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The Proof Franklin Half Dollars were minted from 1950-1963 and were a part of the Proof Set series. Although the San Francisco Mint is known for its production of proof coins, only the Philadelphia Mint took part in the minting of the Proof Franklin Half Dollars. In the first few years of mintage, the Proof Franklin Half Dollars had very low mintages, since it was unknown how they would be received by the public. In 1950, only 51,386 Proof Franklin Half Dollars were minted and by 1963, over 3 million were circulating collectors' portfolios. Since the 1950 Proof Franklin Half Dollar was made with 90% silver and it has a low mintage, its premium is one of the highest for the series.
The Mint Director, at the time of the Franklin's production, Nellie Tayloe Ross, long since admired Benjamin Franklin, so when it was time to replace the Walking Liberty, she knew which design would be next. Ross approached the Mint Engraver, John R. Sinnock, and asked him to design a portrait of Franklin for the new half dollar. Sinnock used past designs of his to get the new half dollar underway but would not see the end result. Sinnock died before the completion of the Franklin Half Dollar, leaving it up to his successor, Gilroy Roberts, to finish the job. Once the final design was finished, the Mint Director took it to the Commission of Fine Arts to get it approved. The Commission didn't appreciate the Liberty bell's crack being pictured, on the reverse, in fear of it being ridiculed by the public. Although the design was not approved, the US Mint still minted it as the new design.
