The Ultimate Franklin Proof Set Trio: The 1961 / 1962 / 1963 Sets
Every year the United States Mint releases several annual collections, with the finest among these being the official U.S. Proof Sets. Each Proof Set contains one of each coin minted during that year of issue in a fabulous proof collector's edition.
These Proof coins are double struck on a highly polished die, resulting in a finished product with a mirror-like surface. They are the finest quality coin strike known in modern coinage, and are a coin collector’s dream. When it comes to collecting, quality is always king, but when you can combine quality with rarity, you simply cannot go wrong!
Today we have the end of an Era - a collection of unequal quality and unrivaled history: The last of the Franklin Half Dollar Proof Sets.
Benjamin Franklin: The Ultimate Patriot
While all of our founding fathers played integral roles in achieving the freedom of our great nation, there are few men in the entirety of history who were as influential as the late, great, Benjamin Franklin. It is often argued that Benjamin Franklin was the true linchpin of the American Revolution. Without his efforts in obtaining the support of our biggest ally (and Britain's arch-nemesis) France, the United States of America would probably not exist as we know it today!
He was so influential and vital to our nation's success that when they commissioned the Franklin Half Dollar to be minted in 1948, he held the esteemed distinction of being the only non-president to ever be featured on a circulating U.S. Mint coin! The iconic Franklin Half Dollars series was minted at the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco Mints.
The End the Silver Proof Set Era
As the price of silver was rising in the early 1960's, the United States Mint had to shift its focus to keeping an ample supply of coins in circulation. This led to the Mint's decision to no longer create the uncirculated Mint Sets with silver coins; making the 1960 Franklin Half Dollar Proof Sets the last regular issue Proof Sets of their kind!
The Franklin Half Dollar, Roosevelt Dime, and the Washington Quarter in each of these sets were minted at the Philadelphia Mint using planchets made from 90% silver. These sets are still in the original government packaging they were released in from the United States Mint over 50 years ago.
