1954 Half Dollar Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
The Franklin half-dollar is a historic fifty-cent American coin that contains 90% of fine silver. Its design includes the important symbols that this great and proud country has, like Benjamin Franklin on the obverse and the Liberty Bell on the reverse.
The US Mint produced these beautiful coins from 1948 to 1963, when the tragic assassination in Dallas disrupted it. The 1954 half dollar value depends on the preservation level, but most collectible pieces cost far more than their denomination.
1954 half dollars Value Chart |
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| Condition | 1954 No Mint mark half-dollar | 1954 D half-dollar | 1954 S half-dollar |
| Good | $11.20 | $11.20 | $11.20 |
| Very good | $11.20 | $11.20 | $11.20 |
| Fine | $11.20 | $11.20 | $11.20 |
| Very fine | $11.20 | $11.20 | $11.20 |
| Extra fine | $12.45 | $12.45 | $12.45 |
| AU | $13 | $13 | $13 |
| MS 60 | $15 | $15 | $15 |
| MS 65 | $52 | $98 | $52 |
| PR 65 | $91 | / | / |
1954 Half-dollar Value Guides
Three mints produced 43,870,483 regularly struck Franklin half dollars and proofs in 1954. Since these coins contain 90% silver, their value equals the precious metal cost for those in the worst condition. Better-graded specimens will have additional value as collectibles.
1954 No Mint mark half-dollar Value
The surviving 1954 Franklin half dollars of 13,188,203 minted without the mint mark are worth $10 to $12 in low grades. The highly-rated specimens typically cost $13 to $230, but the most expensive pieces are those with an MS 67 rating. You should pay about $2,000 to $2,400 for one.
Value of 1954 Franklin half dollars |
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| Condition | 1954 No Mint mark half dollars | 1954 D half dollars | 1954 S half dollars |
| Very good | $10.70 | $10.70 | $10.70 |
| Fine | $10.70 | $10.70 | $10.70 |
| Very fine | $10.80 | $10.80 | $10.80 |
| Extra fine | $10.80 | $10.80 | $10.80 |
| AU | $11.80 | $11.80 | $11.80 |
| MS 60 | $12.80 to $17.80 | $12.80 to $17.80 | $12.80 to $17.80 |
| MS 61 | $12.80 to $17.80 | $12.80 to $17.80 | $12.80 to $17.80 |
| MS 62 | $13 to $18 | $13 to $18 | $13 to $18 |
| MS 63 | $15 to $23 | $15 to $23 | $15 to $23 |
| MS 64 | $24 to $32 | $21 to $29 | $20 to $28 |
| MS 65 | $32 to $42 | $58 to $69.60 | $24 to $34 |
| MS 66 | $200 to $230 | $290 to $333.50 | $105 to $126 |
| MS 67 | $2,000 to $2,400 | $3,500 to $4,025 | $1,000 to $1,150 |
Experts estimate coins with Full Bell Lines to be worth $9,500 to $11,400, but one collector paid even more for one at Stack’s Bowers. The 1954 MS 67 FBL Franklin half-dollar final price was $14,100.
1954 proof half-dollar Value
The Philadelphia mint struck 233,300 proof half dollars in 1954, and these well-preserved coins are typically worth $12 to $460. The most precious are scarce halves in a PR 69 grade that cost about $2,200 to $2,530.
Value of 1954 PR Franklin half dollars |
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| Condition | 1954 half-dollar | 1954 CAM half-dollar | 1954 DCAM half-dollar |
| PR 50 | $12 | / | / |
| PR 53 | $12 | / | / |
| PR 55 | $12 | / | / |
| PR 58 | $24 | / | / |
| PR 60 | $30 to $36 | / | / |
| PR 61 | $34 to $40.80 | / | / |
| PR 62 | $38 to $45.60 | / | / |
| PR 63 | $48 to $57.60 | $55 to $66 | $100 |
| PR 64 | $55 to $66 | $70 to $84 | $300 to $345 |
| PR 65 | $60 to $72 | $110 to $132 | $450 to $517.50 |
| PR 66 | $75 to $90 | $180 to $207 | $700 to $805 |
| PR 67 | $150 to $172.50 | $300 to $345 | $1,600 to $1,40 |
| PR 68 | $400 to $460 | $900 to $1,100 | $5,000 to $6,000 |
| PR 69 | $2,200 to $2,530 | $5,500 to $6,325 | / |
Coins with desirable cameo contrast can reach $5,500 to $6,325 on the open market. The most precious specimen in the series is the DCAM proof that cost $23,000 at Heritage Auctions in 2008.
