The 1958 Franklin half dollars are easy to assemble when in the circulated state. But at what price and value would one sell or buy these quality coins?
Well, it’s time for you to find out. We’ll cover everything about the 1958 Franklin half dollar value.
This coin has a high melt and face value in today’s coin market. Various specs will help you spot this half dollar among your treasures or when buying.
It has a deep history that dates back to 1958. The value varies with many factors, but the main one is the coin’s grading.
You’ll earn much money when you sell these half dollars. Before we go deeper, let’s first define the 1958 Franklin half dollar.
What is the 1958 Franklin Half Dollar?
In 1958, the US government introduced the new member of the Franklin half dollar coin. The art on the head and tail was the design of John Ray Sinnock, the chief engraver.
Ray Sinnock based his idea on Benjamin Franklin’s statue. Remember, Jean Antoine Houdon made the statue.
John Sinnock died before completing the coin’s design. So, Gilroy completed the design for this coin family.
Reasons why the US Minted these Coins
The coin came in to boost the economy. It was after the World War II. You’ll see this aspect because of the many coins the mints struck.
Also, these coins came to honor the nation’s history. This coin has an image of the US famous leader and author Benjamin Franklin. The US motto on the coin is to respect and uphold the culture.
Features of the 1958 Franklin Half Dollar
The coin has some aspects that will help you identify it with ease. Some of the features are on the other Franklin half dollar family coins. So, read on to find out.
Weight and Size
Every 1958 Franklin half dollar is a silver coin. The coin has 10% copper and 90% silver.
Also, these coins have a metal content of 0.36169 oz. Expect it to have a diameter of 30.6 millimeters and a weight of 12.50 grams.
Head
You’ll see Benjamin Franklin’s portrait at the center of the coin’s obverse. There’s the legend “LIBERTY” on top.
It has the 1958-year mark on the bottom right. At the bottom, the head has the US motto “IN GOD We TRUST.”
Tail
The coin’s tail has several aspects that honor the nation’s heritage. On the top, there’s the legend “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
You’ll see a large and beautiful Liberty bell like the one on the American independence half dollar. On the right, there’s a small eagle.
Still at the center, you’ll see the “E PLURIBUS UNUM” legend on the left. Then, below the Liberty Bell, the word “HALF DOLLAR is present.”
Letter Mark
Your 1958 Franklin half dollar can have a letter mark or not. It will depend on the mint firm that struck it. So, let’s see the mint firms that struck the half dollar.
The Mints that Struck this Coin
Only two mints struck the coins. One was in Denver, and the other one was in Philadelphia.
These two mints made many 1958 Franklin half dollar coins. Here are the details of coins that came from these mints.
Philadelphia Mint
The coins from Philadelphia had no letter mark. This mint made 4 042 000 coins starting in 1958. Also, the mint made 875, 652 proof coins of the 1958 Franklin half dollar.
Remember, the number of coins was the fifth-lowest the Philadelphia mint ever made. Such low numbers make the coins rare and increase their value.
It was the first one to make these coins. Collectors love to complete their set of coins using these coins.
Denver Mint
Expect the 1958 Franklin half dollar coins from Denver to have the letter mark “D” on top of the Liberty bell. Here, the firm made 23 962 412 coins.
Most collectors love to look at the number of coins each mint firm made. So, when valuing and grading the coins from Denver, they’ll look at the letter mark.
Factors that Influence the 1958 Franklin Half Dollar Value
Many aspects can lower or retain the value of your 1958 Franklin half dollar. Most people dwell on the coin’s look. So, expect the factors to be about the coin’s state.
Grading
It’s the best way to know the value of any ancient US coin. When you want to sell your 1958 Franklin half dollar coin, please send it to a grading firm to do it for you.
Here, the experts will determine your coin’s final grade. So, it will be easy to know the value.
You can do it with your naked eyes, but you might miss out on some aspects. Besides the coin’s physical look, grading also focuses on the coin’s metal quality.
So, the higher your coin’s grade, the higher the value. Below are the details of each group, from the lowest to the highest.
