1972-D

Denver struck 141,890,000 Kennedy halves in 1972, the second year of the cupronickel clad composition that ended the silver-clad era in 1970. The alloy is 75% copper and 25% nickel in the outer layers over a pure copper core, weight 11.34 g, diameter 30.6 mm, edge reeded. The D mintmark sits below Kennedy's truncation on the obverse, with Roberts's GR initials at the neck and Gasparro's FG initials to the right of the eagle's tail feathers on the reverse, the same placement that becomes the diagnostic for the 1972-D No FG variety pulled from this same production run.

What makes the 1972-D worth looking at twice is the No FG variety, where Gasparro's initials are completely missing from the reverse because excessive die polishing wore through the already-shallow relief. PCGS, the Professional Coin Grading Service, recognizes two die states of the missing-FG reverse, both pulled from regular 141-million-piece production. A genuine No FG shows no trace of the initials, with the area to the right of the tail feathers smooth and unbroken; a partial or weak FG is just die wear and carries no premium. On regular 1972-D coins, strike weakness shows up most often on the central hair detail above Kennedy's ear and on the eagle's breast feathers, with bag-mark concentration on the cheek and jawline the standard Mint State condition problem. Cherry-picking remains the most common acquisition path for the No FG; raw seller claims should be verified against PCGS or NGC, Numismatic Guaranty Company, attribution before paying a premium.

The 1972-D itself is a routine common date worth face-plus in any grade through MS65 and worth certification above MS66, where well-struck gems thin out sharply against population reports. The variety is where the year's collector interest lives: a graded No FG trades at a substantial premium over the base date in any grade, with attributed Mint State examples particularly sought. For the broader story of the design transition to copper-nickel clad and the series' production arc, see the Kennedy Half Dollar series history.