The United States minted a fifty-cent piece featuring Benjamin Franklin from 1948 to 1963. Coins produced during this period and intended for general circulation were composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. This composition resulted in a measurable amount of the precious metal within each coin.
The intrinsic value of these coins often exceeds their face value due to the embedded precious metal, particularly when the market price of silver is elevated. These coins represent a tangible piece of American history, serving both as currency of their time and as a store of value influenced by the fluctuating commodity market. Their composition distinguishes them from later currency that adopted different metallic blends.