http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/commemoratives/index.cfm?action=Franklin Interesting. Limited to 250,000 each.
I agree with Speedy. I do not like the bottom one at all. One Ben looks more like a runway model then a man, but perhaps that was the intention and two the way I read history, and it could be incorrect, but it was Ben's son who later became the royalist governor that flew the kite in the experment.
Oh I was so looking forward to these. Who designed these?.. Monkeys with Hammers?... U - G - L - Y oh well looks like I'll still get a set for me, and the neices and nephews are getting the 2006 Silver Proof Eagle again.
Actually .. after looking at them a bit, I kind of like the young Franklin, even though he was as tubby a child as he was a tubby adult. I still have not warmed up to the older Franklin a. it looks like the wizard of Oz (if it didn't say Franklin how would you ever guess?) As for the base plate with his signature, I can't get away from reading it as "FORD", maybe corporations pay the mint to do subliminal lettering. Well I shouldn't complain, I'm still getting (1) one of each for me, but, I think they could have done a lot better.
Ok, now the United States mint is rewriting history or just didn't look anything up to get it right. I took two minutes to look up what I have learned so many years ago and basically, Franklin was 46 years old when the kite experment took place and his son was 21. Never mind about Franklin's own writings on the entire experment and what took place. For me the coin is already an "error" coin.
Well, I like the Reverses on both of them, the Continental Currency one moreso than the other, but the Obverses are well...hideous. In particular, the old man one is just the worst portrait of Franklin possible. The young one just looks kind of dopey.
The reverse of the "older Franklin" dollar is a knockout! I absolutely love it. The obverse is so-so... The "younger Franklin" dollar is about as boring as they get...
So, Thats 250,000 total divided by 2 proofs, and two unc's... Not bad. Did I do that ? 500,000 total.
I love the Franklin half as was with the liberty bell. For me, and I say for me, it was perfect as a Franklin half dollar and one of my favorite american coins.
Seriously, I like both of the designs. One seems minimalist and the other very busy, making for a nice contrast. I especially like incorportating the Continental Currency design on the first one.
Only thing missing from the "old franklin" obverse is micro LED's to make the eyes glow red.....(((((((shudder)))))) The "young franklin" is uninspiring and IMHO uninspired. I agree with others the continental coin reverse is sweet....so I guess 1 side out of 4 is not bad Three cheers for government standards :hail: :hail: :hail:
