The 1929 Buffalo nickel (Indian head) was the third 5-cent coin style the US Mint produced. Nowadays, this nickel is among the most popular because of its beauty and affordable price. Unfortunately, it is tricky to find such an old coin in excellent condition.
As always, you can determine the 1929 Buffalo nickel value based on its condition and the mint where it was produced. Some of them will cost you only 65 cents, but those in high grades can reach over a thousand dollars. Let’s take a look.
1929 Buffalo Nickel History
James Earle Fraser created this lovely coin with a high-relief design that was pretty difficult for mass production. Numerous intricate details contributed to the coin’s beauty, but it was quite complicated for the dies to achieve the desired effect.
1929 Buffalo Nickel |
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| Location | Year | Minted | Value |
| Philadelphia | 1929 | 36,446,000 | $2.25 |
| San Francisco | 1929 S | 7,754,000 | $2.15 |
| Denver | 1929 D | 8,370,000 | $2 |
| Total | / | 52,570,000 | / |
Therefore, most nickels, particularly those with a D and S mint mark, have poor amounts of detail. As a result, high-detail Buffalo nickels with full Buffalo horns are always costly. Since this design type caused quick wear, the US Mint changed it in 1913.
You can see a Native American facing right on the coin obverse. It wasn’t a particular person but a profile made of a few Native American tribal chiefs.
1929 Buffalo Nickel |
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| Face value | 5 cents ($0.05) |
| Melt value | N/A |
| Compound | 75% copper and 25% nickel |
| Coin weight | 0.1764 ounces (5 g) |
| Coin diameter | 0.8346 inches (21.2 mm) |
| Coin thickness | 0.0768 inches (1.95 mm) |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
On the reverse is an American Buffalo, probably Black Diamond, the animal that lived in the New York City Zoo. However, no one can confirm or deny this claim.
You can also spot the letter F under the date on the coin obverse. It marks the first letter of the designer’s last name. It is always present regardless of the mint where the coin was produced.
You should also look for one more letter below the words FIVE CENTS on the coin reverse. It is a mint mark showing where the particular nickel comes from. In this case, you can see S or D, while the lack of this letter indicates that the coin was minted in Philadelphia.
1929 Buffalo Nickel Types
In 1929, three mints produced this nickel:
- Philadelphia, without a particular mint mark
- San Francisco, with an S mint mark
- Denver, with a D mint mark
1929 Buffalo Nickel value by USA Coin book |
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| Quality | 1929 | 1929 S | 1929 D |
| Good | $1.4 | $1.4 | $1.4 |
| Very good | $1.7 | $1.7 | $2.2 |
| Fine | $2.75 | $2.2 | $2.75 |
| Very fine | $4.4 | $4.4 | $7.7 |
| Extra fine | $13 | $13 | $35 |
| About uncirculated | $22 | $27 | $50 |
| MS 60 | $44 | $61 | $65 |
| MS 63 | $81 | $89 | $144 |
The Great Depression didn’t negatively affect mintage figures this year, so mints produced an impressive 52,570,000 coins in total.
1929 Buffalo nickel without a mint mark
Buffalo nickel value has been pretty stable over the last several years since their price doesn’t depend on the gold and silver market fluctuations.
1929 Buffalo Nickel value by JM Bullion |
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| Year | Quality | |||
| Good | Fine | Extra fine | Uncirculated | |
| 1929 | $1.25 | $2.5 | $12 | $20 |
| 1929 S | $1.25 | $2 | $12 | $25 |
| 1929 D | $1.25 | $2.5 | $32 | $45 |
In most cases, you should set aside only a few dollars for a coin in low grades, while those in the mint stage will cost you about $45 to $80. However, one superior 1929 Buffalo nickel with attractive light maroon toning that fades to violet at its rims was paid $632 at auction.
1929 Buffalo Nickel value by CoinStudy |
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| Year | Quality | |||
| Good | Fine | Extra fine | Uncirculated | |
| 1929 | $0. 7 | $2 to $2.5 | $13 | $32 |
| 1929 D | $0. 7 | $2 to $2.5 | $25 | $50 |
| 1929 S | $0. 7 | $2 to $2.5 | $9 | $36 |
These coins always have a viable market, although new collectors never start their hobby with such inexpensive and unattractive pieces. Plus, none of the minted nickels in this year is particularly rare or unique.
1929 S Buffalo nickel
The 1929 S Buffalo nickel is the most common coin among those produced in San Francisco during the 20s. Namely, most of the mintage was stored in vaults during the Great Depression due to a bad economic situation.
1929 Buffalo Nickel value by COIN HelpU |
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| Quality | 1929 | 1929 S | 1929 D |
| Good | $1 | $1 | $1 |
| Very good | $1.45 | $1.5 | $2 |
| Fine | $3 | $3 | $3 |
| Very fine | $5 | $5 | $9 |
| Extra fine | $14 | $18 | $35 |
| About uncirculated | $20 | $32 | $48 |
| MS 63 | $61 | $85 | $104 |
| MS 65 | $249 | $338 | $920 |
As a result, an average 1929 S Buffalo nickel numismatic value is $2 to $30, depending on its condition. However, you should pay up to $480 for one of 1,000 survived coins in MS 65+.
