Unless it's uncirculated or proof, one cent.
Technically it contains a bit more than 1 cent worth of copper but it would cost you far more than that to recover and sell it, as well as being illegal.
The last "Wheat Penny" was made in 1958, a cent date 1972 is just a cent.
That wasn't something done at the mint, rather the cent was likely plated with zinc or nickel. So it has little to no collector value. The US government has never struck a penny in silver.
Steel cents were only made in 1943 and are easily detected because they stick to a magnet. Your coin is almost certainly a bronze cent that's been plated.
The value is about 4.15 to 4.44 currently. As always, the range depends on the current condition of the penny
Face value only.
It is worth a penny
The last "Wheat Penny" was made in 1958, a cent date 1972 is just a cent.
It is worth face value.
...Only one cent. They are in common circulation.
1 cent. that was only 36 years ago
No 1972-S small date varieties are known.
It's worth 2 cents for the copper.
Such a coin does not exist. The last general circulation New Zealand Penny was issued in 1964.
A 1972 US cent would be made of solid bronze and have a different color than a new one, but not goldish. If it sticks to a magnet, it is either not real or has been coated with some metal with magnetic properties.
All 1962 cents were struck in bronze. Your coin has been exposed to heat or a chemical that affected its surface, and is only worth face value.
The last Australian Penny was minted in 1964. Their place in the Australian currency was replaced by the 1 cent coin in 1966.
No Australian Penny has ever been minted in gold, they were made from bronze. If you have a gold Penny, it will be because somebody has gold plated it, perhaps to commemorate or celebrate a significant event for somebody. Modified coins have no collector value.