Numismatic

1951 Franklin Half Dollar MS-64 PCGS (FBL)

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In 1951, the United States Mint in Philadelphia struck a half dollar that departed from traditional allegorical figures, opting instead to honor one of the nation's most famous founding fathers. The obverse of this silver coin features a right-facing profile of Benjamin Franklin. Surrounding his portrait are the inscriptions 'LIBERTY' and 'IN GOD WE TRUST', alongside the mid-century date of 1951. The reverse of the coin features the iconic Liberty Bell, complete with its famous crack. To the right of the bell, a small eagle with spread wings is visible, a design element included to fulfill legal requirements for the denomination. The reverse inscriptions include 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA', 'E PLURIBUS UNUM', and the face value, 'HALF DOLLAR'. This particular coin is certified in Mint State 64 (MS-64) and carries the highly sought-after Full Bell Lines (FBL) designation. This designation is reserved for coins that show complete, uninterrupted horizontal lines across the bottom of the Liberty Bell, indicating an exceptionally sharp and well-preserved strike from the Philadelphia Mint, which did not use a mint mark for this issue. Composed of 90 percent silver, the coin contains 0.3575 troy ounces of precious metal and represents a classic era of American coinage designed by John R. Sinnock.