Franklin – 3 oz Hand-Hammered Silver Medal
Benjamin Franklin and the Liberty Bell take on an ancient-inspired character in this handcrafted three troy ounce .999 fine silver medal. Deep relief, a hand-hammered edge, and a patinated finish transform familiar American half-dollar imagery into a distinctive collectible. Only 500 are minted.
A Familiar Portrait, a Philadelphia Symbol
The Franklin half dollar debuted in 1948, replacing the Walking Liberty design. John R. Sinnock’s pairing of Franklin and the Liberty Bell placed two enduring Philadelphia associations on the same coin. The bell design itself drew on Sinnock’s work for the 1926 Sesquicentennial commemorative half dollar.
The actual Liberty Bell carries the names of Philadelphia founders John Pass and John Stow, who recast it in 1753. Its inscription calls for liberty throughout the land. Those fine details help explain why the bell rewards close examination: it is both a recognizable silhouette and a historical object with its story written on its surface.
Made for Individual Character
These handcrafted artworks employ coin making techniques dating from Ancient Greece to the present. The edges are hammered by hand before the medals are hot struck under high relief dies. Each piece is hand centered by eye while red hot and struck without a retaining collar, giving it an individual shape and character.
American coin imagery meets an ancient-inspired fabrication method, with antiquing that enhances the relief and subtleties of the design. Variations in diameter and thickness are part of that process.
Obverse Design
A deep-relief Franklin portrait inspired by the American half dollar faces right. Bold LIBERTY lettering and a radial starburst frame the undated bust.
Reverse Design
The Liberty Bell appears in matching relief, with finely rendered lettering recalling the inscription on the original bell. A small heraldic eagle stands to the right, another link to the Franklin half dollar, while dentils complete the border.
Note to collectors: Being hand fabricated, hot struck, and antiqued, these medals will exhibit some small irregularities that are not considered to be detracting. Great care is taken to ensure there are no glaring inclusions that might diminish eye-appeal while still remaining true to the nature of the fabrication techniques employed.
Specifications
- Weight: 3.0 troy ounce
- Thickness: varied ~9mm
- Purity: .999 fine
- Edge: Hand Hammered
- Diameter: Varied ~42mm
- Finish: Patina
Explore more designs in our silver round collection.