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1972 Lincoln Cent Date Guide

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1972 overview Mintage, history, and notes for this year's cents

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
2,933,255,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(80 of 126)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
2,665,071,400
Mintage Ranking for Type
(85 of 126)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
376,939,108
Mintage Ranking for Type
(119 of 126)

San Francisco (PR)

Mintage
3,260,996
Mintage Ranking for Type
(21 of 54)

1972 in history

1972 in history
  • Eisenhower dollars circulated lightly while Lincoln cents still dominated everyday transactions.
  • President Nixon visited China in February, opening diplomatic relations after decades of isolation.
  • The Watergate burglary occurred in June, eventually leading to a constitutional crisis.
  • The Equal Rights Amendment passed Congress and was sent to the states for ratification.
  • The Munich Olympics were marred when terrorists killed Israeli athletes in September.
  • The last U.S. ground combat troops left Vietnam in August under Nixon's withdrawal plan.
  • HBO began satellite television service, expanding pay-TV nationwide.
  • Atari released Pong, popularizing arcade video games.

1972 Lincoln cent year notes

Collector notes for 1972 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Images/Mintage Mint issues and coin images for 1972

Philadelphia (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
2,933,255,000
Mintage Ranking for Type
(80 of 126)

Denver (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
2,665,071,400
Mintage Ranking for Type
(85 of 126)

San Francisco (MS)

Photo Credit: Cotgreave Collection

(click images above to see larger view)

Mintage
376,939,108
Mintage Ranking for Type
(119 of 126)

San Francisco (PR)

Mintage
3,260,996
Mintage Ranking for Type
(21 of 54)
1972 in history What else was happening that year
1972 in history
  • Eisenhower dollars circulated lightly while Lincoln cents still dominated everyday transactions.
  • President Nixon visited China in February, opening diplomatic relations after decades of isolation.
  • The Watergate burglary occurred in June, eventually leading to a constitutional crisis.
  • The Equal Rights Amendment passed Congress and was sent to the states for ratification.
  • The Munich Olympics were marred when terrorists killed Israeli athletes in September.
  • The last U.S. ground combat troops left Vietnam in August under Nixon's withdrawal plan.
  • HBO began satellite television service, expanding pay-TV nationwide.
  • Atari released Pong, popularizing arcade video games.
1972 cent notes Collector notes for this year's Lincoln cents

Collector notes for 1972 Lincoln cents are being prepared.

Key Dates & Errors Key dates, valuable errors, and genuine vs fake guidance for 1972

See the list of all key dates and errors in Lincoln cents

Design types Obverse and reverse engravings in use for 1972

Obverse design types (ODT)

See the design types reference. Design types identify engraved designs; when differing designs create collectible alternatives within a year, see Lincoln cent design varieties.

Mint mark types Punch styles used on 1972 Lincoln cents

See the mint mark types reference.

Typical values Series price guide for regular-issue 1972 cents

1972 Lincoln cents from the CopperCoins series price guide (August/September 2026 edition) — approximate values only, not offers to buy or sell. Business strikes show separate BN, RB, and RD lines where priced.

Business strike

Issue G4 VG8 F12 VF20 EF40 AU50
1972-P BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1972-P RB
1972-P RD
1972-D BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1972-D RB
1972-D RD
1972-S BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1972-S RB
1972-S RD
Issue G4 VG8 F12 VF20 EF40 AU50
1972-P BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1972-P RB
1972-P RD
1972-D BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1972-D RB
1972-D RD
1972-S BN 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0
1972-S RB
1972-S RD

Proof

Issue PR60 PR61 PR62 PR63
1972-S CAM 0.50 0.85 1.60 4.20
1972-S DCAM
Issue PR60 PR61 PR62 PR63
1972-S CAM 0.50 0.85 1.60 4.20
1972-S DCAM
Die varieties in the catalog Attributed 1972 dies by mint and variety type

Our attribution catalog for 1972—doubled dies, repunched mint marks, and related varieties documented by die number. This is specialist research beyond regular issue Lincoln cents.

Search all 1972 dies Variety value guide for 1972

Catalogued dies for 1972

Number of assigned dies in the CopperCoins catalog, by mint and variety type. Click a count to search that group.

Mint DO Doubled Die Obverse DR Doubled Die Reverse MM Repunched Mint Mark Total
Philadelphia (P) 18 0 N/A 18
Denver (D) 6 2 14 22
San Francisco (S) 5 0 1 6
All mints 29 2 15 46
Variety plate coin videos Roll-reveal videos that sourced plate coins for 1972 dies

Videos on our YouTube channel that show when the plate coins for these dies were found in CopperCoins roll reveal videos.

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