In the past 60 years, the Franklin Mint has produced privately minted coins, precious metal ingots, limited edition paintings, die-cart cars, and lots more collectibles. And they sold them with the promise of rising value and future generations of happy collectors. But, did that happen? What is the present value of Franklin Mint collectibles?
We’re going to dissect that questions and more in this blog post. Let’s what fond how The Franklin Mint got started, what type of Franklin Mint collectibles are still valuable, and finally, the 15 most valuable Franklin Mint collectibles.
Table of Contents
The Story Behind The Franklin Mint
Joseph Segal, the founder of The Franklin Mint, was a true entrepreneur and a marketing genius. He had an incredible talent for spotting market trends and then creating products that would appeal to that market.
In 1964, Segal found a grossly underserved niche market – the collectibles. At that time, commemorative coins and medals were a huge part of American popular culture. Seeing an opportunity, Segal quickly created a business model and started his own private mint.
His timing couldn’t have been better. The Franklin Mint was an instant success owing to Segal’s marketing skills and business acumen. His strategy was simple – create high-quality products and then heavily market them as potential investments.
Over the next twenty years, The Franklin Mint grew exponentially. It became the world’s largest producer of privately minted coins and went on to mint legal tender coins for a few countries. The company also diversified into art, dolls, plates, and die-cast cars.
In the early 80s, Segal sold The Franklin Mint to Warner communication, and from there, it went through a series of corporate owners. It is currently owned by the Retail ECommerce Venture of Alex Mehr.
Today, the Franklin Mint is a shadow of its former self. It no longer mints coins or produces a big range of products. And only a fraction of its antique collectibles hold reasonable value.
Identifying Franklin Mint Collectibles
Every Franklin product is stamped with the company’s name or logo, so it’s pretty easy to identify them. In fact, most collectibles also come with a certificate of authenticity from the company. The certificate has all the relevant information about the product, including when and where it was made, who designed it, the edition number, etc.
Other than that, every product has a specific name. So you can search over selling platforms like eBay to see if someone else is the same product.
Franklin Mint die-cart Mercedez Benz with Authenticity card;
How to Determine the Value of Franklin Mint Collectibles?
The most difficult part of collecting The Franklin Mint products is determining their value. It largely depends on the product category, and sales can be all over the place for the same product.
A lot of people got drawn into Franklin Mint collectibles because the company advertised them as limited edition products with the potential to increase in value over time. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, and most products are worth a fraction of the original price.
The main reason is that the company didn’t produce as limited editions as they claimed. So today, there is an oversupply of many Franklin Mint products in the market, which has driven down prices.
Here is a quick overview of the value of different types of Franklin Mint collectibles:
Dolls & Figurines
The Franklin Mint produced hundreds of porcelain bisque dolls of popular personalities from politics, movies, and TV. The most popular ones are Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Diana, Princess of Wales collections.
Franklin mint collaborated with the finest artists for these dolls, and each piece was hand painted. So the quality was really good, and at that time, they were sold for upwards of $200.
Unfortunately, in the secondary market, The Franklin Mint figurines value has decreased significantly. Most of them now sell for less than $50; you can easily find the value of Franklin mint dolls over common selling places like eBay.
Princess Diana bisque doll sold for $27.
Coins, Inglot, Medals
Franklin Mint coins, ingots, and medals are worth more than other products because of the use of precious metals. However, that’s usually only because of the intrinsic value of the metals and not because of any collectible status.
However, some rare items like the 1970 Christmas Sterling Inglot and 1972 silver calendar coin can sell for a few hundred dollars. In addition, the complete sets of Franklin Mint coin value more than individual items.
Plates
Franklin mint added decorative plates in its collectibles in early 1970. And they were quite popular for some time, especially the Norman Rockwall silver plates. They sold for $50 at the time, and some could fetch around $100.
However, most other plates have lost a lot of value and can be bought for less than $20.
Die-cast cars
Franklin mint also produced die-cast model cars of popular makes like Mercedez, Ford, Chevy, and Corvette. The quality of these models is quite good, but the prices have come down a lot.
Many of these cars were originally priced over $100, but now they can be found as low as $6.
