Numismatic

1956 Franklin Half Dollar Type-I PF-67 NGC

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In 1956, the Philadelphia Mint produced a limited run of proof half dollars featuring the portrait of Benjamin Franklin. Among these issues, a fascinating variety emerged, known to numismatists as the Type I. This specific variety is distinguished by subtle differences in the design details, particularly on the reverse of the coin. While the obverse displays a profile of Franklin with the inscriptions of national trust and the year 1956, the reverse features the iconic Liberty Bell alongside a small bald eagle. On the Type I variety, the eagle's chest lacks some of the finer details found on later strikes, yet its wings clearly display four distinct feathers on each side. The legendary bell itself bears the famous inscription of liberty, reminding observers of the nation's founding principles. Struck in 90% silver, this particular coin contains 0.3575 troy ounces of precious metal. It has been certified in Proof 67 condition, indicating an exceptional strike with minimal imperfections from the minting process. With a total mintage of 669,384 for the year, finding a Type I specimen in such a high state of preservation offers a compelling glimpse into the mid-twentieth-century US minting process.