what is a 1972 kennedy silver dollar worth

[LaAbigail]

Hey there! That's a great question, and it touches on a common point of confusion about Kennedy coins from that era.

First off, the Kennedy coin is a half dollar, not a dollar, which is an easy mix-up to make. When it comes to the metal content, it really depends on which 1972 half dollar you have.

The vast majority of 1972 Kennedy half dollars are not made of silver. The coins intended for circulation were minted in Philadelphia (which has no mint mark) and Denver (which has a "D" mint mark). These are made of a copper-nickel clad composition. Since hundreds of millions were made, these circulated coins are very common and are generally worth their face value of 50 cents. If you have one in pristine, uncirculated condition, it might be worth a few dollars to a collector.

However, there is a special silver version from that year. In 1972, the San Francisco Mint produced proof coins specifically for collectors. You can identify this version by finding an "S" mint mark on the front of the coin, just below Kennedy's neck. These 1972-S proof coins are composed of 40% silver.

The value of a 1972-S silver Kennedy half dollar depends on the current price of silver and the coin's condition, but it's typically worth around $5 to $10. So, the key is to check for that "S" mint mark to see if you have the valuable silver version