The Secret of Successful 1972 Dollar Coin Value
Though the dollar coins were disliked in 1972 due to their size and boldness, 1972 Eisenhower dollars are now among dollar coin collectors’ favorites. Face value is just $1, but these coins are worth significantly more than that. If you’re lucky, you can find rare ones worth thousands.
So, here’s the whole story! Find out how much a 1972 silver dollar is worth by reading on.
1972 Dollar Coin Value: Popularity Of The Silver Coin
From 1971-1978, the U.S. Mint made Eisenhower dollars honoring the late President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who died on March 28, 1969.
The front of the coin shows President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the back shows an eagle with an olive branch in its talons landing on the moon. On the side, there is a tiny earth that is backward.
The process of making coins went smoothly at the Denver mint, but the Philadelphia mint used three different dies for the backs of the coins, which gave them the names Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3.
Many collectors and coin fans think the 1972 dollar coin’s value and shape are interesting because the earth looks different, especially the islands below Florida, on three types of coins made in Philadelphia.
Unfortunately, since they are no longer in circulation, you will have to look for ike dollars to find them.
Your 1972 Ike Dollar: Is It Silver?
First of all, is your Ike dollar from 1972 even silver? There were three places where Ike dollars were made in 1972: Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.
All coins have a mint mark near the date, except for the 75.8 million made in Philadelphia, where there isn’t one. So, the mark on 92.5 million 1972 coins made in Denver says “D,” and about 2.1 million coins made in San Francisco says “S.”
Not all 1972 dollars are silver. But the 1972-S coins are 40% silver. Collectors bought these coins in single packs, which were often blue.
So, an Ike dollar with an “S” mint mark is made of 40% silver. Hence, the material provides information about the 1972 dollar coin value. So, you don’t need to do any more tests or bother to ask an expert about this.
Different Kinds Of Philadelphia-1972 Dollar Coin Value
We’ve already discussed how three reverse dies were used at the Philadelphia mint in 1972. Now, let’s look at how these three kinds are different and how long they run.

Type 1:
From January to August of 1972, people used Type 1 money. Since Type 1 coins, like dollars, were only made for nine months, so their uncirculated value could be much higher. On the back of Type 1 coins, the sketch of the earth from 9 to 11 o’clock is flat.
Also, all the islands below and to the right of Florida are right below or to the right.
Type 2:
The Type 2 Philadelphia Ike dollars were made with a single die for a single run. In August, the Philadelphia mint made a mistake and used the reverse proof die.
People know that proof dies can only make between 2,000 and 4,000 coins, while production dies can make between 100,000 and 200,000 coins. So, it’s not surprising that a proof die will wear off quickly if used to make tens of thousands of coins.
This makes Type 2 coins the rarest and most sought-after coins from 1972. And Type 2 is the most valuable of the 1972 Eisenhower coins.
So, how can you tell if a dollar is a Type 1972? First, the islands below Florida are mostly flat and hard to tell apart. Instead, they look like three flat lines that show the water. North America and South America also look flat and end at the top and bottom of the earth.
Type 3:
From Sept. to the end of the year, the Philadelphia mint used the third category of reverse die, where the earth on the back shows the real map. So, you can see islands to the east, south, and west of Florida. Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic are the names of these islands. The design has a lot of depth, and the earth’s shape is clear.
Is Your 1972 Ike Dollar In Circulation, Mint Condition, Or Proof?
Before you figure out the value of the 1972 dollar coin, you need to know if it is a circulated, uncirculated, or proof dollar. The public has used circulated coins from the beginning. However, since they have been going back and forth between pockets, shops, banks, and pockets, they may show a lot of wear and tear.
Even more so with coins from 1972, which are now about 50 years old. The finish is like a mirror so that you can see your reflection. There is no icing on the fields, and the details are clear and stand out. In the next section, we’ll talk about how the condition of a 1972-dollar coin also affects its price in a big way.
How to Grade Coins-1972 Dollar Coin Value
Unused coins are given grades between MS60 and MS70. MS60 is for coins with many marks, while MS70 is for perfect coins. Most uncirculated coins are MS60-63 or MS65 or higher. This is because they are hard to find and very expensive when you do.
Like uncirculated coins, the grades for proof coins range from 60 to 70. But PR comes before the coin’s name to show that it is a proof coin. So, proof coins with a PR70 grade are perfect and shiny, like a mirror.
AU, which stands for “uncirculated,” means that the coin has a lot of mint lustre and wear is only visible on the highest points. So as the grade goes up, the price should also gradually go up. After all, who wouldn’t want clean coins that are about 50 years old?
How Much Is 1972 Silver Dollar Worth?
The 1972 dollar coin value depends on many things, like how it was struck, The value of a coin is also based on many other things.
The MS69 coins from the 1972-S series sell at auction for about $3000.
Specifications Summary
- Year: 1972
- Type: Eisenhower Dollar
- Face Value: $1.00
- Composition: 60% copper, 40% silver
- Silver Weight: .3161 oz.
- Total Weight: 24.59 grams
- Current 1972 Dollar Coin Value: $6.82
Final Remarks
Eisenhower Dollars can be worth money both as bullion and as collectible coins. An Eisenhower Dollar is usually worth a few cents more than what it says on the bill. But sometimes, one of these dollars is worth hundreds or even thousands.