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Interesting Facts About Franklin Half Dollars:
-- When Congress authorized the Franklin silver half dollar in 1948, it was expected to be issued for at least 25 consecutive years. But following the tragic loss of President Kennedy, Congress quickly approved a new 1964 Kennedy half dollar, abruptly supplanting the Franklin series.
-- The Franklin half dollar was America's first regular-issue coin to display an historical person who was not a U.S. president. Franklin was accorded this honor partly because he had proposed the first U.S. coin designs and their inscriptions.
-- An eagle was required by law on the Franklin half dollar coin, but made small because Franklin disapproved of the eagle as a national emblem -- preferring the turkey.
-- The Franklin half dollar was America's last half dollar to be completely struck in traditional 90% silver.
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