.50 |
| 1963 D | $16.20 | $16.40 | $16.60 | $16.90 | $17.60 | $19.00 | $20.90 | $57 | .. |
These prices for Franklin Half Dollars are provided as a service to Hobbizine readers. They are derived from numerous sources such as dealer price lists, advertisements in numismatic publications, and public auction results. Use these values as a guideline for evaluating the reasonableness of dealer prices, setting up trades with other collectors, and estimating the worth of your collection.
Some notes about grading:
- G - Good: Major design elements are outlined but details are gone; the date may not be sharp (but should be readable) and the rim may not be complete.
- VG - Very Good: Major design elements, letters and numerals are worn but clear.
- F - Fine: Major elements are still clear but details are worn away.
- VF - Very fine: Light even wear on high points, all lettering and design details are sharp.
- XF - Extremely Fine: All design details are sharp; some mint luster remains.
- AU - About Uncirculated: Traces of wear with at least half of the original luster remaining.
- MS-60 - Mint State: A perfect coin with bright consistent luster and no scratches or contact marks.
- MS-65 - Mint State: A gem coin - blemish free with sharp strike. Here it is presumed to have been professionally graded.
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