1957 Franklin Half Dollar

John R. Sinnock’s Franklin half dollar, issued from 1948 to 1963, remains a mid-century classic. By replacing the long-running Walking Liberty design with the dual motifs of Benjamin Franklin and the cracked Liberty Bell, the series marked a distinct shift toward honoring historical American citizens rather than allegorical personifications.

In 1957, the Philadelphia Mint produced proof coins to satisfy a rapidly growing collector market. Striking these pieces required hand-polished dies and planchets, resulting in a level of detail and brilliance that standard business strikes of the era simply could not match.

This example, graded PF67 by NGC, represents a superb state of preservation. At this grade level, the collector receives a coin with nearly immaculate surfaces and a sharp, precise strike, capturing Sinnock's design exactly as the mint intended. It is an exceptional representative piece for a dedicated collection of twentieth-century silver.