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 Replies: 30 / Views: 3,987 |
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Pillar of the Community
708 Posts |
If Franklin halves are listed as still being "current" coinage, they might as well call the Mercury dime a current denomination, because, no silver coin, except for bullion coinage, and pre-1965 quarters, dimes and pre-1971 halves, and War Nickels of the current designs (Jefferson Nickel, Roosevelt dime, Washington quarter, and Kennedy half), should be classified as a "current" coin. Especially a silver coin of a different design, such as the Franklin half or a Mercury dime, or even Ike and SBA dollars (even though most Ikes, and all SBAs contain no silver) Does anyone else agree with this? I mean, come on, how many Franklin halves do you see in circulation? For that matter, how many Kennedy halves even of the copper clad composition do you see in circulation? |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
7096 Posts |
As all the coins you mentioned are all still legal tender then they ARE still considered Modern/circulating coins. If they weren't then all the CRH people out there wouldn't find any silver at all  |
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Moderator
 Australia
16809 Posts |
"Modern" does not equal "Current". The definition of "Modern", as currently applied by American collectors to American coins, is somewhat nebulous and the Franklin half dollar does indeed fall into a grey area. But the general rule of thumb appears to be this: if it bears a portrait of Liberty, it's "Classic". If it bears a portrait of a historical person, it's "Modern". Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1302 Posts |
maybe you should read the feature article I wrote with Hubert Walker in the June 2013 Numismatist about the topic. It is an example of modern American coinage.
Edited by cc99999
12/07/2013 07:31 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
959 Posts |
Hold on now......... I was born the same year as the Franklin Halve, and I consider myself Somewhat modern; and I'm still circulating.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
I'm older. I belong to the WL Half/Mercury Dime era (but NOT with the Buffalo nickels). |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
899 Posts |
I was thinking the same thing. I do remember the circulating Franklin - Kennedy and Ike. Just because something isn't currently circulating - doesn't mean it isn't a modern era coin. You could take a Franklin to the bank and they will accept it - might look at you oddly - but they'll gladly take it.
I read the article Charles referenced above - go read the terms and definitions....
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
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You could take a Franklin to the bank and they will accept it - might look at you oddly - but they'll gladly take it.
If thats the defintion that the US really only has moderns coins. Theyll take a large cent or bust coins coins too. They might immediately pull it for themselves but if you want you can deposit your collection for face. In the grand scheme of things yes its modern, but from a practical stand point it really is a classic. Its been half a century since it was last made and theres multiple generations now that have never actually used one. Think of it this way, more than 25% of our country's existence has passed since the last time one was made. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5202 Posts |
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But the general rule of thumb appears to be this: if it bears a portrait of Liberty, it's "Classic". If it bears a portrait of a historical person, it's "Modern". That is pretty much what I was about to say as well |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3077 Posts |
Ol Ben is a "Classic" Modern like Washington Eagles and now the LMC and the old Jeff 38-03 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2734 Posts |
There might well be billions of clad Franklin halves in everyday use had JFK not been assassinated. The double-hoarding of JFK souvenirs and silver pretty much killed the Half-Dollar as a common circulation coin. All silver Franklins would be long gone from circulation by now, but we could have even had Franklin State Half-Dollars in 1999  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
As basebal said, it falls into both categories, regardless of definitions in an article. It ran up to 63, well into what people would consider modern coinage, yet has been out of production for 50 years now, so kind of runs into the "classic" category. At to that DNAs very valid point that had the CIA not killed JFK, Franky would likely still be on the coin and everyone would be pitching a fit to change him out.  So either way is valid, somebody's definitions aside. That always lovely exception. |
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Pillar of the Community
 708 Posts |
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All silver Franklins would be long gone from circulation by now, but we could have even had Franklin State Half-Dollars in 1999 Why does "Franklin State "Halves" sound so much better to me than "Franklin State "Half-Dollars"?  Anyway, if they would have kept the dollar coin Ike-sized, and eliminated the $1 bill, I would have loved to have seen "State Eusenhower Dollar Coins" Edited by Fox
12/07/2013 10:08 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
Hmmmm. Eisenhower ATBs. THAT would be wicked cool. Is Daniel Carr reading?  |
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
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But the general rule of thumb appears to be this: if it bears a portrait of Liberty, it's "Classic". If it bears a portrait of a historical person, it's "Modern".  Also, consider that the Franklin design is younger than all of the denominations below it (cent, nickel, dime, and quarter). |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
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Also, consider that the Franklin design is younger than all of the denominations below it (cent, nickel, dime, and quarter). Just barely for the dime. Had wheats been the end of the Lincoln Cent I'm sure many people would consider that classic and they had overlapping dates. |
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Replies: 30 / Views: 3,987 |
Posted 12/07/2013 05:29 am
