Contents:
- The Design of the Franklin Half Dollar
- Actual Silver Weight (ASW)
- How Much Is a 1962 Half Dollar Worth?
- 1961-D Business Strike
- 1962 Half Dollar No Mint Mark
- 1961-D Doubled Die Reverse (DDR)
- 1962-P Proof
- 1962 Struck Thru Error
- 1962-D Repunched Mint Mark (RPM)
- 1962-P Clipped Planchet
- 1962-P Off-Center Error
- 1962-P Thickness Stock
- How to Check the Value of Your Coin
- FAQ
Novice numismatists may not fully realize how much a one-year difference can affect coins from the same series. Is there really only one digit difference? Actually, no, the difference is mainly in the mintage and the number of high-quality 1961/1962 half dollar errors.
Therefore, before naming the amount at the auction, identify coins from the entire series and find a place in this hierarchy for the one you decide to purchase.
The Design of the Franklin Half Dollar
On the front, or obverse you can see a portrait of Benjamin Franklin facing to the right. The word "LIBERTY" is at the top, and the words "IN GOD WE TRUST" are at the bottom. The date is to the right of Franklin's head.
On the back you can see a large picture of the Liberty Bell. The words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" are at the top, and "HALF DOLLAR" is at the bottom. To the left of the bell, there is the motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM." The eagle was added because the law said that a half dollar coin had to show an eagle on it.
Actual Silver Weight (ASW)
The Franklin Half Dollars are made of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. The total weight is 12.5 grams.
To find the ASW, you multiply the total weight by the silver content. So, a Franklin Half Dollar has 12.5 grams times 0.90, which is 11.25 grams of pure silver. This is important because the 1962 silver half dollar value will always be at least the value of the silver it contains.
How Much Is a 1962 Half Dollar Worth?
Name of Coin Variation | Approximate 1962 Franklin Half Dollar Value |
1961-D Business Strike | $14 - $500 |
1962-P Business Strike | $14 - $500 |
1961-D Doubled Die Reverse (DDR) | $50 - $2,000 |
1962-P Proof | $20 - $1,000 |
1962 Struck Thru Error | $30 - $500 |
1962-D Repunched Mint Mark (RPM) | $30 - $200 |
1962-P Clipped Planchet | $50 - $400 |
1962-P Off-Center Error | $50 - $800 |
1962-P Thickness Stock | $100 - $1,500 |
THe 1962 Ben Franklin half dollar value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
1961-D Business Strike
This coin was made for regular use and has a small letter "D" to show it was created at the Denver Mint.
Mintage: 20,276,442
Weight: 12.5 grams
Diameter: 30.61 millimeters
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Auction Record Note: A 1961-D Franklin Half Dollar in superb condition, graded MS67 with Full Bell Lines, was sold on an online auction platform around late 2023 for a price of approximately $880.
Market Value
Condition | Approximate Value |
Good | $14 |
Fine | $15 |
Uncirculated (MS-60) | $25 |
Uncirculated (MS-65) | $80 |
The 1962 D half dollar value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
1962 Half Dollar No Mint Mark
The 1962-P coin was made at the Philadelphia Mint and does not have a mint mark letter.
Mintage: 12,932,019
Weight: 12.5 grams
Diameter: 30.61 millimeters
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Auction Record Note: An example of a 1962 half dollar value no mint mark, certified as MS66 with Full Bell Lines, was determined as $490 on a major online auction site in early 2024.
Market Value
Condition | Approximate Value |
Good | $14 |
Fine | $15 |
Uncirculated (MS-60) | $25 |
Uncirculated (MS-65) | $95 |
The Ben Franklin half dollar 1962 can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
1961-D Doubled Die Reverse (DDR)
A Doubled Die Obverse error is when the front of the coin shows a clear doubling of the letters or numbers, especially in the date or the word "LIBERTY."
Mintage: N/A
Weight: 12.5 grams
Diameter: 30.61 millimeters
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Auction Record Note: A uncirculated 1961-D DDO Franklin Half Dollar was sold at a large coin auction house in early 2024 for a price of about $1,900.
Market Value
Condition | Approximate Value |
Fine | $50 |
Very Fine | $100 |
Extremely Fine | $250 |
Uncirculated (MS-60) | $500 |
The 1962 D franklin half dollar value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
1962-P Proof
They are struck multiple times with polished dies and planchets to create a very sharp finish.
Mintage: 3,218,019
Weight: 12.5 grams
Diameter: 30.61 millimeters
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Auction Record Note: A 1962 Franklin Half Dollar Proof, graded as PR68, was sold at a coin show auction in late 2023 for a price of about $225.
Market Value
Condition | Approximate Value |
Proof (PR-60) | $20 |
Proof (PR-65) | $30 |
Proof (PR-67) | $70 |
Proof (PR-68) | $200 |
The 1962 Franklin half dollar proof value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
1962 Struck Thru Error
A "Struck Thru" error happens when a small piece of foreign material, like a piece of cloth or a piece of metal shavings, gets on the coin blank before it is struck by the die.
