1972 Ike Type Attribution -- With Photos
supercoin
Posts: 2,323 ✭
Ok, been meaning to do this for some time.
There are three 1972 Ike Types:
1972 Type 1 - Low Relief Reverse
1972 Type 2 - High Relief Reverse, struck with proof die, scarce
1972 Type 3 - High Relief Reverse
The Type 1 is a low-relief design. This is the same design found on 1971, 1971-D, 1972-D, and 1971-S silver unc.
The Type 2 was accidentally, or as an experiement, struck with the same design as used for the 1972-S proof and unc coins. The prevailing theory is that a proof die reverse was accidentally used. The estimated mintage based on die life is 100,000 coins, which is tiny by modern circulation standards. It is one of the few Ikes that brings a premium even in circulated grades.
The Type 3 is a very significant and intentional change. Better die steel allowed the mint to strike the coins in oringally-intended high relief design. This new higher relief was then used in 1973 and later (except the bicentennials).
There are a variety of ways to attribute the three different reverses, but here's what works best for me... all are related to looking at the Earth on the reverse.
RAISED outline around continents:
Type 1 - Outline of Earth flat from 8:00 to 11:00 (see yellow line).
All islands to East of Florida.
Type 3 - Outline of Earth essentially round.
Some islands West of Florida.
INCUSE outline around continents:
Type 2
For real-life examples, look at the readily available 1971-S, 72-S, and 73-S uncirculated silver issues. These are generally well-struck, and conveniently correspond to the 1972 Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 varieties.
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Credit for these photos goes to a fellow board member who photographed them for me with some fancy equipment. And put up with me asking him to retry them several times to catch the relevant details.
Thanks again Mike!
There are three 1972 Ike Types:
1972 Type 1 - Low Relief Reverse
1972 Type 2 - High Relief Reverse, struck with proof die, scarce
1972 Type 3 - High Relief Reverse
The Type 1 is a low-relief design. This is the same design found on 1971, 1971-D, 1972-D, and 1971-S silver unc.
The Type 2 was accidentally, or as an experiement, struck with the same design as used for the 1972-S proof and unc coins. The prevailing theory is that a proof die reverse was accidentally used. The estimated mintage based on die life is 100,000 coins, which is tiny by modern circulation standards. It is one of the few Ikes that brings a premium even in circulated grades.
The Type 3 is a very significant and intentional change. Better die steel allowed the mint to strike the coins in oringally-intended high relief design. This new higher relief was then used in 1973 and later (except the bicentennials).
There are a variety of ways to attribute the three different reverses, but here's what works best for me... all are related to looking at the Earth on the reverse.
RAISED outline around continents:
Type 1 - Outline of Earth flat from 8:00 to 11:00 (see yellow line).
All islands to East of Florida.
Type 3 - Outline of Earth essentially round.
Some islands West of Florida.
INCUSE outline around continents:
Type 2
For real-life examples, look at the readily available 1971-S, 72-S, and 73-S uncirculated silver issues. These are generally well-struck, and conveniently correspond to the 1972 Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 varieties.
--------
Credit for these photos goes to a fellow board member who photographed them for me with some fancy equipment. And put up with me asking him to retry them several times to catch the relevant details.
Thanks again Mike! 
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Comments
The Type 2 are, however, generally better struck and nicer looking than the typical 1972 (which isn't saying much -- it's the toughest date in the series).
If you're asking because of the proof die, I think the big tough nasty clad planchets would make it hard to tell.
And off the top of my head, it seems likely the proof die was not yet sandblasted and polished, because it would be pretty hard to accidentally mistake for a regular die then.
I've also never heard a reason why it couldn't just as easily been a 1972-S uncirculated die.
Yet another theory is the mint did it on purpose, as a test run to see how the die would hold up.
Would welcome any insight.
Thanks.
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
Greg
Michael
MW Fattorosi Collection
It should be just a matter of (hopefully not much more) time. The Type 1 to Type 3 in particular is a huge, intentional, design change -- dwarfing the minor varieties already recognized in many other series, such as the 79 and 81 proof mintmark varieties.
The 1972 types are now even listed in the 2003 Red Book thanks to the efforts of a dedicated collector. So there really are no valid excuses left.
I saw Jim B. was sending email to Rick about the TYPE II, and here is the Rick's reply
> I would appreciate an example of each one.
>
> Rick
jcping, yes, and that will make two examples of each that Rick has, somewhere. Hopefully Jim's will fare better than mine.
* The rarely seen smiley-gritting-his-teeth-slightly icon.
Greg
You should check out that other thread on Kenneth Bressett signing Red Books... maybe you could arrange to get a copy with the Ike page signed, preserve your own little piece of numismatic immortality.
While I'm giving credit where it's due, let me reiterate that the photos were taken by another forum member. I haven't been able to take good close-up photos like this.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.