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This is kind of an important year for collectors because it’s the first of the Franklin Half Dollar series. It was a pretty short but popular run that lasted up until 1963. Made of silver and having some historical importance behind it. This was the very first time a non-president appeared on regular U.S. currency.
Of course, there are fakes, maybe even you have one right now. Do you want to check it? Use a coin scanner online.
Minting and Varieties of the 1948 Half Dollar
The 1948 Half Dollar replaced the Walking Liberty design with something more modern - Benjamin Franklin’s portrait on the obverse and the Liberty Bell on the reverse.
The 1948 Franklin Half Dollar was designed by John R. Sinnock. It has Franklin’s profile on the front and the Liberty Bell with a small eagle to its right on the back. The bell is cracked, but it is actually a part of the design. If you’re checking mint marks, look on the reverse above the bell, just under “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
As of October 2025, the melt value is about $17.69. Each coin:
weighs 12.5 grams
90% silver and 10% copper
measures 30.6 mm
has a reeded edge
Philadelphia struck about 3,000,000 pieces (no mint mark), Denver made a little over 4,000,000 (with a “D.”). There are two versions - one from Philadelphia with no mint mark and one from Denver with a “D.”
1948 Half Dollar Value and Market Factors
This coin has the first-year status, which makes it pretty popular among newbie collectors and even veterans. Like with pretty much all coins, the 1948 Franklin Half Dollar Value depends on grade, strike, and mint mark.
Circulated pieces usually follow silver prices, but mint-state coins are different - clean surfaces and full bell lines can multiply the price.
1948 (No Mint Mark) | 1948-D | |
Good (G-4) | $18 | $18 |
Very Fine (VF-20) | $22 | $24 |
Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $25 | $28 |
Almost Uncirculated (AU-50) | $30 | $35 |
Mint State 63 | $34 | $50 |
Mint State 65 | $85 | $240 |
Mint State 67 | $600+ | $3,000+ |
Coins with strong strikes showing Full Bell Lines (FBL) are especially popular. This detail is tiny but very significant and separates ordinary coins from premium ones. The thing is, even if the defect is small and barely noticeable, it can affect the value quite a lot.
How Much Is a 1948 Half Dollar Worth Today?
So, how much is it worth? Like with most coins, the answer depends on condition. Worn coins hover near melt, around $17-25. A good-looking 1948 Ben Franklin Half Dollar in MS65 or better can cost hundreds.
The 1948 Benjamin Franklin Half Dollar from Denver, with clear bell lines, has reached auction highs above $3,000. See the price spike? That’s what the condition difference means.
Market trends show slow but steady growth. Even circulated examples stay somewhat desirable because they were the beginning of an iconic design.
"Had Benjamin Franklin known that he would be appearing on a half dollar with an eagle, he most likely would have been quite upset. He detested the eagle, and numismatic lore has it that he often referred to it as a scavenger. Given the practical man that he was, Franklin proposed the wild turkey as our national bird."
— Jonathan Tepper, a numismatic writer
"Circulation strike Franklin half dollars, Part I"
Conclusion
The 1948 Franklin half dollar is special. With Franklin on one side and the Liberty Bell on the other, it shows some of the most important American values, freedom and knowledge. No matter the condition, it began a new era of American coinage.
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