Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia

1972 Copper-Nickel Clad $1

Coinage Context

Ike lives on: The second year of copper-nickel clad Eisenhower dollar coinage saw tens of millions of more coins issued from the Philadelphia Mint. In fact, the "mother mint" produced nearly twice as many Ikes this year than in the first year of the series. 1972 Mint sets, sold by the Treasury for $3.50 per set, did not contain Eisenhower dollars.

Numismatic Information

Availability: Eisenhower dollar specialist Dave McHenry noted this:

1972: The 1972 Eisenhower dollar is fairly scarce in Mint State, although not as scarce as the 1971 Philadelphia issue. The 1972 is, however, scarcer than the 1971-D. The 1972 Philadelphia Mint dollar is unusual for the era in that MS-64 and MS-65 pieces are seen with some frequency.

Certification comment: The January 1993 PCGS Population Report lists just five examples of this date at the MS-65 level, with one coin graded MS-66 and none higher. However, this information probably reflects the fact that few collectors want to pay the certification fee for this common-date dollar, and not that it is rare in Mint State grades.

Varieties

Business strikes:
1. 1972 copper-nickel clad Type I. Low relief.
2. 1972 copper-nickel clad Type II. Breen-5749.
"Presently rare" - Walter Breen's Encyclopedia. While not "rare" in the classic sense, this type is currently very elusive.
3. 1972 copper-nickel clad Type III. Breen-5750.
Modified high relief as in 1973-74. No incuse outline behind lower right crater; three distinct Caribbean islands below Florida. According to research by Eisenhower dollar specialist Sam Smith, this reverse was introduced late in 1972, and carried over into the next several years of production.(Correspondence between Gam Smith and Q. David Bowers, October 6, 1992.) For coins dated 1972, the Type III reverse is moderately scarce.

1972 Eisenhower: Summary of Characteristics

Business Strikes:
Enabling legislation: Act of July 23, 1965 (clad metal), Act of December 31, 1970, and others.
Weight (copper-nickel-clad): 350 grains (tolerance 4%); outer layers of .750 copper and .250 nickel bonded to inner core of pure copper.
Dies prepared (approximate): Obverse: 759; Reverse: 380.
Business strike mintage: 75,890,000.
Comment on availability, MS-65 or better: Scarce,
but not as elusive as 1971 and 1971-D.
Comment on availability, MS-64: Scarce, Comment on availability, MS-63:, Scarce. Comment on availability, MS-60 to 62: Available, but scarcer than high-mintage later dates.. While strictly Uncirculated coins, the surfaces of these pieces tend to be heavily bag marked, keeping much of the mintage in this grade range.
Comment on availability, VF-20 to AU-58: Many worn coins of this date are known, as definite attempts were made to circulate the issue. 'Most of the coins that actually reached circulation spent a very short time there, as they were often put aside by non-collectors as souvenirs. No doubt the Western casinos saw their share of this date as well, accounting for a goodly portion of the known circulated coins.

Characteristics of striking: Sometimes seen lightly struck, although that is .not the general rule for this date. Sharp and attractive examples of this date are available to the patient collector.

Proofs:
None.

Commentary
'This issue is somewhat scarce in higher grades.