Most 1930(P) nickels have just average to good strikes, though they frequently possess really dazzling luster.
The suggestion that some examples of this date feature a larger than normal LIBERTY is without merit, as a single master die was used throughout the year. More likely is that extended use of a particular obverse die caused the legend to become distorted through erosion. Normal die life for nickels was about 150,000 to 300,000 impressions, but the decision to remove an old die or to continue using it was made at the discretion of the coiner and the die setter.
This was the last mintage of nickels at Philadelphia until 1934. The Great Depression resulted in such slow commercial activity that there was little or no demand for additional coins during 1931-33.
Varieties:
- There are at least six doubled-die obverse varieties for this issue, though most are trivial. The most desirable ones show doubling at the date and the Indian’s nostril and eyelid (FS-1930-101 and DDO-2).
- The several doubled-die reverses known are mostly shallow and difficult to discern. The best of these is FS-1930-801, popularly known as the 5-leg variety.
- Two others are also included within The Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties (FS-1930-802,-803).
| Philadelphia | San Francisco |
| 22,849,000 | 5,435,000 |