1954 D half-dollar Value
If you have one of the 1954 Franklin half dollars of 25,445,580 produced in Denver, you can expect to get $10 to $300 for it, depending on quality. Rare pieces in top-notch condition often reach $3,500 to $4,025.
On the other hand, those with Full Bell Lines are the most expensive, with an estimated price range of $11,000 to $12,650. One of these halves is the most costly among pieces from regular strikes. One collector bought it for $21,275 in 2002.
1954 S half-dollar Value
The San Francisco mint struck 4,993,400 half dollars in 1954. Interestingly, their price is the same or even lower than pieces struck in other mints this year. You can get one for $10 to $125, while the most expensive are specimens in an MS 67 grade.
It is necessary to set aside approximately $1,000 to $1,150 to add such a coin to your collection. The most valuable 1954 Franklin half-dollar is the one with Full Bell Lines. It reached $13,853 at an auction in 2017.
Related Posts: 26 Most Valuable Half Dollar Coins In Circulation
1954 Half-dollar Errors and Variations
Many Franklin half-dollar errors are intriguing and rare, and you can find specimens with:
- Off-center strikes
- Doubled dies
- Die cracks
- Multiple strikes
- Re-punched mint marks
It is impossible to find particularly valuable errors among coins struck in 1954, but you can find collectible Franklin halves with Full Bell Lines.
Value of 1954 Full Bell Lines Franklin half dollars |
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| Condition | 1954 No Mint mark FBL half dollars | 1954 D FBL half dollars | 1954 S FBL half dollars |
| MS 63 | $20 to $25 | $20 to $25 | / |
| MS 64 | $24 to $32 | $24 to $32 | $55 to $66 |
| MS 65 | $70 to $84 | $70 to $84 | $180 to $240 |
| MS 66 | $300 to $360 | $330 to $550 | $680 to $728 |
| MS 67 | $9,500 to $11,400 | $11,000 to $12,650 | $6,300 to $7,245 |
These specimens come with the original design and all visible lines on the reverse and can be valuable. Those with high ratings cost approximately $7,000 to $12,650, depending on the preservation level and the mint mark.
Related Posts: 17 Most Valuable Kennedy Half Dollar Worth Money
History of the 1954 Half-dollar
The silver Franklin half-dollar is a historic fifty-cent coin minted from 1948 to 1963. It belonged to the last American coin series intended for circulation that was made of pure silver.
These coins’ mintage would not have been discontinued so soon, but the horrible assassination of President Kennedy changed things. That was the moment when the Kennedy half-dollar appeared on the scene.
Three mints produced these halves, but the one in San Francisco struck only small quantities over five years:
- In 1949
- From 1951 to 1954
The mint director Nellie Tayloe Ross admired Benjamin Franklin and insisted on a new coin showing this Founding Father on the obverse.
Jean Antoine Houdon created the original Franklin bust in the 18th century, and chief engraver John R. Sinnock used it as a model for the new coin. Since he passed away before completing the designs, Gilroy Roberts did it instead.
The reverse was reserved for the Liberty Bell, ringing to announce the Declaration of Independence signing in 1776.
1954 Franklin half-dollar |
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| Location | Year | Minted |
| Philadelphia | 1954 No Mint mark half-dollar | 13,188,203 |
| Philadelphia | 1954 proof half-dollar | 233,300 |
| San Francisco | 1954 S half-dollar | 4,993,400 |
| Denver | 1954 D half-dollar | 25,445,580 |
| Total | / | 43,870,483 |
Even though Americans didn’t particularly like the new coin because of its lackluster design, it was crucial for the post-war economy. The weird thing was that most people believed JRS, the designer’s initials, was actually a tribute to Joseph Stalin, a former Soviet Leader.
These halves were recognizable as collectibles in modern times, and people included them in their collections. However, they have never become sought-after and precious pieces in most cases.
1954 was the so-called Last San Francisco Year since all further coins from the series were produced only in the other two mints. Therefore, collectors consider Franklin half dollars with this mint mark and date a special issue, besides rare, high-premium pieces struck in 1949 and 1952.
The low mintage combined with the last minting year and the limited number of production years sets these coins apart from the rest. Moreover, silver content makes them valuable regardless of the condition.
