Jaime Hernandez
The 1953-S Franklin Half with Full Bell Lines details is the key coin to the entire circulation strike Franklin Half Dollar series.
For some reason, in 1953 the Mint struck nickels and half dollars with very weak details. Mostly all 1953-S nickels and half dollars display very weak details on the highest points of the design and on the reverse of the coin. With a mintage of over 4 million coins, less than 50 examples are known with Full Bell Lines details for the 1953-S Franklin Half Dollar.
The few examples that do display Full Bell Lines were probably struck very early at the Mint. This would explain why most 1953-S Franklin Half’s with Full Bell Lines characteristics are mostly encountered in MS65 grades.Even in low mint state grades, a 1953-S displaying Full Bell Lines will command thousands of dollars.
#1 MS67 PCGS grade