An update - I just saw my normal friendly dealer and sold the coin as raw for $160. The $170 offer was a bit higher but I have to package and ship, and I thought to move on. I am pleased with the outcome. This experience was an indicator of the reputation of the first dealer I went to who significantly lowballed. many thanks for your feedback and advice on this thread!
I did crack out the 1953S Franklin half successfully after watching some YouTube videos and placed it in an airtight capsule. Cracking the slab is actually therapeutic!