<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FRANKLIN
GOLD AND PRECIOUS METALS FUND JULY 31, 2000 ANNUAL REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN I
TS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> FRANKLIN GOLD AND PRECIOUS METALS FUND - CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 230,983,653
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 181,890,325
<RECEIVABLES> 4,885,907
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 186,776,232
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3,325,023
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 3,325,023
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 277,059,188
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 355,574
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 147,347
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,234,111
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (46,856,578)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (49,093,328)
<NET-ASSETS> 183,343,393
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 5,339,727
<INTEREST-INCOME> 409,456
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (3,289,055)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,460,128
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (379,915)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (8,921,077)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (6,840,864)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (13,767)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 373,919
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (166,957)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,265
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (50,331,990)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 754,124
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (46,422,755)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (1,235,379)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (3,289,055)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 230,460,793
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.260
<PER-SHARE-NII> .010
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.410)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.040)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.820
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.100
<FN>
</FN>
</TABLE>
