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Arch Ophthalmol. 2003;121:1445.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), statesman, scientist, and inventor, was born in Boston, Mass. He established himself in the printing business in Philadelphia, Pa, which is where he became involved in politics and science. While serving as the US ambassador to France, he invented bifocal spectacles in 1784.

The firm Bausch and Lomb, commemorating the 150th anniversary of this invention in 1934, issued a medal of Franklin holding a pair of his bifocal spectacles. It was engraved by Felix Weil and created by the firm Medallic Art Co (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

The Benjamin Franklin half dollar (Figure 3) was struck by the US Mint for circulation from 1948 to 1963. It was designed by the engraver John R. Sinnock, whose initials appear below the shoulder. The reverse, Figure 4, shows the Liberty Bell.

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Courtesy of: Jay M. . . . [Full Text of this Article]