Half Dollars
The half dollar was once the workhorse of U.S. silver coinage. Struck in large numbers throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, half dollars feature some of the most celebrated designs in American numismatics, including Adolph Weinman's Walking Liberty and the historic Benjamin Franklin half dollar.
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Rarity & Key Dates
Early halves (pre-1836) were struck with hand-engraved dies, leading to hundreds of collectible die varieties. For 20th-century halves, look for "Full Bell Lines" (FBL) on Franklin halves and "Full Lines" on Walking Liberty halves as indicators of premium strike detail.
Grading Guidelines
Walking Liberty halves are graded heavily on the lines on Liberty's skirt and the details on her hand. Franklin halves require close inspection of the bell lines on the reverse; if they are fully defined, the coin receives the FBL designation, which carries a large premium.
