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

1972-D Copper-Nickel Clad $1

Coinage Context

Millions more Ikes: In a further attempt to circulate the Eisenhower dollar, nearly 100 million specimens were struck at Denver this year. Many did circulate for a.time, particularly in the Western gambling halls, but most eventually disappeared into bank vaults or the hands of the public. In the East, Eisenhower dollars were available at banks but were rarely seenin everyday circulation.

Numismatic Information

Availability: Eisenhower dollar specialist Dave McHenry noted this:

1972-D: The 1972-D is usually found well struck and is unusual in this respect. This is the last issue of the Eisenhower dollar not sold in Mint sets by the government; thus they are scarcer than they would have been if they had been sold directly to collectors.

Certification: The January 1993 PCGS Population Report shows just 36 specimens of this date at the MS-65 level, with two MS-66 coins listed arid no pieces higher. Of the relatively few pieces of this date that have been submitted for third-party grading, very few choice gems have been recorded. Probably, as time goes on more and more Eisenhower dollars will be submitted for certification.

Varieties
Business strikes:
1. 1972-D copper-nickel dad Type I. Breen-5752. Note: The only alleged silver dad specimen seen to date is a forgery.

1972-D Eisenhower: Market Values

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: 926; Reverse: 463.
Business strike mintage: 92,548,511.
Comment on availability, MS-65 or better: Quite scarce.
Comment on availability, MS-64: Scarce. Comment on availability, MS-63: Scarcer than the following.
Comment on availability, MS-60 to 62: Most extant Mint State coins are in this category. Most are heavily bag marked.
Comment on availability, VF-20 to AU-58: Very common.
Known hoards of Mint State coins: No bag hoards are known to the author. It is likely that small groups of this date have been put aside by roll collectors.

Proofs:
None.

Commentary
This is the last issue not distributed in Mint sets to collectors, and like the others in this category (1971, 1971-D, 1972) is much scarcer than later varieties.