The 15 Most Valuable Franklin Mint Collectibles
No |
Name |
Cost-USD |
1 |
O Beautiful, for Spacious Skies, by Wilson Hurley |
17,500 |
2 |
Bicentennial Sterling Silver Bowl |
11,500 |
3 |
Original pencil Drawing Made For The Franklin Mint Medal of 1977 |
9500 |
4 |
The Faberge Rose Bouquet, Sterling Silver Egg |
8500 |
5 |
Ford Model T Assembly Line Model |
7000 |
6 |
Imperial Faberge Chess Set |
4000 |
7 |
Faberge Mystery Clock |
2400 |
8 |
From Sea To Shining Sea by Alexander Dzigurski |
2900 |
9 |
Jackie Kennedy & JFK Jr. Farewell Salute Porcelain Dolls |
2700 |
10 |
500 Balboa Gold Coin of The Republic of Panama |
2500 |
11 |
Universal Geneve Skeleton Black Men’s Watch |
2300 |
12 |
Rose from Titanic – Doll & Her Wardrobe |
2100 |
13 |
Duel of The Dragons, Statue by Michael Whelan |
1700 |
14 |
Coronation Lapis Diamonds & Rubies Gold Ring |
1450 |
15 |
Royal Geographical Society, Millennium Clock |
1448 |
Though many Franklin Mint products have lost value over time, a few are worth a significant amount of money. Here we have the top 15 most valuable Franklin Mint collectibles:
(Please login with a free account to see sold prices on auction sites)
1- O Beautiful, for Spacious Skies, by Wilson Hurley
The Franklin Mint produced its all-time successful collection in 1976 to honor the bicentennial of the United States. The collection included lithograph prints from ten famous artists. Wilson Hurley submitted this “O Beautiful, for Spacious Skies,” which is considered the most valuable.
This oil on canvas piece is framed and has Hurley’s sign in pencil. The frame measure 40″ x 60″ and is in excellent condition. It sold for $17,500 in an auction in 2019.
2- Bicentennial Sterling Silver Bowl
This beautiful sterling silver bowl was another limited edition item issued for the bicentennial celebration in 1976. It is part of a collection of The Franklin Mint bowls made of sterling silver and lined with 24k gold. Each bowl has different vignettes etched around the rim depicting scenes from 200 years of American history. Scenes include the declaration of independence, the civil war, J.F. Kennedy, the first flight, and many more.
This is a great piece for investing in silver and a unique and artistic collectible. The most expensive one sold at auction for $11,500 in 2013 but many others have sold for much less. One recently sold for $5500 and another for $4000.
3- Original pencil Drawing Made For The Franklin Mint Medal of 1977
This is the original pencil drawing made for the Franklin Mint Medal of 1977. The medal is called ‘Oh my Honor I Will Try’; it features a girl holding a candle and the American flag in the background. The design and drawing are by Norman Rockwell, a well-known American illustrator, and painter.
The drawing has Rockwel’s sign in the right corner. It’s also well-matted and framed, so there’s no damage. This is really a rare, one-of-a-kind item from Franklin mint. It sold for $9500 in an auction in 2009.
4- The Faberge Rose Bouquet, Sterling Silver Egg
The House of Faberge in Russia designed this beautiful Faberge Rose Bouquet egg for The Franklin Mint. They produced a collection of Faberge eggs in gold and silver in various designs. This one is inspired by pink rose and is the most expensive out of the whole collection; it sold for $8500.
The egg is made from sterling silver and has 24kt accents on the gold ribbon surrounding the egg. The upper pink part is gorgeous guilloche enamel, which sits on a rose quartz base.
When the top of the egg is removed, it reveals a golden rose basket inside. All these details and the piece’s name are inscribed on the base.
Other designs in the collection are also quite expensive, a butterfly egg sold for $6500, an imperial crown egg sold for $3000, music box egg sold for $2700. Even a damaged piece sold for $1700 on eBay.
5- Ford Model T Assembly Line Model
This incredible piece is a model of the 1913 Ford T model assembly line. It was issued on the 100th anniversary of Ford Motor, and only 2,500 pieces were distributed worldwide. The model is made of 100 separate different parts, assembled and polished by hand.
It sits on a solid wood base with a removable glass cover so you can see all the details. The model was originally priced at $1,245 when it came out in 2013. But this piece sold for $7000 in Sep 2022 at an auction.
6- Imperial Faberge Chess Set
This lovely chess set was inspired by the famous Faberge jeweled egg by Franklin Mint. The chess pieces are enameled in malachite and burgundy colors; each comes with a 25k gold-plated headpiece. It has a fitted chest housing to keep chess pieces and a burl wood chessboard top.
Franklin Mint produced several other models of chess sets with different colors and materials. The price depends upon production numbers; this one is an extremely limited edition, so it sold for $4000 last year. A similar white and black enamel set sold for $3000, but several other models go for less than $1000.
7- Faberge Mystery Clock
Another beautiful piece by The Franklin Mint, this time a mystery clock issued in 1988. The clock was made and assembled in Switzerland with 24k gold plated brass and black lacquer. There are 28 pearls all around, with 12 larger ones indicating the hours. It has a battery-operated quartz crystal circuit motor.
This particular clock was in great condition and came in its original packing. So it sold for $2400 at an auction. However, other clocks with missing or damaged parts have sold for as low as $200.
8- From Sea To Shining Sea by Alexander Dzigurski
One of the ten paintings chosen for America the Beautiful collection issued on bicentennial by The Franklin Mint. This is from Alex Dzigurski, an Austro-Hungarian artist known for his landscape and seascapes. In this beautiful painting, he captures the wild California coast with its waves crashing over rocks.
