The Franklin Mint: Founded in 1964, the company was the world's largest direct marketer of collectibles, ranging from commemorative coinage and die-cast cars, planes, ships to game tables, gambling items, and heirloom sterling silver pictures and much more. 1970s–1980s: Peaked as the world’s largest private mint then pivoting largely to die-cast models and a direct-to-consumer model. Franklin Mint products are considered collectibles. Franklin Mint Die-cast cars, planes and ships are considered the very best ever sold to the public!