Mintage: N/A
Weight: 12.5 grams
Diameter: 30.61 millimeters
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Auction Record Note: A 1962-D Struck Thru Franklin Half Dollar, which had a clear mark from a piece of wire, sold on a well-known online auction platform in the middle of 2024 for a price of approximately $180.
Market Value
Condition | Approximate Value |
Fine | $30 |
Very Fine | $50 |
Extremely Fine | $80 |
Uncirculated (MS-60) | $150 |
The 1962-D Franklin half dollar value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
1962-D Repunched Mint Mark (RPM)
A Repunched Mint Mark error occurs when the mint worker accidentally hits the mint mark letter ("D") more than once in the same place, or hits it slightly off-center.
Mintage: N/A
Weight: 12.5 grams
Diameter: 30.61 millimeters
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Auction Record Note: An uncirculated 1962-D RPM Franklin Half Dollar, with the mint mark showing a clear doubling, was sold on an online auction platform in early 2024 for a price of about $120.
Market Value
Condition | Approximate Value |
Fine | $30 |
Very Fine | $50 |
Extremely Fine | $80 |
Uncirculated (MS-60) | $100 |
The 1962 Benjamin Franklin half dollar value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
1962-P Clipped Planchet
A Clipped Planchet error happens when the machine that cuts the blanks from a long metal strip clips off a small part of a blank that was already cut.
Mintage: N/A
Weight: Varies slightly
Diameter: Varies slightly
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Auction Record Note: What is a 1962 half dollar worth? A 1962-P Franklin Half Dollar with a clear, curved clipped planchet was sold on an online auction in the spring of 2024 for a price of approximately $250.
Market Value
Condition | Approximate Value |
Fine | $50 |
Very Fine | $70 |
Extremely Fine | $120 |
Uncirculated (MS-60) | $250 |
The 1962 half dollar coin value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
1962-P Off-Center Error
Mintage: N/A
Weight: 12.5 grams
Diameter: 30.61 millimeters
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Auction Record Note: A rare 1962-P Franklin Half Dollar with an Off-Center Error was sold on a prominent online auction site in early 2023 for a price of around $700.
Market Value
Condition | Approximate Value |
Fine | $50 |
Very Fine | $100 |
Extremely Fine | $200 |
Uncirculated (MS-60) | $400 |
The half dollar 1962 value can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
1962-P Thickness Stock
A "Thickness Stock" error happens when a coin blank is made from a piece of metal that is not the right thickness for a half dollar.
Mintage: N/A
Weight: Varies, can be heavier than normal
Diameter: Varies, can be smaller than normal
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
Auction Record Note: How much is a 1962 Franklin half dollar worth? A certified 1962-P Franklin Half Dollar on a thick planchet was sold on an online auction platform in early 2024 for a price of about $1,200.
Market Value
Condition | Approximate Value |
Fine | $100 |
Very Fine | $250 |
Extremely Fine | $500 |
Uncirculated (MS-60) | $1,000 |
The 1962 half dollar value today can change based on market demand, condition, grading, and the specific characteristics of individual coins.
How to Check the Value of Your Coin
Checking the value of 1962 Franklin half dollar is something you can do at home with a few simple steps.
Date and Mint Mark: Find the year and then look on the back of the coin, above the Liberty Bell, to see if there is a small "D" for Denver. If there is no letter, it was made in Philadelphia.
Condition: Look for wear on the high points of the design, especially on Franklin's cheek and the top of the Liberty Bell.
Full Bell Lines (FBL): If all the Liberty Bell lines are clear and separated, your coin is a "Full Bell Lines" coin and is more valuable.
Errors: Look for any mistakes on the coin, like a doubled date, a small bump under the chin, or a piece missing from the edge.
For rare error coins, it is a good idea to send the coin to a professional grading service, like PCGS, NGC or Coin ID Scanner, to get it certified.
FAQ
Why does a 1962 half dollar without a mint mark still have value?
A 1962 half dollar that does not have a mint mark was made at the Philadelphia Mint, which was the main place for making coins at that time. Even without a mint mark, it is still a valuable coin because it is made of 90% silver.
Are all of the 1962 Franklin Half Dollar errors very expensive?
Not all errors are very expensive, but the most clear and noticeable errors are often the most valuable. The value of an error coin depends on its rarity and how clear the mistake is.
How can I tell if my coin is a proof coin or a regular coin?
The design, like Franklin's head and the bell, will have a very sharp, frosted look that stands out against the shiny background, while regular coins have a more dull and flat look to them.
What is a "thickness stock" error and why is it special?
A "thickness stock" error happens when a coin is made on a piece of metal that is either too thick or too thin. A coin that is the wrong thickness is a sign of a major problem in the minting process, and because it is so unusual.
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