Half Dollar · 1972
1972 Half Dollar Value
A 1972 half dollar is worth $0.54 to $1.67 in circulated condition, depending on its mint mark and wear.
Prices updated:
About the 1972 half dollar
The 1972 half dollar is a regular circulation issue, struck in copper-nickel clad copper (91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel), weighing 11.34 g, 30.61 mm across, from a design by Gilroy Roberts. It was struck at Philadelphia, Denver — 295,070,000 coins in all, which is why an ordinary example is worth close to face value however well it has been kept.
Denver made the fewest at 141,890,000, against 153,180,000 from Philadelphia. The mints are within the same order of magnitude, so on this date the mint mark does far less to the price than condition does.
This is a recent coin, so there is no meaningful spread yet: circulated examples run from $0.54 to $1.67, and the grading data that separates ordinary coins from exceptional ones has not built up.
Legends on this design — obverse: “LIBERTY · IN GOD WE TRUST”. Reverse: “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA · E PLURIBUS UNUM · HALF DOLLAR”.
Value chart by grade
| Mint mark | Mintage | G | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No mint mark | 153,180,000153.2M | $0.54 | $0.63 | $0.63 | $0.87 | $0.92 | $0.92 | $1.67 |
| D | 141,890,000141.9M | $0.54 | $0.79 | $0.79 | $0.79 | $1.02 | $1.02 | $1.67 |
What the grades mean
Grades run G to UNC, then MS60–MS70, where most value sits. How coin grading works →
How to identify your 1972 half dollar
What if it has already been cleaned?
Still identifies the same — you lose the premium. Don't try to fix it.
Where is the mint mark
It sits on the obverse below Kennedy's neck (1968 onward); on the reverse below the eagle for earlier issues. No letter means Philadelphia — normal, not rare. What the letter means →
Proof and collector versions
Alongside the coins made for circulation, the Mint sold 1 collector version of the 1972 1972 half dollar — proofs and special finishes struck at San Francisco and sold directly in sets. These never entered circulation, so if your coin came out of a till or a jar it is not one of them. They carry an S mint mark and a mirror or satin finish that is obvious next to an ordinary coin. The scarcest was struck in 3,267,667.
| Format | Mint | Mintage | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proof | S | 3,267,6673.3M | $3.65 |
Rare varieties of this year
These are the coins worth looking for. Each one is a different die or planchet from the regular issue above, and each is priced separately.
Mint mark D — Missing "FG" on reverse
Mintage: unknown.
What to do with your 1972 half dollar
Don't clean it
Leave the surface alone — see the warning above.
Check the varieties
Go back through the 1 variety above before deciding what you have — the difference between the common coin and the valuable one is usually a single detail.
Is it worth grading?
Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. Against a mintage of 295,070,000 and a best circulated value of $1.67, the fee is more than the coin returns. Keep it raw unless it is exceptional or you suspect a variety.
Where to sell
Dealer: fastest, pays least. Auction: best for coins worth $100+. eBay: most buyers, most fees.
Specifications
½ Dollar "Kennedy Half Dollar"
- Composition
- Copper-nickel clad copper (91.67% Copper, 8.33% Nickel)
- Weight
- 11.34 g
- Diameter
- 30.61 mm
- Thickness
- 2.15 mm
- Edge
- Reeded
- Designer
- Gilroy Roberts
- Mints
- United States Mint of Philadelphia, United States Mint of Denver, United States Mint of San Francisco (collector issues only)
FAQ
How much is a 1972 half dollar worth?
A circulated 1972 half dollar is worth $0.54 to $1.67 depending on condition and mint mark. It is a recent coin in everyday circulation, so condition is the only thing that moves the price.
How many 1972 half dollars were made?
About 295,070,000 in total — Philadelphia 153,180,000, Denver 141,890,000. That is a large mintage, which is why circulated examples stay inexpensive.
Where is the mint mark on a 1972 half dollar?
See “Where is the mint mark” above.
Are there rare 1972 half dollar varieties?
Yes — 1 are catalogued for this date: Missing "FG" on reverse. They are priced separately from the ordinary coin.
What is the S half dollar from 1972?
An S mint mark on a 1972 half dollar means a collector coin from San Francisco — 1 proof and special-finish versions were sold in sets rather than released into circulation. The scarcest was struck in 3,267,667. They are not found in change.
Should I get my 1972 half dollar graded?
Grading costs roughly $50–100 per coin. For this date the best circulated examples guide at $1.67, from a mintage of 295,070,000 — the fee is many times what the coin returns, so keep it raw unless you suspect a genuine error.
More on half dollars
1968 Half Dollar1969 Half Dollar1971 Half Dollar1973 Half Dollar1974 Half Dollar1976 Half Dollar