Uncirculated Franklin Half Dollar 1951-S

Although the design, for the Franklin Half Dollar, wasn't approved by the Commission of Fine Arts, the Mint Director still went through with the final design. The main disappointment, for the Commission, was the reverse design, which exhibits a cracked Liberty Bell and a very small bald eagle. The Commission stated that the crack on the Liberty Bell, and the minute size of the eagle, is putting the US coinage at risk for ridicule and inappropriate puns. The Mint Director, Nellie Tayloe Ross, ignored their concerns and approved the Franklin Half Dollar design. The Commission of Arts wasn't the only disapproval Ross received for the design. Ross suggested that Benjamin Franklin be used for the next portrait, knowing it is well documented that Franklin disliked portraits on the US coins, and thought Proverbs should be written on it instead. Ross' defense was that Franklin only knew of royalty portraits and would be honored if a Founding Father was featured instead. Despite its extreme controversy, the US Mint was able to keep the disapprovals from the public, lending to an exciting new chapter in US coinage history.

At the brink of World War II, the Mint Engraver, John R. Sinnock, designed two Franklin-based coins that were never issued. One was a commemorative and the other was a dime, which was going to be the denomination Franklin would be featured on. Since the Walking Liberty was produced for over 25 years, the minimum for a coin series, the US Mint wanted to finally change the design. Today, the Franklin Half Dollar is pursued by silver investors, due to its 90% silver content. Even though the Franklin series is ideal for beginner collectors, its silver value exceeds it numismatic value.

• Denomination: N/A
• Year: 1951
• Diameter: N/A
• Mint Mark: N/A
• Thickness: N/A
• Grade: N/A