Obverse
John F. Kennedy portrait by Gilroy Roberts; LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST.
WORLD COINS · UNITED STATES · 1972 PROOF SET
1972-S Kennedy Half Dollar Proof
San Francisco (S) · Original 1972 Proof Design
1972-S50 CentsCollector Proof
01 COIN IDENTITY
Coin Identity
IssuerUnited States
Year1972
Mint MarkS
MintSan Francisco
Denomination50 Cents
Issue1972-S Proof, regular five-coin set
Short QR Codeusps72h
Short URLhttps://metacoinart.com/q/usps72h
02 SPECIFICATIONS
Physical Profile
CompositionCopper-nickel clad over a pure-copper core (91.67% Cu, 8.33% Ni overall)
Weight11.34 g
Diameter30.61 mm
Thickness2.15 mm
EdgeReeded (150 reeds)
OrientationCoin alignment ↑↓
ShapeRound
03 DESIGN
Obverse & Reverse
Reverse
Heraldic presidential eagle design by Frank Gasparro with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and HALF DOLLAR.
The 1972-S half dollar uses the copper-nickel clad format adopted for half dollars in 1971, not the earlier 40% silver alloy.
04 HISTORICAL CONTEXT
1972-S Proof Issue
Mint FacilitySan Francisco Mint
FinishProof
Original Standard Proof Set5 coins, total face value 91 cents
Reported 1972 Set Quantity3,260,996 (secondary catalogue/collector reference)
Original Set Sale Price$5.00 (secondary historical catalogue)
Individual Coin MintageDo not infer separately from sales figures for the proof set
The 1972 standard set includes no dollar coin. The U.S. Mint announced the Eisenhower dollar would join the annual regular set in 1973. The 3,260,996 number is a reported set total, not a U.S. Mint press-release figure supplied by this archive.
05 REFERENCES
References
OFFICIAL SOURCE — PRIMARY
United States Mint · Proof Sets
U.S. Mint explanation of the annual collector proof set and Proof striking process.
Open reference ↗OFFICIAL SOURCE — PRIMARY
United States Mint · Historical Design / Metal
Official history and design background for the Kennedy Half Dollar; 1972-S characteristics noted separately.
Open reference ↗OFFICIAL SOURCE — PRIMARY
United States Mint · Coin Specifications
Official denomination specifications; the 1972 bronze cent is distinguished from modern zinc cents.
Open reference ↗INDEPENDENT CROSS-CHECK
PCGS CoinFacts · 1972-S Proof
Independent historical Proof identification and physical specifications, not an official U.S. Mint source.
Open reference ↗SECONDARY CATALOGUE — LAST
Numista · Kennedy Half Dollar
Collector catalogue for the denomination and 1972-S Proof type; no Numista photos, value tables or catalogue prose reproduced.
Open reference ↗