This date is the quintessential type coin. Almost always well struck, 1938-D nickels were hoarded by the thousands of rolls. Most mint state examples are choice to gem, and even the D/D and D/S varieties are fairly common in gem condition.
This issue comprised the last emission of Buffalo Nickels from any of the United States Mints. It was known early in 1938 that no more Buffalo Nickels would be coined after that year. What remained uncertain is whether the Philadelphia and San Francisco Mints would produce any.
Varieties: A cherrypicker’s dream, the 1938-D Buffalo Nickel is known with three re-punched D varieties and no less than five over mintmark D/S varieties. Of the latter, one is D/D/S, while a second is D/D/D/S (FS-1938D-511).
Mintage:
| Denver |
| 7,020,000 |