The Franklin Mint sold lithographs of the paintings. This one is a framed and signed piece in great condition; it measures 40×60 inches and sold for $3900. The unframed lithographs go for sale from $500-$700.
9- Jackie Kennedy & JFK Jr. Farewell Salute Porcelain Dolls
A set of two fine bisque porcelain dolls, one of Jackie Kennedy in a red ball gown and the other of JFK Jr. saying goodbye to his father. Especially JFK Jr’s doll is an exact replica of him doing a salute to his father’s casket. The features are all hand-painted.
These dolls can be a great addition to any doll or porcelain collection. This particular was in good condition and sold for $2700.
10- 500 Balboa Gold Coin of The Republic of Panama
The Franklin Mint struck this gold coin in October 1975 to commemorate the 500th birth anniversary of Vasco Nunez de Balboa – a Spanish explorer who discovered the Pacific Ocean.
The coin weighs 41.76 grams and is made of 900/1000 fine gold. It’s an official legal tender coin in the Republic of Panama. The certificate has the signatures of both the finance minister of Panama and the director of Franklin Mint. Since Panamas Balboa is pegged to the US Dollar, this coin is equal to 500 USD.
It is a limited edition struck by Franklin Mint exclusively. At that time, they advertised it as the largest and heaviest gold coin in circulation worldwide. The coin comes in a custom holder, sealed in an envelope along with the proof of the first day of minting of the coin. This one sold for $2500 on eBay.
11- Universal Geneve Skeleton Black Men’s Watch
The Franklin Mint issued this manual winding watch in 1986 in collaboration with Universal Geneve. It was created to honor the International Museum of Horology. The commemoration is engraved on the back case.
The golden part of the watch is 18K gold plating. The dial is skeleton-style with Breguet hands; you can see the sapphires embedded in the back. This exquisite and rare piece sold for $2500.
12- Rose from Titanic – Doll & Her Wardrobe
This is a porcelain bisque doll of Rose from the movie Titanic. It was produced in the early 2000s and is an officially licensed product. The doll comes with her wardrobe, which includes a range of dresses and accessories – 13 outfits in all, including a kimono and a corset. There are also ten pairs of shoes, six wooden hangers, and five jewelry sets, including the heart of the ocean diamonds. All the items are highly detailed replicas.
There is also a small safe to keep the jewelry, a doll stand, and an outfit display mannequin. All these things fit inside a wardrobe, which looks like a trunk when closed.
The set is a dream come true for doll enthusiasts. The seller had this set in excellent condition and sold it for $2100.
13- Duel of The Dragons, Statue by Michael Whelan
This is the ‘Duel of The Dragons’ statue, produced by a collaboration of The Franklin Mint and Michael Whelan. Whelan is an imaginative illustrator best known for his fantasy art, and in this piece, he depicts two dragons with their wings open, ready to attack.
The statue is cast in bronze and painted and polished by hand. The base is made of black marble and wood. There is a plaque with Whelan’s original signature at the front. And a Franklin mint bronze coin is set at the back, along with Whelan’s engraved signature.
The whole statue weighs around 20 pounds. It is super rare to find because only 2000 of these were made. The piece was well-used and missing the front plaque, but it still managed to sell for $1700.
14- Coronation Lapis Diamonds & Rubies Gold Ring
This first jewelry piece on our list is a solid 14k yellow gold ring from 1987. The ring was created to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Victoria. The Australian artist Stuart Devlin designed it.
The ring features five rubies inlaid on top of a lapis lazuli cabochon, surrounded by 24 small round cut diamonds. It has the date 1987 and a karat stamp of 14k gold. This piece recently sold for $1450 on eBay, but we also found another Etsy seller who sold for $1895.
15- Royal Geographical Society, Millennium Clock
This last piece on our list is truly incredible. It’s a limited edition clock commissioned by the Royal Geographic Society of Great Britain to celebrate the coming of the new millennium.
The center is a cobalt blue glass earth that rotates in a 24-hour cycle. Then there is the moon that revolves around the earth along with time bands.
All of this is driven by a solid brass 8-day winding movement designed by Hermle & Sohn from Germany. It is also a battery-operated digital display at the bottom that shows the month, day, and year.
The base is molded wood, and above it is four black marble columns holding a polished brass frame. All of this is protected by a clear glass dome. And everything is accented with 14K gold.
The whole thing is over 12 inches tall and weighs 8 pounds. This piece recently sold for $1448 on eBay.
Conclusion
Indeed, most Franklin Mint collectibles are not as valuable as they were once expected to be. But as you’ve seen from this list, there are still some real gems out there. Some limited edition pieces, precious metals, and collaborations with well-known artists can still fetch a pretty penny.
We hope you enjoyed this little tour of the most valuable Franklin Mint collectibles. And maybe you’re inspired to start your own collection.
![Where To Sell Antique Furniture In 2022 [Ultimate Guide]](https://www.jacquelinestallone.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Etsy-Your-Place-To-Buy-And-Sell-All-Things-Handmade-600x450.jpg)