1929 D Buffalo nickel
It is not complicated to find the 1929 D Buffalo nickel in lower circulated grades, so they are usually inexpensive. Most of them are worth $0.5 to $22 in circulated conditions.
1929 Buffalo Nickel value by Coinflation |
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| Coin | Quality | |||
| Good | Fine | Extra fine | Uncirculated | |
| 1929 | $0.5 to $1 | $1 to $1.25 | $9 to $10 | $28+ |
| 1929 S | $0.5 to $1 | $1 to $1.25 | $9 to $10 | $35+ |
| 1929 D | $0.5 to $1 | $1.25 to $1.5 | $20 to $22 | $45+ |
However, most collectors look for coins in the best possible grade. Some uncirculated pieces will cost only $50 to $70, but scarce 1929 MS 65 Buffalo nickel can reach a price of almost $1,200.
1929 Buffalo Nickel value by Hobbizine |
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| Quality | 1929 | 1929 S | 1929 D |
| Good | $0.7 | $1.9 | $1.9 |
| Very good | $1.9 | $2.85 | $2.85 |
| Fine | $3.8 | $3.8 | $3.8 |
| Very fine | $5.7 | $4.75 | $8.55 |
| Extra fine | $14.3 | $23.75 | $38 |
| Uncirculated | $23.75 | $28.5 | $48 |
| Brilliant uncirculated | $52 | $48 | $67 |
| MS 65 | $335 | $475 | $1,190 |
1929 Buffalo Nickel Grading
The rule of thumb is that coin’s condition is crucial when it comes to its price. Therefore, you need to have your 1929 Buffalo nickel checked before trying to sell it.
On the other hand, you need to be careful before purchasing such a coin if you are a collector. Only after grading will you get an idea about its value. Remember that this nickel is pretty standard and affordable, so you should be patient and find a high-graded one for your precious collection.
1929 Buffalo Nickel value by Greysheet |
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| Quality | 1929 | 1929 S | 1929 D |
| Good | $0.7 to $0.85 | $0.70 to $0.85 | $0.70 to $0.85 |
| Very good | $0.9 to $1.35 | $0.9 to $1.35 | $0.9 to $1.35 |
| Fine | $2.15 to $3.75 | $1.9 to $2.45 | $1.9 to $2.45 |
| Very fine | $4 to $8 | $2.65 to $3.5 | $6.75 to $21 |
| Extra fine | $12.15 to $18 | $12.15 to $21 | $35 to $47 |
| About uncirculated | $21.6 to $34 | $27 to $48.6 | $54 to 65 |
| MS 60 | $33.75 to $40.5 | $51 to $62 | $61 to $73 |
| MS 61 | $40.5 to $48.6 | $54 to $65 | $68 to $81 |
| MS 62 | $46 to $55 | $66 to $79 | $84 to $101 |
| MS 63 | $78 to $94 | $115 to $133 | $135 to $156 |
| MS 64 | $115 to $133 | $182 to $218 | $260 to $299 |
| MS 65 | $247 to $286 | $429 to 493 | $858 to $972 |
| MS 66 | $618 to $780 | $750 to $860 | $1,940 to $2,380 |
| MS 67 | $6,880 to $9,380 | $11,900 to $14,450 | $13,200 to $15,600 |
- Uncirculated – A 1929 Buffalo nickel in mint state is a superior coin without any signs of wear on the surface. It was never used on the open exchange market, and its texture is entirely preserved.
- Extra fine – Such a nickel spent some time in circulation but stayed in decent condition without significant damage. You can notice very light changes on the surface, and your coin won’t shine with its original luster, but most collectors will be happy to get it.
- Fine – This coin was in circulation for a while, but it wasn’t destroyed. You can see the worn-out boundaries between the central images and inscriptions, but this coin is still in collectible condition.
- Good – Unfortunately, a coin in this grade was heavily circulated so that you could spot considerable surface damage. It is full of scratches, and it can even become bent in some cases.
Buffalo Nickel Without Visible Date
It is a typical case that the nickel in poor condition is worn out so hard that you can’t recognize the date on its surface. In this case, the date can disappear since it is on a raised design part.
Since nickels were in use for decades, these numbers are usually the first to disappear. Unfortunately, such a coin is always poorly graded and usually is worth nothing.
In the best case, you can get ten cents for such a coin because some artists can use them to create shirt buttons or pieces of jewelry. Some rare pieces will be worth even in this condition, but no one nickel minted in 1929 is not particularly rare or unique.
Summary
Regardless of which of the three mints 1929 Buffalo nickel was produced in, it will typically cost only a few dollars. However, some of them with high grades can be worth a few hundred dollars. It is up to you to find a coin in uncirculated condition and with desired mint mark positioned below the FIVE CENTS denomination.
