Franklin Half Varieties

I am assembling a set of Franklins in BU and Proof in a Littleton Coin Company album. While searching for a web site to determine the differences between a Type 1 and Type 2 1956 proof Franklin halves I discovered that there are also Type 1 and Type 2 eagles on the 1958 and 1959 Philadelphia business strikes.

The difference is the number of wing feathers to the left of the perch. The Type 1 has four and is not very detailed, the type 2 has three and is of a higher relief which has a noticeably better detailed eagle. the Type 1 eagle is found on all business strikes from 1948 - 1963 and the proof 1950-1955 issues. 1956 had both types apparently the change was made sometime during the production run that year. The Type 2 eagle was used only on the proof 1957 - 1963 issues.

In 1958 and 1959 a small number of business strikes were struck using Type 2 proof dies. I suspect a single die previously used to strike proofs and retired was used to produce coins for circulation for a short period of time.

I don't have the 1956 proof or an uncirculated 1958 but I do have an uncirculated 1959 Philly in the album so I took a look at the reverse and sure enough the piece I have is the rare Type 2 eagle.







Ed
ANA LM-3175