1955 Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963)
Bugs Bunny die-clash variety
Key Features
The 1955 Franklin half dollar has the lowest mintage of the entire series at 2,498,181, making it a key date in its own right, and the same year produced the popular "Bugs Bunny" variety, in which a minor die clash left a small horizontal die scratch across Franklin's upper lip that resembles a buck-toothed cartoon rabbit. The Bugs Bunny variety is not separately catalogued as a major FS variety in the way doubled dies are, but it is widely collected and recognized; several thousand examples are known, mostly among 1955 and 1956 issues. Collectors should distinguish a genuine low-mintage 1955 business strike from the more common Proof issues struck the same year. If you believe you have found one of these coins, contact Frostbyte Coins at frostbytecoins@gmail.com or through our YouTube channel @FrostbyteCoins â we can help guide you toward professional third-party authentication through PCGS or NGC before any sale or purchase.
Intriguing History
1955 saw the lowest mintage of the entire Franklin half dollar series at just under 2.5 million coins, and that same year a minor die clash left what looked like a stray line across Franklin's mouth, which collectors quickly nicknamed the "Bugs Bunny" variety for its buck-toothed appearance.