Related Posts: 18 Most Valuable Franklin Half Dollars Worth Money
How to Identify the 1954 Half-dollar?
Chief engraver John R. Sinnock designed two crucial American coins, the Franklin half-dollar and the Roosevelt dime. Even though this coin type was minted for only 15 years, it left a significant mark in the history of American coinage.
The obverse of the 1954 half-dollar
This half-dollar depicts Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers, on the obverse. Inscriptions IN GOD WE TRUST and LIBERTY surround his profile facing right, while the DATE is in front of his bust.
The reverse of the 1954 half-dollar
Even though Franklin believed that the wild turkey should be a symbol of the new nation, this noble bird was replaced with a bald eagle. Therefore, you can see it on the coin reverse, on the right side of the Liberty bell.
The left side is reserved for E PLURIBUS UNUM, while the name of the country and HALF DOLLAR denomination surround the entire composition.
1954 Franklin half dollars |
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| Face value | Fifty cents ($0.50) |
| Coin diameter | 1.20511 inches (30.61 mm) |
| Coin weight | 0.40188 troy ounces (12.50 g) |
| Silver content | 0.36169 troy ounces (11.25 g) |
| Shape | Round |
| Compound | 90% fine silver with copper |
| Coin thickness | 0.7086 inches (1.80 mm) |
| Edge | Reeded |
Other features of the 1954 half-dollar
The 1954 Franklin half-dollar is a round silver coin with a face value of fifty cents. It weighs 0.40188 troy ounces (12.50 g), and the silver content is 90% or 0.36169 troy ounces (11.25 g). It comes with a standard diameter of 1.20511 inches (30.61 mm) and a thickness of 0.7086 inches (1.80 mm).
What makes 1954 half dollars scarce?
Franklin half-dollars minted in 1954 are not particularly rare, but finding pieces at the highest ratings can be challenging. Besides, collectors always look for specimens with Full Bell Lines, making them collectible and valuable.
Which 1954 half dollars are costly?
- The 1954 PR 68 DCAM half-dollar cost $23,000 (Heritage Auctions, 2008)
- The 1954 D MS 67 Full Bell Lines half-dollar cost $21,275 (Heritage Auctions, 2002)
- The 1954 MS 67 Full Bell Lines half-dollar cost $14,100 (Stack’s Bowers, 2016)
- The 1954 S MS 67 Full Bell Lines half-dollar cost $13,853 (Heritage Auctions, 2017)
- The 1954 MS 64 half-dollar cost $11,500 (Bowers & Merena, 2002)
- The 1954 PR 69 CAM half-dollar cost $10,200 (Heritage Auctions, 2018)
- The 1954 MS 67 Full Bell Lines (Bugs Bunny) half-dollar cost $9,600 (Heritage Auctions, 2020)
- The 1954 PR 67 DDO half-dollar cost $7,950 (eBay, 2022)
- The 1954 S MS 67+ half-dollar cost $4,800 (Heritage Auctions, 2018)
- The 1954 PR 69 half-dollar cost $4,113 (Goldberg Auctioneers, 2015)
- The 1954 D MS 67 half-dollar cost $3,738 (Heritage Auctions, 2005)
- The 1954 MS 67 Bugs Bunny half-dollar cost $3,600 (Stack’s Bowers, 2021)
- The 1954 S MS 65 Full Bell Lines (Bugs Bunny) half-dollar cost $1,087 (Heritage Auctions, 2015)
- The 1954 S MS 64 Bugs Bunny half-dollar cost $638 (eBay, 2011)
- The 1954 D MS 64 Full Bell Lines (Bugs Bunny) half-dollar cost $625 (eBay, 2019)
- The 1954 D MS 64 Bugs Bunny half-dollar cost $350 (eBay, 2022)
- The 1954 D MS 64 Obverse Die Clash half-dollar cost $309 (eBay, 2014)
- The 1954 MS 64 Full Bell Lines (Obverse Die Clash) half-dollar cost $285 (eBay, 2021)
- The 1954 D MS 65 Full Bell Lines (Obverse Die Clash) half-dollar cost $282 (eBay, 2019)
- The 1954 MS 64 Obverse Die Clash half-dollar cost $230 (eBay, 2022)
How much money can you get for the 1954 No Mint mark half-dollar?
The 1954 Franklin half-dollar is typically worth $10 to $230, depending on quality, but the excellently-preserved specimens are expensive. You should set aside about $2,000 to $2,400 to get one.