The U.S. 1962 Half Dollar, part of the Franklin Half Dollar series, was designed by John R. Sinnock and featured Benjamin Franklin on the obverse and the Liberty Bell on the reverse. First issued in 1948, the coin reflected post-war American ideals of liberty and innovation. The 1962 Half Dollar, made of 90% silver, circulated during a period of economic prosperity under President John F. Kennedy. However, rising silver prices and inflation pressured the U.S. Mint, foreshadowing the end of silver coinage. This economic shift set the stage for the Coinage Act of 1965, which removed silver from half dollars.

Politically, the 1962 Half Dollar circulated in the lead-up to the Cuban Missile Crisis, a tense Cold War standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. This event underscored the importance of economic and military strength, with silver-backed currency symbolizing stability. The coin’s design, unchanged since 1948, was soon replaced by the Kennedy Half Dollar in 1964 after President Kennedy’s assassination. The 1962 Half Dollar became one of the last silver coins in regular circulation, marking the transition from precious metal coinage to modern clad compositions.