Ron Guth: The 1872 Half Dime is a fairly common date. While not as common as the 1872-S Half Dime, the 1872 is on par with dates such as the 1858, 1860, and 1871. Mint State versions are plentiful, covering a wide swath from MS-62 to MS-64. Gems become scarce and superb examples are simply rare. The finest example certified by PCGS (as of February 2012) is a single MS-66+ (pictured above).
Most examples seen have weakness on the upper left side of the wreath. This weakness ranges from slightly soft to virtually flat. An 1872 Half Dime with a fully struck wreath would be quite a prize, if it exists at all.
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