Coins - 1972 Proof
Set
The 1972 Proof Set would be the last year, until 1983, that the US Mint used the blue outer box with the white
script letters. Like the earlier years, the blue box contained a hard plastic lens to protect the proof coins in
the set. The upper flap of the proof set box included the script lettering with "United States Proof Set • 1972" to
identify the set.
1972 Proof Set Package
Some rare 1972 proof sets exist with doubling on the cent's "LIBERTY" and "TRUST" lettering on the obverse.
The 1972 Proof Set dimensions are roughly 3 1/2 by 5 3/8 by 3/8 inches for the outer blue box. The back of the
box does not contain any additional identifying information.
The blue flap slides from under the written section and the lens holding the five coins enters the box from the
bottom.
1972 Proof Set Contents and Proof Coins
The lens consists of two pieces of hard plastic forming a sandwich around a black insert. The insert immobilizes
the coins to prevent movement within the lens.
On the obverse, the case holds the five coins uniformly spaced. The heraldic eagle from the obverse of the Great
Seal of the United States is molded into the plastic and centered over the half dollar. The eagle's talons grasp
arrows and olive branches and a shield covers his chest between his outspread wings. A similar version of this
eagle is on the reverse of the Kennedy half dollar.
The reverse of the proof set shows off the eagle on the half dollar. In the upper left corner, the small print
says, "PACKAGED BY THE US MINT."
In the middle, the script molded into the plastic states, "United States Proof Set."
Half Dollar:
The 1972 half dollar continued with the John F. Kennedy image on the obverse which was first introduced in 1964
after the assassination of President Kennedy. The words on the obverse include "LIBERTY" across the top and "IN GOD
WE TRUST" across the bottom of the bust. The date follows the circle of the coin at the bottom. The coin's reverse
shows the Presidential Coat of Arms from the Great Seal. "E PLURIBUS UNUM" flows on a banner between the eagles
outspread wings, and the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "HALF DOLLAR" encircle the top and bottom of
the coin's reverse image. The mint mark on the Kennedy half, 1968 and later, occurs on the obverse just above the
middle of the date and to the right of the bust. The 1972 proof half dollar weighed 11.34 grams and consisted of
outer layers of copper-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel) around an inner core of pure copper.
Obverse Designer: Gilroy Roberts
Reverse Designer: Frank Gasparro
Quarter Dollar:
The 1972 quarter continued the version of George Washington introduced in 1932. The obverse design included the
portrait and the words: "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST" and the date. On the reverse, an eagle stands with wings
outspread clutching a bunch of arrows in its talons with two olive sprays crossed beneath his tail feathers. The
words on the reverse include: "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and "QUARTER DOLLAR." The 1972 quarter
dollar contained a core of pure copper clad in a copper (75%) and nickel (25%) blend. Initially, the mint mark for
the quarter was on the reverse, but starting in 1968, the mint mark moved to the obverse just to the right of
Washington's hair at his neck.
Obverse Designer: John Flanagan
Reverse Designer: John Flanagan
Dime:
The 1972 dime continued the image of President Franklin Roosevelt on the obverse. The lettering on the obverse
includes "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST" and the year. The coin's reverse shows an olive branch, a torch and an oak
branch with the words "E PLURIBUS UNUM" across them. The words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" flow around the top of
the reverse with "ONE DIME" on the bottom. The metal content of the 1972 dime included a core of copper with outer
layers of copper (75%) and nickel (25%) blended together.
Obverse Designer: John Sinnock
Reverse Designer: John Sinnock
Five Cents (Nickel):
The Jefferson nickel introduced in 1938 continued in the 1972 proof set. The words on the face of the coin say
"IN GOD WE TRUST," "LIBERTY" and the year. The nickel's reverse shows Jefferson's historic home, Monticello, in
Charlottesville, Virginia. "E PLURIBUS UNUM" fits above Monticello, and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "MONTICELLO"
and "FIVE CENTS" show below the home. In 1966, the designer's initials were added under Jefferson's neck. And in
1968, the mint mark moved to the obverse of the coin to the right of Jefferson's hair near the edge of the
coin.
Obverse Designer: Felix Schlag
Reverse Designer: Felix Schlag
Cent (Penny):
The Lincoln cent continued in 1972. The image shows Lincoln facing to the right in the portrait with his iconic
beard, suit coat and tie. The motto, "IN GOD WE TRUST" was first introduced on coins with the Lincoln cent. The
coin's obverse also includes "LIBERTY" and the date. The 1972 cent's reverse shows the Lincoln Memorial with the
inscriptions saying "UNITED STATES oF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and "ONE CENT."
Obverse Designer: Victor D. Brenner
Reverse Designer: Frank Gasparro
1972 Proof Set Year Population and Cost of Living
The world population in 1972 was 3,867,338,018. This represents 56.4% of the world's population in 2010.
$100 in 1972 equals $521.67 in 2010 dollars using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Inflation Calculator.
New houses in 1972 cost $30,500 which would be $159,109 today.
The average income was $7134 per year ($37,215 in today's dollars).
Gas averaged $.361 per gallon ($1.88 in today's money).
The average new car was $3,879 ($20,236).
(Chart views into the cost of living changes throughout the Proof Set
years)
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