[The following excerpt is published courtesy of DLRC Press and its author, Rick Tomaska. This information was originally published in 2002 in The Complete Guide to Franklin Half Dollars]
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Mintage
6,024,000
Current Availability & Values
All Circulated Grades: Readily available.
Value: AU’s are worth about $3.50. Uncirculated coins are recommended.
MS 64 FBL: Roughly comparable to the 1959-P in scarcity, in MS 64 FBL. Both issues are often softly struck, and are not FBL. Attractively toned specimens are extremely scarce.
Value: Brilliant MS 64 FBL 1960-P Franklins generally trade between $25- $40. Superb toned examples sell for considerably more – often trading for upwards of $150!
MS 65 Brilliant: A great type coin! The master die was reworked for the 1960 production year in an effort to restore the lost detail. Most 1960-P Franklins are very sharply struck, and many exhibit beautiful semi-pl surfaces. Only a fraction of 1960-P’s, perhaps 15-25%, exhibit full bell lines. One of the areas of the new working die which apparently did not measure up to the original working die was in the definition of the bell lines, which did not appear to be as deeply cut on this new die. As a result, only the very boldest struck Franklins of the 1960-1963 period exhibit full bell lines.Like most of the later Franklin dates, the 1960-P is about as elusive in MS 65 brilliant condition as it is in MS 65 toned condition. Original 1960-P rolls may contain a gem or two, though most rolls are quite baggy. When found relatively free of bagmarks, and potentially of MS 65 grade, a would-be gem 1960-P will frequently evidence light hairlining on the cheek of Franklin, or on the Liberty bell – the tell-tale “foot-prints” of a coin counting machine. These hairlines are especially prevalent on Franklins of the 1960-1963 period. They eliminate any Franklin from MS 65 consideration. The 1960-P is another very scarce and underrated date in gem brilliant condition.
Value: Brilliant 1960-P Franklins in MS 65 can generally be acquired for $50-$100. This is a very low price, given the date’s great scarcity in this grade.
MS 65 Toned: As with all the 1959-1963 Franklins, beautifully toned 1960-P Franklins are extremely scarce. Some of the prettier examples are toned on the obverse or reverse only, having once been end coins from an original roll. The top and bottom coins in original rolls, being in contact with the paper used to wrap the roll, would often develop beautiful multi-colored toning on the side exposed to the paper.
Value: Examples possessing average, mono-colored toning will generally trade between $50-$100 in non-FBL. Beautifully toned 1960-P’s may sell for double that figure, or more.
MS 65 FBL: While the 1960-P is the best struck “P” mint of the 1959-1963 period, only 20-30% of MS 65’s will be full bell line. This is due almost entirely to the new master die, whose bell lines were not as sharply defined as on the original. As a result, only the boldest struck Franklins from the 1960-1963 era would be full bell line.
Value: A 75-150% premium is usually sufficient to acquire a true FBL specimen. Both brilliant and attractively toned examples can be acquired for $250-$500.
MS 66 & MS 67: Yet another date that has never been graded in MS 67. This fact is not at all surprising to any dealer or collector who has spend a significant amount of time scrounging through original BU rolls of these later dates, or original mint sets. While many 1960-P’s may at first glance appear very high quality, under closer scrutiny numerous tiny ticks and scratches will inevitably be discovered. The 1960 ranks among the most attractive BU dates in the series, with its normally sharp strike, exceptional luster, and bright semi-pl surfaces. When found in near-flawless MS 66 condition, it is a stunning coin! Unfortunately, a large percentage of these coins, while well struck, will fall just short of FBL status. The 1960-P is approximately as rare as its sister, the 1959-P, in MS 66 FBL with either brilliant or attractively toned surfaces.
Value: A much tougher date in MS 66 FBL, average toned 1960-P normally command upwards of $4,000. The very rare beautifully toned or brilliant specimen may command 50% to 100% more – a huge jump in value from the $1,000 – $2,000 levels of 5-6 years ago.
General Comments
While the 1960-P is among the more beautiful Franklin issues to emerge from the mint, often possessing beautiful, semi-pl surfaces, and usually well struck, bagmarks once again drop the great majority of mint state examples into the MS 62-63 range. Many otherwise gem 1960-P Franklins will, upon close scrutiny, display light hairlining on Franklin’s cheek, or on the Liberty bell. Coin counting machines were the author’s of this abuse, and would ruin many an otherwise superb Franklin of the 1960-1963 period. Minimally bagmarked 1960-P Franklins are a favorite among Franklin collectors when they can be located. 1960 was the first year of use for the reworked master die, and the enhanced definition on the portrait of Franklin and on the Liberty bell is most obvious on this date. On the other hand, the bell lines of the reworked master die were not as sharply defined as on the original. As a result, only the boldest Franklins from 1960-1963 will display full lines. While the 1960-P may be among the boldest struck dates of the 1960-1963 period, it is likely only about 1/4th of these coins would qualify as full bell line. This is another very “hot” date in MS 66 FBL grade – particularly if the coin is either brilliant or attactively toned. These coins are quite rare, and are on the want lists of collectors’ who aspire to assemble a top quality Franklin collection.