S Mint Franklin Silver Half Dollar

The Franklin Half Dollar honors Benjamin Franklin, the legendary colonial patriot, inventor, and statesman. Franklin was the first real person other than a President to appear on a circulating U.S. coin.  Among his many achievements, Franklin was the only person to sign both the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

The reverse of the coin shows the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.  According to tradition, the Liberty Bell was rung to announce the Declaration of Independence to the people of Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.

Each Franklin Silver Half Dollar was struck in .900 silver.

The coin was made at the U.S. Mints in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.  By far the scarcest coins are those made in San Francisco.  Even though the Franklin Silver Half Dollar series was struck from 1948 until 1963, it was made for only five years in San Francisco: 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954. 

The San Francisco coin is identified by the “S” mint mark on the reverse, above the center of the Liberty Bell.

All classic coins from San Francisco are prized, because the mint had a reputation for producing the finest coins of any mint.  The Franklin Silver Half Dollar was replaced in 1964 with the Kennedy Half Dollar.