1929 Buffalo Nickel Value Guide

The 1929 Buffalo Nickel, designed by James Earle Fraser, is a quintessential piece of Americana featuring a composite portrait of three Native American chiefs. Minted during the final years of the Roaring Twenties, this copper-nickel coin is highly collectible for its iconic depiction of a bison modeled after Black Diamond from the Bronx Zoo.

What Is 1929 Buffalo Nickel Worth?

The typical price range for 1929 Buffalo Nickel is $5 - $10 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The presence of a mint mark from Denver (D) or San Francisco (S) can increase rarity compared to Philadelphia strikes.
• The visibility of the horn on the buffalo and the tail detail significantly impacts the grade and market price.
• Overall surface preservation, including the absence of heavy scratches or environmental corrosion on the copper-nickel alloy.
• Full legibility of the date, as the 1929 strike is prone to wearing down in high-relief areas.

How to Identify 1929 Buffalo Nickel?

• Check the obverse for the year 1929 clearly struck below the Native American profile.
• Verify the 'F' designer mark for James Earle Fraser located under the date.
• Inspect the reverse to ensure the buffalo is standing on a flat ground line, which was the standard for this era.
• Look for a mint mark (D or S) below the words 'FIVE CENTS' on the reverse; no mark indicates the Philadelphia Mint.

History of 1929 Buffalo Nickel

The Buffalo Nickel, also known as the Indian Head Nickel, was minted by the United States Mint from 1913 to 1938. Designed by James Earle Fraser, it replaced the Liberty Head Nickel and was celebrated for its distinctly American imagery, reflecting themes of the American West. The Native American model for the obverse is believed to be a composite of three real chiefs, while the buffalo on the reverse was modeled after an American bison named Black Diamond from the Bronx Zoo.