- Good
Your coin will fall in this grade because it has passed through many people’s hands. The head and tail will have many blemishes and scratches.
Sometimes, it can be hard to see the coin’s images, the texts, and letter marks. Also, you may need to have a closer look at the coin to know the type and year.
Even with these issues, these coins will still sell because of their market demand. You’ll also sell them because they are scarce.
- Fine
Under this class, it’s easy to see the Liberty’s Bell lines at the top and bottom. The luster isn’t that great, but most coin specs are present.
Also, these coins have fewer contact marks and scratches on both sides. Their value is higher than the ones in the good group.
- Extremely Fine
Expect the Liberty Bell to be much more visible with lesser scratches than the ones in the fine class. But you’ll see some wear and tear on the back of Franklin’s hair, curls, and ears.
These coins have some wear on the Liberty lettering. Their value is a bit higher than the fine ones.
- Uncirculated
If your coin falls in this class, it’s much more precious than the others. These 1958 Franklin half dollars never passed through many hands after minting.
The ones in the uncirculated 60 class have zero signs of wear on both sides. Such coins still have the mint’s luster. You could see very few contact marks on the coin.
Uncirculated 63 Franklin half dollars have a brighter luster than those in 60. You’ll also see a few contact marks on the surfaces.
As for the ones in class 65, they have a rich mint luster. These coins will attract your eye fast because of their quality strike. If you aren’t keen, you may not see the few contact marks.
Smile when your 1958 Franklin half dollar is in the 67 class. The coins have the strongest and most beautiful luster. Sometimes, you may see one or two minor marks.
Errors
Some 1958 Franklin half dollar coins have errors. You’ll see them either on the coin’s head or tail.
You can find that your coin has a double strike on the year, the bell, or the letter mark. Also, the coin can have a center strike problem.
Such aspects can reduce or increase your coin’s value. It’s because many collectors love to have perfect coins in the set. Others love the ones with errors.
Rarity
The coins that fall in the superb and highest class are scarce. So, besides their beauty, they have a high value because they are rare.
Collectors love the coins with a lovely luster, more minor errors, and fewer scratches. Remember, it’s not easy to get such coins.
Market Demand
Since the half dollars have a silver body, expect them always to have a high market demand. So, even if the economy might be bad, these coins will still have a good value.
Coin’s Care
How you handle your ancient coins can affect their quality. You can have a high-grade coin, but handling it in the following years can reduce the value.
Don’t wash your 1958 Franklin half dollars. Instead, please store them in a cool and dry place away from much contact.
The Value of the 1958 Franklin Half Dollar
This coin’s value varies with the grade where it falls. Also, the place that struck it will determine its price. Before that, remember that these coins have a face value of 0.50 USD.
So, the 1958 half dollar from Philadelphia starts to sell from at least 8.35 USD to even more than $55. As for the ones in the uncirculated grade, the value varies with the scale. The proof coins go for at least $30.
The ones from Denver go for at least 8.35 USD. You’ll sell the ones in the uncirculated grade for at least $60. So, the table below will guide you on the current value of these coins.
The Coin’s Grade |
|||||||
| Date | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated 60 | Uncirculated 63 | Uncirculated 65 | Uncirculated 67 |
| 1958 | 8.35 USD | 11.54 USD | $14 | $15 | $35 | $48 | Up to $500 |
| 1958 D | 8.35 USD | 11.54 USD | $14 | $15 | $35 | $48 | Up to $500 |
Conclusion
The 1958 Franklin half dollar has a high value in today’s coin market. Well, the coin’s metal comes from more silver and less copper.
These coins have features that speak a lot about US history. John Sinnock designed the coin to honor one of the nation’s great leaders, Benjamin Franklin.
Various aspects determine the coin’s value, but the main one is the grade. Your 1958 half dollar will be in a given grade because of its looks.
If your coin is in the highest grade, it has the best value. The coin’s errors and rarity also affect the price.
So, can you now estimate your coin’s value? We would love to know its possible price.
