1949-S Franklin Half Dollar Value
Today a 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar typically sells for $24.50 to $1,155, with condition doing most of the work, and its metal content alone is worth $13.20 as of 2026-06-01 Where your coin lands depends on wear, strike and surface quality.
1949-S Franklin Half Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $13.20 |
| Good (G-4) | $24.50 to $36.50 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $31.50 to $46.00 |
| Fine (F-12) | $40.50 to $59.50 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $56.00 to $82.50 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $84.00 to $124 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $123 to $182 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $191 to $281 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $337 to $495 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $786 to $1,155 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
Today's value of the 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar starts around $24.50. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $1,155. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1949-S Franklin Half Dollar specifications
- Series
- Franklin Half Dollar
- Year
- 1949
- Mint mark
- S
- Mintage
- 3,744,000
- Composition
- 90% silver, 10% copper
- Weight
- 12.5 g
- Diameter
- 30.6 mm
- Edge
- Reeded
- Designer
- John R. Sinnock
- Silver content
- 0.36169 troy oz
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
How to find the S mint mark
On a 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar, the "S" mint mark of the San Francisco Mint sits on the reverse, above the Liberty Bell's wooden yoke. A loupe helps: on worn examples the letter can fade into the surrounding devices.
What makes the 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar valuable
Production of 3,744,000 was modest for the era, and attrition did the rest. Today the 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar is a recognized better date that rewards careful cherry-picking.
Every 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar contains 0.3617 troy ounces of pure silver, currently worth $13.20. That intrinsic value is a hard floor under the price: no matter how worn the coin, the silver inside cannot be graded away.
Context adds the final layer to the 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar. Its collecting challenge is entirely about quality: Full Bell Lines, unbroken horizontal lines on the bell, separate ordinary Mint State coins from condition rarities, especially for the 1953-S. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
Summary: the 1949-S Franklin Half Dollar is valued between $24.50 and $1,155 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.