are 1972 silver dollars made of silver

[VanCorey]

That's an excellent question, and the answer truly depends on which version of the 1972 dollar you have. It's a common point of confusion because the U.S. Mint produced two different types of Eisenhower dollars that year, and only one of them contains precious metal.

Most 1972 Eisenhower dollars you would encounter in circulation were made for everyday business transactions. These coins, minted in Philadelphia (no mint mark) and Denver ("D" mint mark), are composed of a copper-nickel clad. They look like silver but contain no actual silver, much like modern dimes and quarters.

However, you'll be glad to know that the U.S. Mint also struck special versions specifically for coin collectors. These 1972 dollars were minted in San Francisco and bear the "S" mint mark. These collector's coins are the ones you're looking for, as they are composed of 40% silver. They were sold directly to collectors in special packaging and were never intended to be used as regular currency.

So, to determine if your 1972 dollar is made of silver, the most important thing to do is check for a mint mark. Look on the front of the coin, just below President Eisenhower's neck. If you see a small "S," you have a valuable collector's coin that is 40% silver. If you see a "D" or no mint mark at all, you have the common copper-nickel clad version.