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<PAGE> PAGE 2
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 5
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
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<PAGE> PAGE 7
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<PAGE> PAGE 8
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<PAGE> PAGE 9
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<PAGE> PAGE 10
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<PAGE> PAGE 11
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<PAGE> PAGE 12
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<PAGE> PAGE 13
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<PAGE> PAGE 14
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<PAGE> PAGE 15
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<PAGE> PAGE 16
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SIGNATURE LAURA FERGERSON
TITLE ASST TREASURER
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<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FRANKLIN
GOLD FUND JANUARY 31, 1998 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> FRANKLIN GOLD FUND - CLASS I
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 289,768,876
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 251,061,577
<RECEIVABLES> 1,949,633
<ASSETS-OTHER> 14,749
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 253,025,959
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 155,516
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2,334,913
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2,490,429
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 320,025,444
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 25,600,729
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 25,485,921
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (120,104)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (30,662,324)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (38,707,486)
<NET-ASSETS> 250,535,530
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,762,872
<INTEREST-INCOME> 740,569
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1,702,419)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 801,022
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (21,678,913)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (44,525,652)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (65,403,543)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (934,646)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> (105,391)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 22,272,460
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (22,263,067)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 105,415
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (65,003,249)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 142,947
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (8,983,411)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 730,460
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,702,419
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 276,277,665
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.440
<PER-SHARE-NII> .030
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (2.510)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.040)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.920
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.180
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FRANKLIN
GOLD FUND JANUARY 31, 1998 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANACIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> FRANKLIN GOLD FUND - CLASS II
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 289,768,876
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 251,061,577
<RECEIVABLES> 1,949,633
<ASSETS-OTHER> 14,749
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 253,025,959
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 155,516
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2,334,913
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2,490,429
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 320,025,444
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,100,647
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,827,083
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (120,104)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (30,662,324)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (38,707,486)
<NET-ASSETS> 250,535,530
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,762,872
<INTEREST-INCOME> 740,569
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1,702,419)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 801,022
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (21,678,913)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (44,525,652)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (65,403,543)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 992,868
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (719,304)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (65,003,249)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 142,947
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (8,983,411)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 730,460
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,702,419
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 276,277,665
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.370
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.010)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (2.480)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.880
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.980
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FRANKLIN
GOLD FUND JANUARY 31, 1998 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 013
<NAME> FRANKLIN GOLD FUND - ADVISOR CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 289,768,876
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 251,061,577
<RECEIVABLES> 1,949,633
<ASSETS-OTHER> 14,749
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 253,025,959
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 155,516
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2,334,913
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2,490,429
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 320,025,444
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 397,220
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 280,883
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (120,104)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (30,662,324)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (38,707,486)
<NET-ASSETS> 250,535,530
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,762,872
<INTEREST-INCOME> 740,569
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1,702,419)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 801,022
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (21,678,913)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (44,525,652)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (65,403,543)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (9,305)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> (14,731)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,999,848
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1,884,955)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,444
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (65,003,249)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 142,947
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (8,983,411)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 730,460
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,702,419
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 276,277,665
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.430
<PER-SHARE-NII> .040
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (2.490)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.060)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.920
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .980
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>