1956 Type 1 Proof

Midway through 1956 the Philadelphia Mint introduced a redesigned reverse hub for the Franklin Half Dollar, and the brief portion of the year struck from the original hub created what collectors now recognize as the 1956 Type 1 Proof. The combined annual proof mintage that year totaled 669,384 coins, but population studies and grading service data suggest Type 1 examples account for only a small fraction of that figure, with estimates commonly placing the Type 1 share in the 5 to 10 percent range. The Type 1 reverse shows four tail feathers on the small eagle to the left of the Liberty Bell and presents a more rounded, less defined eagle breast compared with the sharper Type 2 successor.

Identifying a Type 1 requires direct comparison of the eagle's tail feathers and breast under low magnification, and major grading services attribute the variety on the holder. Cameo and Deep Cameo populations for Type 1 are correspondingly smaller than for Type 2, since the Type 1 dies were retired before the broader hub change had been fully implemented. PCGS and NGC certified populations confirm the Type 1's elevated scarcity across all grade levels, and the variety carries a meaningful premium over a matched-grade Type 2 across the PR66 and finer range. Authentication centers on the four-feather tail count and the rounded breast contour, both of which remain clearly visible on a properly preserved example. Full Bell Lines is a circulation-strike designation and is not applied to proof issues.

Market behavior for the Type 1 Proof has firmed considerably as variety attribution has gained traction with collectors building complete Franklin proof sets. PR68 Cameo and Deep Cameo examples trade at multiples of equivalent Type 2 coins, and the variety is now treated as a required element of any serious date-and-variety run. For deeper context on the 1956 hub change and the design history that preceded it, see the Franklin Half Dollar series history.