A Diamond & Pearl 1930 Penny with a complete central diamond and eight pearls

There is a top echelon of 1930 Pennies, and be advised, it is very thin on the ground.

First up let’s define ‘top echelon’. For the purpose of this discussion it is a solid central diamond that is complete and showing its four sides. And eight pearls, the seventh and eight pearls separated and not fused.

Our assessment is that six to eight coins occupy the top echelon.

One of our clients, an avid coin collector and dogged market watcher and also the owner of one of the finest graded About Uncirculated 1930 Pennies (shown below) asserts that he has seen only six coins at this level.

Diamond & Pearl 1930 Penny, with a complete central diamond and eight pearls

POA

A buyer looking to acquire one of the very best 1930 Pennies will first and foremost require patience.  It could be many years, perhaps even a decade, before an example comes onto the market.

Of the estimated 1500 coins available to collectors, we contend there are six to eight 1930 Pennies that have a full central diamond and eight distinct pearls, the pearls separated. We have sold two examples. And this is the third.

But there is another issue that works against buyers looking for one of the best. Owners of top echelon 1930 Pennies are sophisticated collectors that appreciate what they have. And are reticent to part with them. In our experience, top quality 1930 Pennies are the coins that become part of an intergenerational wealth transfer within a family.

In this section we present a slideshow and a static presentation of six 1930 Pennies of varying qualities.

Those areas of the obverse design that are the first to wear, the high points, are detailed; the numbers corresponding to the photo shown at right (or on the mobile, below).

1. The lower edge of the band in the crown. In top examples, it is complete and unbroken.

2. The upper edge of the band, complete and unbroken. In top examples, it is complete and unbroken.

3. The 1930 Penny was struck with four sides of the  central diamond. A top coin has four sides of the central diamond. In a well circulated example, the diamond will be obliterated

4. The very famous, tell-tale (and rarely seen) seventh and eighth pearls.

5. The oval to the left of the central diamond. Shows wear on the right hand side in circulated examples.

6. The six pearls that are seen in 90% of examples.

7. The eyebrow, a point of wear.

8. The end of the moustache, also a point of wear. 

There are other aspects to the obverse design that we look at such as the cross on the orb right at the top of the crown, the monarch's cheek and the details in the crown and the robes. But the main features are as shown above.