1937

Philadelphia's 1937 Buffalo nickel mintage reached 79,480,000 coins, another massive production year as the economy continued its recovery. The coin is common in all grades and readily available in Mint State. Strike characteristics are generally strong, and Gem-quality examples exist in abundant numbers for specialist demand at minimal premiums.

The 1937 Philadelphia is among the most abundant Buffalo nickels in the series. Type collectors often select 1937 examples as representatives, and date collectors acquire the coin without any difficulty. The high mintage and strong strike quality make MS65 and better examples readily available at modest premiums over common-date baselines.

1937 was the year Amelia Earhart disappeared over the Pacific during her attempted round-the-world flight on July 2. It was also the year of the Hindenburg disaster in New Jersey (May 6) and the year Franklin Roosevelt attempted his controversial "court packing" plan to expand the Supreme Court. The Buffalo nickels struck that year circulated through a country that was simultaneously experiencing economic recovery and significant political controversy as New Deal programs continued to reshape American life.