Coins - 1972 Mint
Set
The 1972 mint set contained eleven coins and one Bureau of the Mint token in two pliofilm sleeves, each with six
compartments, one with red edges, the other with blue.
The mint set included two half dollar, quarter and dime cupronickel clad coins, two nickels and
three one cent coins. Though the Eisenhower dollars were minted in 1972, the US Mint packaged and sold
the uncirculated dollar coins in separate one-coin sets.
A plain white envelope with the address of the United States Assay Office in San Francisco (the mint) in the
upper left corner held the 1972 mint set. In the lower left corner "1972 — U. C." identifies
the mint set where U. C. means Uncirculated Coins.
1972 Mint Set Package
Pieces of cardstock, one on either side of the two pliofilm sleeves, helped protect the coins. The
cardstock and the coins slide snugly inside the white envelope.
1972 Mint Set Uncirculated Coins
Each pliofilm sleeve contains six separately sealed compartments. The red-edged
pliofilm holds the five coins minted in Denver along with a token. The blue-edged pliofilm includes
the five coins minted in Philadelphia and the Lincoln cent minted in San Francisco.
Though the coins are sealed inside their individual compartments in each pliofilm, the coins
easily rotate into various positions.
From the other side, the reverse images for the five different uncirculated coins can be
seen. Conversely, the token shows the same printing on both sides.
Like the previous year, the red printed token in the 1972 mint set identifies the set as
"uncirculated mint set" instead noting particular mints as in the previous years.
1972 Mint Set Coins and Metals
The coins of the 1972 Mint Set contained the following metals:
Penny: 95% copper; 5% zinc
Nickel: 75% copper; 25% nickel
Dime: 91.67% copper; 8.33% nickel
Quarter: 91.67% copper; 8.33% nickel
Half Dollar: 91.67% copper; 8.33% nickel
Click on Mint Set Population to view the contents of the sets
through the years. Take a look at the overall Mint Set page to see how the values
compare among the sets.
1972 Mint Set Year - News about Coins and the US Mint
(note: the below links to newspapers open in a new window)
1972 proof coin sets now available in US
The Windsor Star - Jan 11, 1972
The Director of the Mint announced that orders for the 1972 proof coin sets are being accepted by the San Francisco
Assay Office and will be until the production limit has been reached. The price at $5 per set includes shipping and
handling. In the meantime, the Mint works to package and fulfill the rest of the 1971 Eisenhower dollar orders.
Bicentennial Offers A Real Challenge
Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Jan 23, 1972
Generally, the US Mint's artists produce the designs for the coins and medals struck by the Mint. From Jan 1, 1972
through Mar 31, 1972, artists can submit designs to compete for the bicentennial medals to celebrate the
nation's upcoming 200th anniversary. A panel of historians and artists will judge the submissions and choose the
winners. $500,000 for the awards and $10,000 for prizes has been allocated for the competition.
Big Demand For Ike Dollar In West
St. Joseph News-Press - Feb 11, 1972
About the newly minted Eisenhower dollars, the Director of the US Mint said, "Demand is very great for them in the
West. The dollar coin always did circulate very well out there." 130 million have already been shipped to the 37
Federal Reserve Banks and production is being increased. The mass produced coins are unlike the coins being sold to
collectors for $3 and $10 for the uncirculated and proof coins.
Congress Authorizes Bicentennial Medals
The Evening Independent - Feb 21, 1972
The House of Representatives voted 387 to 1 authorizing the US Mint to produce bicentennial medals to celebrate the
country's 200th anniversary. One national medal and thirteen different commemoratives will be released. The
national medal will be released in 1976, but other than the thirteen must be delivered before 1983, no specific
dates were set. At the time, the metal content of the medals and the pricing have not been determined. Though
people continue to try, efforts to return to silver coinage for 1976 have failed.
US makes mint on Eisenhower coins
The Free Lance-Star - May 12, 1972
During a meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Treasury Secretary John B. Connally said, "The profit
we're making on sales of the Eisenhower dollar is just unconscionable, that's the truth." Per a mint spokesman, the
profit made the previous year on the uncirculated and proof Eisenhower dollars was $40,411,689.14 with the average
profit being $3.89 per coin. With the number of coins authorized, the total expected profit is almost $600
million.
Nickel, Lead Issue Passes
Spokane Daily Chronicle - Jul 17, 1972
After passing the House, two bills authorizing the disposition of nickel and lead out of the government stockpile
went to the White House for the President's approval. Determined as no longer needed in a stockpile reserve, the
nickel will be transferred to the US Mint for the production of coins. The lead surplus will be sold
commercially.
New service to guard against counterfeits
The Windsor Star - Aug 1, 1972
With the plague of counterfeit coins, the American Numismatic Society announced a new certification service called
the ANA Certification Service. Former employees of the US Mint will review submitted coins for authenticity,
however they will not grade or appraise the coins. If the coins are determined to be genuine, a certificate with
pictures of the obverse and reverse of the coin along with a certification number will be provided. Fees are $5,
$7.50 or $10 for each coin valued up to $500. Over $500, the fee is 5% of the coin's value.
Mint Makes Mound of Double Dies
The Milwaukee Journal - Aug 17, 1972
Coin collectors determined some of the 1972 Lincoln cents have been struck twice. A Mint spokesman admitted as many
as 100,000 of the double die pennies might have been minted. But, that number would be a small portion of the five
billion pennies the mint would produce for 1972. Some of the early double die pennies were going for $40-$80 for
uncirculated condition. With demand the price could go as high as $150.
Clad-proof dollar added to US proof set
The Windsor Star - Nov 13, 1972
The US Mint will add the cupronickel Eisenhower dollar in the 1973 proof set. Due to the special handwork detail
required for the proof coins and the large size of the dollar coin, the addition is expected to increase the proof
set price from $5 to $7. They hope to add the dollar coins to the uncirculated mint sets too, but the issues are
not worked out yet.
The celebration of the 200th anniversary of The United States
The Milwaukee Journal - Dec 5, 1972
This advertisement announces the first bicentennial medal to be offered by the US Mint. The obverse includes a
portrait of George Washington based on the Houdon Bust. The reverse includes three different symbols of the
colonial era. Roughly 1 1/2 inches in diameter, the medal was struck in bronze. The ad included an order for one,
two, three or four medals at $3.50 each.
Government In Business
Ludington Daily News - Dec 9, 1972
The General Services Administration is selling US dollars, those minted in Carson City during 1882-84 from the
Comstock lode silver. In their leaflet, they comment, "They jam Silver City, Johnstown and Gold Hill. The mines
groan. The Comstock Lode is rich with silver. The blue grit that had clogged the gold panners' screens is precious.
A branch mint is organized in Carson City, and by 1874, the Big Bonanza is on, as the Consolidated Virginia Mine
strikes the largest gold and silver deposits in the history of the Comstock Lode. Ton after ton, the ore is minted
into dimes, quarters, half-eagles, double eagles, and the famous Carson City silver dollars."
The 1972 Mint Set Year included news of what the US Mint would produce for the upcoming bicentennial of the
nation.
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