1962 Proof

With 3,218,019 proofs struck, 1962 marked the second consecutive year of three-million-plus production for the Franklin proof program and reflected the continued growth of the United States Mint's collector outreach in the early 1960s. Philadelphia handled the run in full, and the dies followed the Type 2 reverse pattern that had been standard for six years. The composition remained 90% silver and 10% copper at 12.50 grams with a reeded edge, and the coins were issued in flat cellophane packs alongside the other denominations in the year's proof set.

For most modern collectors, the 1962 proof's appeal lives in the contrast designations rather than the date itself. PCGS and NGC report sizable populations at the PR-66 and PR-67 Cameo (CAM) levels, with Deep Cameo (DCAM) inventory thinning noticeably as grades climb past PR-67. Auction data from the major firms shows that brilliant proofs without contrast trade close to silver content plus a small numismatic premium, while well-struck Deep Cameo examples with strong eye appeal command meaningfully higher prices. Authentication is largely unproblematic for the year, but weight verification at 12.50 grams and inspection of the edge reeding remain reliable first checks. Hairlines along Franklin's cheek and on the right obverse field, often acquired during removal from original Mint packaging, are the most common condition issues. Full Bell Lines is a circulation-strike designation only and does not apply to any proof entry.

The 1962 issue is often the year where collectors first feel comfortable buying registry-grade examples without the budget strain that older or condition-rare dates can impose. Hairlines from original Mint cellophane storage remain the single most common condition issue across the Franklin proof series, and patient buyers who hold out for clean fields and untouched cheeks assemble noticeably better sets than collectors who buy the first certified holder they encounter. To follow how the proof program continued through to its final year, see the Franklin Half Dollar series history.