Numismatic

1948 Franklin Half Dollar MS-66 PCGS (FBL)

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In 1948, the United States Mint introduced a new half dollar design celebrating one of the nation's most influential founding figures, Benjamin Franklin. Struck in Philadelphia with a composition of 90 percent silver, this inaugural year issue of the series carries no mint mark. The coin represents a shift in mid-century American coinage, bringing a historical portrait to the fifty-cent denomination. The obverse presents a clean, right-facing profile of Benjamin Franklin. Surrounding his likeness are the inscriptions LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, alongside the date. This design was crafted by John R. Sinnock, who captured the statesman's features with dignified simplicity. On the reverse, the historic Liberty Bell takes center stage, complete with its famous crack. To the right of the bell, a small eagle with spread wings is visible, fulfilling the legal requirement for the denomination. The reverse also bears the traditional inscriptions denoting the country, the face value, and the motto E Pluribus Unum. This specific coin has achieved a Mint State 66 grade and earned the Full Bell Lines designation, indicating that the horizontal lines on the lower portion of the Liberty Bell are exceptionally sharp and fully defined.