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How Much Is an 1929 Buffalo Head Nickel Worth?

The U.S. Mint issued the 5-cent nickel with an Indian head on the front and a buffalo on the back from 1913 until 1938. Often known as the "buffalo nickel" or "Indian head nickel," the coin is popular among collectors. A few prints are considered rarities while most others---like the 1929 print---are abundant and are worth, on average, 50 cents. As with any good collectible, some discrepancies in printing make some coins more sought after than others.

History
- The buffalo nickel was designed by James Earl Fraser, a prominent American sculptor. He was renowned for his Native American work such "End of the Trail"---a statue of a returning brave and his horse, slumped over from exhaustion. The New York Zoo's then-famous Black Diamond buffalo served as his model for the nickel along with three different Native Americans. Made of nickel and copper, the coin was pressed only in the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco mints.
Getting to Know your Coin
- Every coin has a mint mark that tells you where it is printed. On the buffalo nickel, the mint mark is located below the words "FIVE CENTS." A mark of "D" stands for Denver, "S" for San Francisco, and no marking means Philadelphia printing.
  Buffalo nickels were often double stamped or sometimes printed with the "S" and "D" overlapping. Not visible without a microscope or high-powered magnifying glass, the error increases the value.
Grading your Coin
- Grading---or deciding the condition---of your coin should be left to a coin dealer or antiquity appraiser with a coin background. Factors such as wear, coloring and overall condition can give you an idea of the grade of your coin. Typical grading is Fair, Good, Very Good, Fine, Very Fine and Extremely Fine.
Circulation
- With millions of each printing, the buffalo nickel is a good starter collector coin. Occasionally, one can still be found in circulation, making change from a checkout a treasure hunt to the avid collector. Some particular printings---such as the San Francisco 1926 minting with only 970,000---are rarer to find.
  In 1929, 8 million were minted in both San Francisco and Denver.
Hobo Coins
- During the Great Depression, coins started appearing with the Indian head altered to look like a man with a hat and a scraggly beard. The bold cuts used in the Indian made carving him easier than the buffalo. The alterations likely were done by bored day labors, looking for something to do with their time while waiting for work. Hobo coins are well-sought now and worth considerably more for their unique place in history.

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