April 12, 2024
********1962 PR68 Benjamin Franklin Half Dollar********
Pricing & History
-
Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
- Sold Date
- Source eBay
First issued in 1948, the Franklin half dollar was the only circulating US coin to feature the image of someone other than one of our nation’s presidents or Lady Liberty. In 1947, Mint Director Nellie Ross, a longtime admirer of Franklin, believed that he deserved to be depicted on a US coin. But since federal law forbade the replacement of any coin design unless it had been in circulation for at least 25 years, this meant that only the Walking Liberty half dollar and Lincoln cent were eligible for redesign at the time. Not wanting to go down in history as the person who removed Lincoln from the penny, Ross instructed the US Mint’s chief engraver, John R. Sinnock to prepare designs for a Franklin half dollar.For the coin’s obverse, Sinnock based his depiction of Benjamin Franklin on an earlier design he had created for a commemorative medal. It portrays a bust of Franklin, dressed in period clothes, encircled by the inscriptions “Liberty” and “In God We Trust.” John Sinnock’s initials appear at the base of Franklin’s shoulder. Interestingly, when the Franklin half dollar was first released in 1948, some people believed that the engraver’s initials stood for Joseph Stalin, and rumors began circulating that a soviet spy had infiltrated the US Mint. Mint officials publically denounced these rumors and quickly changed the initials from
read more
Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.
If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.
If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.
If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.
