The 1938-D Buffalo nickel is the last of the regular-issue coins in this series, which was replaced later in 1938 by the still-running Jefferson nickel series. While this issue is actually one of the lower-mintage 1930s issues, with only 7,020,000 minted, it is by far the most common in uncirculated grades. Many were saved in roll quantities due to collectors knowing this would be the last Buffalo nickel minted. An impressive 100,000 or so examples exist in uncirculated grades, with approximately 80,000 in MS65 grades. Several dozen are certified in grades as high as MS68, and it is not difficult to pick out some tremendously beautiful examples of this last-year issue.
| Country | United States of America |
| Year | 1938 |
| Serie | Buffalo Nickels |
| Denomination | 5c |
| Mint | Denver |
| coinage-type | Buffalo nickel |
| desg | MS |
| designer | James Earle Fraser |
| diameter | 21.2 |
| edge | Plain |
| material | 75% copper; 25% nickel |
| mint-mark | D |
| mintage | 7,020,000 |
| ngc-id | 22SZ |
| obverse-description | James Earle Fraser's famous and simple design depicts a Native American chief with the word LIBERTY from 1-2 o'clock. The date is placed on the lower left of the chieftain's bust. |
| pcgs-link | 3984 |
| pcgs-number | 3984 |
| reverse-description | A full portrait of the bison, Black Diamond, with the words UNITED STATES oF AMERICA at the top periphery with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM just underneath. The denomination FIVE CENTS is spelled out at the bottom. For the Type 1, the denomination is embossed on a flat surface. |
| variety | Buffalo |
| weight-grams | 5 |
| year-display | 1913-1938 |