1934 (D) Buffalo Nickel
Strike Type
Coin Details
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026 — estimates reflect typical grades (G-4 through MS-63). Coins in lower or exceptional grades may fall outside this range.
Auction Record
$23,500 MS66+ 01-30-2020 Legend Rare Coin Auctions
Description
The 1934 (D) Buffalo Nickel, struck at the Denver Mint, is part of the Buffalo Nickels 1913-1938 collection. With a mintage of 7.5 million, this is a less common issue — the lower-mintage of the two mint variants. The obverse features a composite Native American portrait combining features of three real tribal chiefs — Iron Tail (Lakota), Two Moons (Cheyenne), and John Big Tree (Seneca) and the reverse displays an American bison (often called Black Diamond after the famous bison at the Bronx Zoo) standing on a mound. Struck during the Great Depression, when mintages dropped sharply and the United States abandoned the gold standard in 1933. Denver's mint evolved from a frontier assay office into one of the nation's primary coin production facilities, opening in 1906. Estimated market value ranges from $2 to $162 depending on grade and condition. Struck in 75% copper, 25% nickel, weighing 5 grams, 21.2 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Cataloged as PCGS #3973.
External References
Error Varieties(8)
1934-D Doubled Die Reverse DDR-001
1934-D Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002
1934-D Doubled Die Reverse DDR-003
1934-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001
1934-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002
1934-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-001
1934-D Repunched Mintmark RPM-002
1934-D VRPM VRPM-003
Other Strike Types in This Series
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