After the coins were released in April 1948 , the Mint received accusations that Sinnock 's initials " JRS " on the cutoff at Franklin 's shoulder were a tribute to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin ( Stalin did not have a middle name that began with an ' R ' ) . No change was made , with the Mint responding that the letters were simply the artist 's initials ( The same accusation was made after the release of the Sinnock designed Roosevelt Dime in 1946 ) . The coin was struck regularly until 1963 . Beginning in 1964 it was replaced by the Kennedy half dollar , issued in honor of the assassinated President John F. Kennedy . Though the coin is still legal tender , its value to collectors or as silver ( intrinsic value ) both greatly exceed its face value
assassinated
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Franklin half dollar