1972 Dollar Coin Value – See How Much Your 1972 Eisenhower Silver Dollars Are Worth!

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By Joshua

Want to know if your 1972 Eisenhower silver dollar is worth more than face value?

Here’s the good news: It is! All 1972 Ike dollars are worth at least a little more than $1.

How much more?

Well, here’s the even better news… Some 1972 Eisenhower silver dollars are worth hundreds and even thousands of dollars!

So, how can you tell if you’ve got one of the rare and valuable 1972 Eisenhower silver dollars?

Here’s how…

Fun Facts About 1972 Eisenhower Silver Dollars

Would you believe some 1972 Eisenhower silver dollars are worth hundreds - even thousands - of dollars? Find out how much your 1972 Ike silver dollars are worth here.

The Eisenhower dollar honors one of America’s greatest World War II generals and presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower. The obverse (head’s side) design by U.S. Mint Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro captures a portrait of Eisenhower, who passed away at the age of 78 in 1969.

Those who remember 1969 will also recall another major news headline from the year — the landing of the first men on the moon. Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins journeyed to the lunar satellite by way of Apollo 11, whose mission insignia, designed by Collins and James Cooper, appears on the reverse (tail’s side) of the Ike dollar in a slightly modified form.

Many folks who refer to Eisenhower dollar coins tend to call them “silver dollars” — which is the popular nickname used for describing large U.S. coins denominated at $1.

However, most Eisenhower dollars minted (and virtually all that will ever been encountered in pocket change) are made from copper-nickel clad. In fact, the Eisenhower dollar (minted from 1971 through 1978) became the largest copper-nickel clad coin the U.S. Mint ever struck!

Some 1972 Eisenhower dollar coins really are silver dollars, in that they were struck in a 40% silver composition. However, the U.S. Mint issued these special 1972 silver dollars to coin collectors in special packaging — and very few ever reached circulation.

Chances are any 1972 Ike dollars that you have are made from copper-nickel clad. If you happen to have a 1972 silver dollar, it will have a tiny “S” mintmark (representing the San Francisco Mint) above the date and under the head of Eisenhower on the obverse.

If your 1972 Eisenhower dollar does NOT have any mintmark at all or if it has a “D” mint mark, then it is a copper-nickel clad version from either the Philadelphia Mint (which put no mintmark on Ike dollars) or the Denver Mint (which puts the “D” mintmark on its coins).

Following are the values for all forms of 1972 Eisenhower dollar coins…

1972 Ike Dollar Types

The 1972 Eisenhower dollar from the Philadelphia Mint does not bear a mintmark and was struck to the tune of 75,890,000 pieces.

There are three different types of 1972 Ike dollars from the Philly Mint. Each of the three types is distinguished by the details in the image of the Earth that appear on the reverse of the coin.

Let’s delve into what the three types of 1972 dollar coins are and how much they’re worth…

1972 Type I Dollar Coin Value

This is an example of a Type I Eisenhower dollar coin. If you look at the image of the Earth on the reverse, you'll notice a stubby geographical representation of Florida and blobby Cuba just below that.

One of the most common types of 1972 Ike dollars is the Type I, which is notable for its stubby geographical representation of Florida and blobby Cuba just below that:

  • The 1972 Type I Ike dollar is worth about $1.05 to $1.25 in circulation condition.
  • A 1972 Eisenhower dollar Type 1 is worth $5 and up in uncirculated grades.
  • The most valuable 1972 Type I Eisenhower dollar was graded MS-66 by Professional Coin Grading Service and sold for $7,475 in 2011.

1972 Type II Dollar Coin Value

An example of a Type II Eisenhower dollar coin. If you look at the image of the Earth on the reverse, you'll notice the flatter, nearly indistinguishable islands south of Florida. Also, Florida itself is pointier than it appears on the Type I and Type II varieties.

The rarest of the 1972 dollar coins is the Type II — which shows flatter, nearly indistinguishable islands south of Florida. Also, Florida itself is pointier in form than as seen on the Type I and Type III varieties:

Estimates vary on how many Type II dollars were made, but the consensus is that just one reverse die struck the coin. Professional Coin Grading Service says that perhaps fewer than 500,000 existmaking it many times scarcer than either of the other two dollar-coin varieties from the Philadelphia Mint that year.

