how much are franklin silver half dollars worth

[DelOscar]

Ah, so you've found a silver portrait of old Ben Franklin and want to know if you're holding a treasure or just, you know, fifty cents from a bygone era. The answer, my friend, is delightfully complicated. Your average, well-circulated Franklin half dollar from 1948-1963 is worth more than its face value thanks to its silver content, but it's probably not going to fund your retirement.

However, before you trade it in for a fancy coffee, you'll want to check the date and mint mark, because some of these coins are the quiet superstars of the numismatic world. The value can skyrocket depending on the year, where it was minted, and its condition. According to the experts, the prices listed for the big winners are for coins in near-perfect, uncirculated condition. If your coin looks like it paid for a lot of jukebox songs in its day, the value will be much lower.

For those with a bit of luck, certain dates are worth a pretty penny. A 1949-S could be worth between $70 and $160, while a 1949-D might climb as high as $610. The real heavy hitters are often the "proof" coins, which were special collector's editions. A 1950 or 1951 proof can easily be worth over $400 or $500. And for the grand prize? If you happen to have a 1961 P Doubled Die Reverse proof coin, you could be looking at a value of over $3,200. That's a lot of Benjamins for one Ben.