Released in 1913, the Buffalo Nickel replaced the Liberty Head nickel, which had been in circulation since 1883. The coin was designed by James Earle Fraser and represented a shift in U.S. coinage by focusing on Native American and western imagery instead of European-inspired designs. This 1930 Buffalo Nickel is a classic example of the series at its zenith, with beautiful artistry and details that underscore its high-level mint state condition. Today, the 1930 Buffalo Nickel is available at JM Bullion.

Coin Highlights:

• Comes with an individual protective slab!
• 18th issue of Buffalo Nickels!
• Type II specimen!
• Contains 5 grams of 75% copper.
• The face value is $.05 (USD).
• Graded Mint State 66 by the Professional Coin Grading Service.
• Portrait of an indigenous figure on the obverse.
• American bison on the reverse.
• Please note that there may be a variation in the exact appearance of each coin in this listing.

The 1930 Buffalo Nickel was struck only at the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints, with no Denver production that year due to reduced demand during the early Great Depression. The Philadelphia issue had a modest mintage, while the 1930-S from San Francisco is considerably scarcer and commands premium prices in all grades. This date marks one of the lower-production years in the Buffalo Nickel series, reflecting the economic downturn’s impact on coin production.

This 1930 Buffalo Nickel is available in Mint State 66 condition. The typical coin with this grade has only three of four minor contact marks with a few light hairlines, none of which are visible to the naked eye. This coin features a crisp strike and robust luster, highlighting the near-perfect surface areas on both sides.

The obverse of the 1930 Buffalo Nickel features a right-facing portrait of a Native American figure wearing braided hair and feathers. Fraser claimed the design was based on a combination of Iron Tail, Two Moons, and John Big Tree, though this assertion has been debated. The word “LIBERTY” appears to the left of the portrait, while the date is shown beneath.

On the reverse of the 1930 Buffalo Nickel, an American bison stands atop a mound, symbolizing the wildlife associated with the American West. The image was modeled after Black Diamond, a bison that lived at the Central Park Zoo in New York City. The denomination “FIVE CENTS” is displayed along the bottom, with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” completing the inscriptions.

Please contact JM Bullion with any questions about historic copper coins. You can call us at 800-276-6508, chat with us online, or email us directly.