Numismatic

1961-D Franklin Half Dollar Fine/AU

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The 1961 Franklin half dollar represents a classic era of United States silver coinage. Minted in Denver, this fifty-cent piece is composed of 90 percent silver, containing 0.3575 troy ounces of actual silver weight (with total silver content estimated at 0.3617 ounces). It carries the distinctive 'D' mint mark, indicating its origin from the Denver facility during a time when silver was still the standard for circulating half dollars. On the obverse, a right-facing profile of Benjamin Franklin takes center stage. This portrait is accompanied by the inscriptions 'LIBERTY' and 'IN GOD WE TRUST', along with the 1961 date. The design was created by John R. Sinnock, who captured the statesman's likeness with clean, dignified lines. The reverse of the coin is rich with American symbolism, dominated by the image of the cracked Liberty Bell. To the right of the bell, a small eagle with spread wings is visible, fulfilling the legal requirement for the denomination. The reverse inscriptions include 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA', 'HALF DOLLAR', and the traditional motto 'E PLURIBUS UNUM'. This coin is presented in Fine or better condition, allowing observers to appreciate the historic details of Sinnock's mid-century design.