It's a fact that all 1930 Pennies have undergone circulation, with the majority very well circulated.

Struck in 1930, during the Great Depression and with unemployment tipping 30 per cent, the notion that coins could be saved or kept as a collectible was nonsensical. Any coin that came into a family's hands was used.

The point at which the 1930 Penny was taken out of circulation and became a collectible, determines the quality of the coin.

The longer a coin stays in circulation, the more wear it will sustain, the greater the chance of harsh knocks and gouges and serious damage to the edges.

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1930 Penny
Full Diamond & Eight Pearls

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1930 Penny
Full Diamond & 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.

Evaluating a 1930 Penny, the design elements to study.

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.

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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.

SLIDESHOW -
THE HIGH POINTS OF A 1930 PENNY

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SLIDESHOW
COIN 1 - ABOUT UNCIRCULATED

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SLIDESHOW
COIN 2 - GOOD EXTREMELY FINE

SLIDESHOW
COIN 3 - EXTREMELY FINE

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SLIDESHOW
COIN 4 - GOOD VERY FINE

SLIDESHOW
COIN 5 - VERY FINE

SLIDESHOW
COIN 6 - GOOD FINE

We present a slideshow of six 1930 Pennies.

Grading ranges from the very best example at About Uncirculated to a well circulated Good Fine.

Note the changes to the high points!

And the increased level of marks in the fields.

About Uncirculated 1930 Penny

Technical details intact with just a whisper touch to the high points.

Good Extremely Fine 1930 Penny

Upper and lower bands of the crown intact, seventh and eighth pearls just starting to flatten. Slight wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

Extremely Fine 1930 Penny

Upper and lower bands intact, seventh and eighth pearls starting to flatten out but separated. Wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

Good Very Fine 1930 Penny

Lower band intact, upper band interrupted slightly through wear. Four sides to the central diamond. Oval to the left of diamond intact. Seventh and eighth pearls fused and flattened. Wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

Very Fine 1930 Penny

Lower band intact, upper band interrupted through wear. Four sides of the central diamond. Seventh and eighth pearls obliterated as is half of the oval to the left of the diamond. Extensive wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

Good Fine 1930 Penny

Upper and lower band interrupted through wear. One side of the central diamond just showing. The six pearls starting to flatten out, the seventh and eight pearls obliterated as is the right hand side of the oval to the left of diamond. Extensive wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

SLIDESHOW -
THE HIGH POINTS OF A 1930 PENNY

We present a slideshow of six 1930 Pennies.

Grading ranges from the very best example at About Uncirculated to a well circulated Good Fine.

Note the changes to the high points!

And the increased level of marks in the fields.

SLIDESHOW
COIN 1 - ABOUT UNCIRCULATED

Technical details intact with just a whisper touch to the high points.

SLIDESHOW
COIN 2 - GOOD EXTREMELY FINE

Upper and lower bands of the crown intact, seventh and eighth pearls just starting to flatten. Slight wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

SLIDESHOW
COIN 3 - EXTREMELY FINE

Upper and lower bands intact, seventh and eighth pearls starting to flatten out but separated. Wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

SLIDESHOW
COIN 4 - GOOD VERY FINE

Lower band intact, upper band interrupted slightly through wear. Four sides to the central diamond. Oval to the left of diamond intact. Seventh and eighth pearls fused and flattened. Wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

SLIDESHOW
COIN 5 - VERY FINE

Lower band intact, upper band interrupted through wear. Four sides of the central diamond. Seventh and eighth pearls obliterated as is half of the oval to the left of the diamond. Extensive wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

SLIDESHOW
COIN 6 - GOOD FINE

Upper and lower band interrupted through wear. One side of the central diamond just showing. The six pearls starting to flatten out, the seventh and eight pearls obliterated as is the right hand side of the oval to the left of diamond. Extensive wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

Static photos of those 1930 Pennies shown in the slideshow above.

About Uncirculated 1930 Penny

Technical details intact with just a whisper touch to the high points.

Good Extremely Fine 1930 Penny

Upper and lower bands of the crown intact, seventh and eighth pearls just starting to flatten. Slight wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

Extremely Fine 1930 Penny

Upper and lower bands intact, seventh and eighth pearls starting to flatten out but separated. Wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

Good Very Fine 1930 Penny

Lower band intact, upper band interrupted slightly through wear. Four sides to the central diamond. Oval to the left of diamond intact. Seventh and eighth pearls fused and flattened. Wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

Very Fine 1930 Penny

Lower band intact, upper band interrupted through wear. Four sides of the central diamond. Seventh and eighth pearls obliterated as is half of the oval to the left of the diamond. Extensive wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

Good Fine 1930 Penny

Upper and lower band interrupted through wear. One side of the central diamond just showing. The six pearls starting to flatten out, the seventh and eight pearls obliterated as is the right hand side of the oval to the left of diamond. Extensive wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

About Uncirculated 1930 Penny

Technical details intact with just a whisper touch to the high points.

Good Extremely Fine 1930 Penny

Upper and lower bands of the crown intact, seventh and eighth pearls just starting to flatten. Slight wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

Extremely Fine 1930 Penny

Upper and lower bands intact, seventh and eighth pearls starting to flatten out but separated. Wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

Good Very Fine 1930 Penny

Lower band intact, upper band interrupted slightly through wear. Four sides to the central diamond. Oval to the left of diamond intact. Seventh and eighth pearls fused and flattened. Wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

Very Fine 1930 Penny

Lower band intact, upper band interrupted through wear. Four sides of the central diamond. Seventh and eighth pearls obliterated as is half of the oval to the left of the diamond. Extensive wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

Good Fine 1930 Penny

Upper and lower band interrupted through wear. One side of the central diamond just showing. The six pearls starting to flatten out, the seventh and eight pearls obliterated as is the right hand side of the oval to the left of diamond. Extensive wear to the eyebrow and moustache.

03 9642 3133

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