1935 (D) Buffalo Nickel

Coin Details

Auction Record

$34,800 MS67+ 03-31-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

Part of the Buffalo Nickels 1913-1938 series, the 1935 (D) Buffalo Nickel is a nickel from the Denver Mint. The U.S. Mint produced 12.1 million examples, making this ranked 2nd of 3 mint variants by mintage, with 15% of production. 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 $123 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 #3975.