Many consider the relatively rare 1972 Type II dollar the key to the series — and it’s one of the pricier Eisenhower dollar coins out there.

  • It’s worth $15 to $25 in circulated condition.
  • 1972 Eisenhower Type II dollar coins are worth about $100 and up in uncirculated grades, in which condition the coin is very scarce.
  • The most valuable 1972 Type II Eisenhower dollar was graded MS-66 by Professional Coin Grading Service and sold in 2016 for a whopping $9,987.50.

1972 Type III Dollar Coin Value

A Type II Eisenhower dollar coin - If you look at the image of the Earth on the reverse, you'll see a more dynamic Florida, elongated Cuba, defined Jamaica, and a clear Haiti and Dominican Republic. This is the most geographically accurate of the three 1972 Ike dollar types.

The most common and most geographically accurate of the three 1972 Philadelphia dollar coins shows a more dynamic Florida, elongated Cuba, defined Jamaica, and a clear Haiti and Dominican Republic:


1972-D Dollar Coin Value

The 1972-D Ike dollar struck at the Denver Mint has a “D” mintmark and is quite common — 92,548,511 were struck. This is one of the most frequently encountered Eisenhower dollar coins.

  • Circulated specimens will generally take $1.05 to $1.25 apiece
  • Uncirculated 1972-D dollar coins go for about $5 or more.
  • The most valuable 1972-D Eisenhower dollar coin was graded MS-67 by Professional Coin Grading Service and sold for $9,775 in 2011.

1972-S Dollar Coin Value

The U.S. Mint struck two kinds of special 40% silver 1972 Eisenhower dollars for coin collectors and sold them individually:

  • A “regular” 1972-S dollar coin was made in uncirculated condition and sold in blue envelopes. A total of 2,193,056 of the 1972-S uncirculated silver dollars were made. They range in value from $9 to $15. The record price for the most valuable 1972-S silver dollar is $3,680, obtained in 2011 for a specimen graded MS-69 by Professional Coin Grading Service.
  • A “proof” 1972-S dollar coin was issued in brown boxes. The mint struck 1,811,631 of the 1972-S proof silver dollars in 1972. Today, they average about $9 to $15 in value. The most valuable 1972-S proof silver dollar is a specimen graded PR-70 Deep Cameo by Professional Coin Grading Service which sold for $4,715 in 2002.

All 1972-S silver dollars were made at the San Francisco Mint, and they have an “S” mintmark.

NO Ike dollars were included in 1972 mint sets or proof sets.

IMPORTANT: What Is The Grade Of Your 1972 Dollar Coin?

To determine the true value of your 1972 Eisenhower dollar coin, you first need to know what condition (or grade) your coin is in.

Grab a coin magnifier and a copy of the U.S. Coin Grading Standards book. Then, watch this video to see how to grade coins yourself at home:


A List Rare Of 1972 Eisenhower Dollar Errors To Look For

There are several kinds of rare and valuable 1972 dollar coins with errors and varieties, making them worth much more than face value.

Here are the most popular Eisenhower dollar errors and what they’re worth:

  • 1972 Doubled Die Dollar Coin — The 1972 doubled die Eisenhower dollar coins can be very rare, depending on the magnitude of the doubling and location of the variety. Values range, but a nice 1972 doubled die dollar with prominent doubling can be worth $100 or more.
  • 1972 Broadstrike Error Dollar CoinBroadstrike errors occur when a coin is struck outside of its retaining collar, which helps to form the edge on a coin and keep it sized properly upon being struck. A 1972 broadstrike dollar will be wider and thinner than usual and show a plain edge. A 1972 dollar broadstrike with plain no reeds / lines on edge error has a value of about $125 and up.
  • 1972 Off-Center Error Dollar Coin — A 1972 dollar that was struck off center can be worth a ton of money, depending on how far askew the strike is. Any 1972 dollar coins with off-center strikes are rare, with those even just 10% or 20% off center taking $200 or more! An example that is 50% off center but showing a complete date can take $500 to $1,000.