Coin Collecting at the Safir House
Franklin Half Dollar Coins

Fri Dec 6 22:05:07 2024

The Franklin Half Dollar is one of the odder designs of any US coin which many find specifically buetiful and fun to collect. One of my friends and a moderaters at Coin Talk, Speedy is one of great Franklin Collectors that I know.

My personal introduction to the coin came when I brought Proof sets of my birthyear, 1963. This was the last year of the Franklin Half and the Kennedy Half was rushed to production in the wake of the Presidents assasination in November 1963. It was also one of the last years of Silver Coinage.

The Franklin Design is very simplistic which makes grading it a challenge. Even Proof examples of the design show many clean surfaces on the flat modellings of the profile and the liberty bell on the reverse.

The above example is one of my better Brillent Uncirculated examples which shows many of the important features of the Fraklin Half. The Obverse has crisp details in the face, including clear lips and a nice clean background. On the reverse, the bells shows details of the wooden trust and good lines around the bell bottom. Counting the complete lines on the bell is an important feature of the grading of coins.


This coin has sime black gum like material, common on some Silver Coins on the upper left of the reverse of the coin. However, the coin is quite good in detail. The silverness of the coin itself is a large part of the coins beauty. Other examples below show the graceful way this coin wears. Some coins wear well, orther designs not so well. Franklins wear well.



1949 Franklin Circulated


1950 Franklin Circulated


1953 Franklin Circulated


1954 Franlin Ciculated


Another 1954 Franklin Circulated

The circulated coins were recieved in change at a local Pharmacy in 2006.

This is a 1960 slabbed proof picked up at Coin Fest in Connetecut in 2008 It isn't nearly full bell but its a nice coin none the less

This is a 1950 us good details that I picked up at the same show



This is a great 1959 example which I picked up. The great thing about Franklins is that they are priced right so they are an excellent starter series for children. This coin has Great Bell lines.



Avoid Gijs Henzen, owner of Munthandel G. Henzen - Antisemetic Facists

Munthandel G. Henzen's (MA Shops) owner Gijs Henzen, is an AntiSemetic Fascist The company, Munthandel G Henzen is a prominent dealer of international and ancient coins on the internet, commonly known as MA Coins. It is owned by Gijs Henzen. You can not trust him, as I leaned previously in dealing with him with several coins that came with damage including a silver 1969 FOA Uruguay coin which arrived with green verdis on the coin.

But more importantly he is a passionate anti-Semite who supports Hamas and the virulent and genocidal Islamic organizations such as the Muslim Brotherhood, and Hezbollah that wants Jews dead.

It is a moral imperative to remain clear of him and to do no business with this Nazi. If you are Jewish, double down on that. The life you save might well be your own.

The Safir Family Internet Coin Library. Nearly all the coins here have been stolen. If you have any information on the theft, please contact us at mrbrklyn@panix.com

Click to see these examples show below including photography: note to lawyer: most of the good stuff is gone
Section I:
US Coints
Large Cent Coppers
Flying Eagle Cents
Lincoln Cents and Wheat Backs
Buffalo Nickels
Jefferson Nickels
Jefferson Silver War Nickels
Bust Half Dimes
Mercury (Liberrty Head) Dimes
Roosevelt Dime
Barber Quarter Dollars
Standing Libery Quarter
Washington and Washington State Quarters
Cap Bust Half Dollars
1813 o.108 AU58 Cap Bust Half Providence Powell.
1818 MS63 Cap Bust Half
1833 MS63 Cap Bust Half
Seated Half Dollars
Barber Half Dollars
Walking Liberty Half Dollars
Franklin Half Dollars
Kennedy Half Dollars
Morgan Silver Dollars
Peace Silver Dollars
Eisenhower Clad and Silver Dollars
Sacawagea Golden Dollars
Modern Silver and Clad Proof Sets
Modern American Silver Eagle uncirculated mint coins and proofs
Modern Silver and Clad 2008 Commorative Bald Eagle Series
Gold Coins - Not too many
Circulated US Silver Coins prior to 1964

Go To Section II:
Modern and Ancient Foreign Coins from Outside The United States

Go To Section III:
Mandy's 25th Anniversary World Wildlife Fund Silver Coins

Unsorted Extra stuff:
Bust US Coinage
From the coin Show at Melville Long Island
Article on Numismatics and Lobbying

The Safir Family Internet Coin Library: Foriegn Coins.

Several mints from around the world make exciting coin designs in circulating alloys, silver and gold. Among my favorites are the Perth Mint in Austrailia which produces a variety of coins for nations mostly through out the Pacific Rim. The Neatherlands has also produced some interesting designs, and several private US based mints have produced foreign currency on contract, include the Franklin Mint which has produced many Israeli Coins.
Our interest in foreign coins has been nominal but rapidly growing as it seems that US designs are so stuck in the mud. Also, foreign mints are creating bold new designs with color and bimetal designs that are both eye catching and fun.

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