Like all other coins in the series, the 1951 Franklin Half Dollar coin was minted from an alloy containing 90% Silver and 10% copper.
In 1951, 16,802,102 Franklin Half Dollar coins were minted at the Philadelphia Mint. These coins do not have a mint mark.
At the Denver Mint, 9,475,200 Franklin Half Dollar coins were minted. Franklin Half Dollar coin minted at the Denver Mint are stamped with the “D” mint mark.
This was the second time that Franklin Half Dollars were minted at the San Francisco Mint. The San Francisco Mint produced 13,696,000 coins in 1951 that are stamped with the “S” mint mark.
This year was the largest mintage of Franklin Silver Dollar coins to date. Nearly 40 million 1951 Franklin Half Dollar coins were produced across all three minting facilities.
1951 Half Dollar Mint Marks and Mintage Amounts
| Location | Mint Mark | Mintage Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Mint | None | 16,802,102 |
| Denver Mint | D | 9,475,200 |
| San Francisco Mint | S | 13,696,000 |
| 1951 Franklin Half Dollar Mintage Total | 39,973,302 |
1951 Proof Half Dollar
The 1951 Proof Franklin Half Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a mintage of only 57,500 coins. Proof coins were produced with special processes to create sharp, detailed images and mirror-like surfaces, making them popular among collectors.
Proof examples can be worth $100 to $250 or more depending on condition, with high-grade, deep cameo proofs fetching the highest prices.
Notable 1951 Franklin Half-Dollar Mint Errors
Several notable error coins from the 1951 Franklin Half Dollar series are of particular interest to collectors. Here are a few sought-after error types:
| Error Type | Description | Value Range |
|---|---|---|
| Bugs Bunny Error | Die Clash which creates the appearance of “buck teeth” on Franklin’s profile. | $400 to $800 |
| Doubled Die Errors | Some 1951 Franklin Half Dollars exhibit doubling on the obverse or reverse, particularly in the lettering and the Liberty Bell details. | $400 to $1,000 |
| Strike-Through Errors | Foreign material obstructed the die during the minting process, resulting in strike-through errors. | $300 to $500 |
1951 Half-Dollar Specifications
| Year: | 1951 |
|---|---|
| Mint Marks: | None – Philadelphia Mint, D – Denver Mint, S – San Francisco Mint |
| Gross Weight: | 12.5 grams (0.402 troy ounces) |
| Silver Content: | 90% |
| Silver Weight: | .3617 troy ounces |
| Silver Melt: | $10.691 |
| Diameter: | 30.6 mm |
| Thickness: | 2.15 mm |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| Composition: | Silver .900, Copper .100 |
1 – Based on today’s silver spot price of $29.56
Most circulated Franklin Silver Half Dollars from 1951 will be sold as junk silver. However, some coins in better condition may have some numismatic value to collectors. Notably, those with “full bell lines” (FBL), showing that the three lines at the lower part of the bell on the reverse are continuous from side to side, may be worth more than melt value.
1951 Franklin Half Dollar Melt Value
The 1951 Franklin Half Dollar Melt Value is $10.69 based on today’s silver spot price of $29.56. The melt value of $1 Face Value circulated coins is roughly $21.14 using the industry standard weight of .715 troy ounces per $1 face value.
Each standard bank roll of $10 Face Value (20 Coins) has a melt value of roughly $211.36.