An American Life: Benjamin Franklin Coin Series
Benjamin Franklin
Who was he?
- Signer of the Declaration of Independence
- Champion of democracy
- Inventor
- Writer
- Scientist
- Diplomat
But did you know he was also an investor in precious metals?
In fact, when Benjamin Franklin died he bequeathed 1,000 pounds sterling silver (worth about $4000 at the time) each to both his birth city of Boston and Philadelphia, the city he’d called home since he was 17 years old—with stipulations.
For the first 100 years, the silver was to be used to give small loans to skilled workers, enabling them to start businesses of their own.
For the second hundred years, the cities could use the funds for public works projects. At the end of 200 years, in 1990 the funds were released for each city to use as they saw fit.
Franklin was fascinated by the concepts of compounding interest and financial gains made over time. What had begun as a relatively small amount of silver bullion invested wisely grew to nearly $7 million dollars. Enough to fund the construction of two large buildings.
The Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology in Boston. And the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia
The Life of Benjamin Franklin in 6 Half-Ounce Silver Coins
Coin #1: SOLD OUT
2021 An American Life Benjamin Franklin The Writer 1/2 oz Silver Coin
Year of Issue: 2021
Country Of Issue: Cook Islands
Face Value: 2 Dollars
Coin Weight: 1/2 Oz
Metal Purity: 0.999
Metal Composition: Silver
Mintage: 5000
When you think of Ben Franklin, do the words “hip”, “cool”, or “radical” come to mind? Probably not. But for his time old Benji was quite a forward-thinker. From his newspaper columns, to pithy sayings in his Poor Richard’s Almanack, and “revolutionary” contributions to U.S. founding documents, the Frankster spent his life influencing the world with his pen. It’s only right we tip our hat to one cool cat. Benjamin Franklin, the writer.
7k
Coin #2: SOLD OUT
2021 An American Life Benjamin Franklin The Publisher 1/2 oz Silver Coin MS70
Year of Issue: 2021
Country Of Issue: Cook Islands
Face Value: 2 Dollars
Coin Weight: 1/2 Oz
Metal Purity: 0.999
Metal Composition: Silver
Mintage: 5000
Benjamin Franklin liked to describe himself as a “humble printer”, but the truth is publishing was Benny’s big-time money maker. His ingenuity and forward-thinking approach to the newspaper industry is why he was able to retire a wealthy man at just 45 years old! Ben was the OG influencer of his time, pioneering the idea of franchising newspapers to expand his influence and bring in residual income. Now his coin can help you do the same!
7k
Coin #3: SOLD OUT
2021 An American Life Benjamin Franklin The Founder 1/2 oz Silver Coin MS70
Year of Issue: 2021
Country Of Issue: Cook Islands
Face Value: 2 Dollars
Coin Weight: 1/2 Oz
Metal Purity: 0.999
Metal Composition: Silver
Mintage: 5000
Think about this… if Ben Franklin hadn’t been so successful a businessman that he was able to retire at age 42, we might not have electricity, bifocals, or even the United States of America! The impact this man was able to make on the world was entirely due to his drive as a FOUNDER. A founder of companies, schools, institutions, governments, and a nation.
7k
Coin #4: SOLD OUT
2021 An American Life Benjamin Franklin Firefighter 1/2 oz Silver Coin MS70
Year of Issue: 2021
Country Of Issue: Cook Islands
Face Value: 2 Dollars
Coin Weight: 1/2 Oz
Metal Purity: 0.999
Metal Composition: Silver
Mintage: 5000
Never one to let a hot idea go up in smoke, Ben Franklin suggested that Philadelphia should have fire-fighting clubs modeled after the ones in Boston. Soon fire companies and clubs sprang up all over Philadelphia and most of the city fell under the protection of one or another of the companies—yet another civic improvement brought to us by the work of Benjamin Franklin.
7k
Coin #5: SOLD OUT
2021 An American Life Benjamin Franklin Scientist 1/2oz Silver Coin MS70
Year of Issue: 2021
Country Of Issue: Cook Islands
Face Value: 2 Dollars
Coin Weight: 1/2 Oz
Metal Purity: 0.999
Metal Composition: Silver
Mintage: 5000
Beyond writing, Benjamin Franklin was an incredible scientist and inventor. His fascination with science led to discoveries in the fields of cooling, printing, electricity, meteorology, and the wave theory of light. His famous kite-and-key experiment in 1752 demonstrated that lightning was electricity, thus sparking the invention of the lightning rod. What a cool guy, don't ya think?
7k
Coin #6: SOLD OUT
2021 An American Life Benjamin Franklin Diplomat 1/2oz Silver Coin MS70
Year of Issue: 2021
Country Of Issue: Cook Islands
Face Value: 2 Dollars
Coin Weight: 1/2 Oz
Metal Purity: 0.999
Metal Composition: Silver
Mintage: 5000
When we consider Ben Franklin’s accomplishments—and there are MANY—it might be his skills as a diplomat that have most impacted the world today. Without Old Ben donning a fur cap and making a spectacle of himself in France, it’s doubtful the rag tag Continental Army would have been able to defeat the British at all. But he did! And thanks to his diplomat skills, the world was changed forever.
7k
2021 An American Life Benjamin Franklin 1oz Silver Coin MS70 - SOLD OUT
Year of Issue: 2021
Country of Issue: Cook Islands
Mint: Mayer Mint
Face Value: 5 Dollars
Coin Weight: 1 Troy Ounce
Metal Purity: 0.999
Metal Composition: Fine Silver
Mintage: 1776
When Ben Franklin died, he left $4000 in silver to his home city of Philadelphia with instructions for how it was to be used. For the first 100 years, he wanted it loaned to small businesses to help them get started. The next 100 years it was used for educational loans. After 200 years, the value of the silver had grown so much that the city used it to build The Franklin Institute building.
2021 An American Life Benjamin Franklin 2oz Silver Coin MS70 - SOLD OUT
Year of Issue: 2021
Country of Issue: Cook Islands
Mint: Mayer Mint
Face Value: 10 Dollars
Note Weight: 2 Troy Ounces
Metal Purity: 0.999
Metal Composition: Fine Silver
Mintage: 1776
When Ben Franklin died, he left $4000 in silver to his birth city of Boston with instructions for how it was to be used. For the first 100 years, he wanted it loaned to small businesses to help them get started. The next 100 years it was used for educational loans. After 200 years, the value of the silver had grown so much that the city used it to build The Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology building.
2021 An American Life Benjamin Franklin 5oz Silver Coin MS70 - SOLD OUT
Year of Issue: 2021
Country of Issue: Cook Islands
Mint: Mayer Mint
Face Value: 25 Dollars
Note Weight: 5 Troy Ounces
Metal Purity: 0.999
Metal Composition: Fine Silver
Mintage: 776
Benjamin Franklin: signer of the Declaration of Independence & the U.S. Constitution, writer, printer, publisher, founding father, firefighter, scientist, inventor, diplomat, and philanthropist. What a legacy he has left the world! From his writings to his contributions to science to the institutions he funded 200 years after his death that bear his name, there is so much to venerate about old Ben. This coin is just the most recent in a legacy that will continue to grow.
7k