This guide will show you how to distinguish the type 1 and type 2 1956 proof Franklin half dollar. It will also show the type 1 and 2 1958 and 1959 business strike Franklins. You will need to look at the eagle on the reverse to tell which variety you have. The easiest way to tell is to look at the lower left wing tips.

The 1956 proof Type 1 eagle                                           The 1956 proof Type 2 eagle
has four wing tips to the left of                                         has three wing tips to the left.
the perch. This is the type that                                        of the perch. It is also of a higher
was used on proofs from 1950-1955.                               relief. This type was used on                                                                                                       proofs from 1957-1963.                                                                                                                                           
                                                                     
Type 1                                                                          Type 2
                   

   
    



      The 1958 and 1959 business strike Franklin half dollars also have a type 1 and 2 variety. They don't seem to be as well known as the 1956 proof varieties.

The Type 1 is the reverse used                             The Type 2 is the reverse that
on all years of the business strike                         was intended to be used on proofs
Franklins. The eagle has four                              from 1957-63. The eagle has three   
wing tips to the left of the perch.                          wing tips to the left of the perch and
                                                                                      is of a higher relief.

Type 1                                                                     Type 2 (1958 & 1959 P-mint only)
                   


      There's also a 1959 doubled die reverse (listed as Breen 5251, and FS-801), which is a type 2 over type 1 design. The eagle looks like a combination of both types. As you can see below, the eagle has three wing tips to the left of the perch like the type 2 eagle, but the wing tips look more like the type 1 design.




If anyone has any trouble identifying which type they have, you may contact me at brettlparrish@hotmail.com I'll do what I can to help you.

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