Whitman Expo
1915 Nickel MS Values
Details
The 1915 Buffalo nickel is a coin fairly typical for Philadelphia-minted five-cent coins of its time. Not particularly scarce, though tougher to locate than its Philly counterparts from the 1920s and certainly the 1930s, the 1915 Buffalo nickel is available in adequate supplies, particularly in circulated condition. With a mintage approaching 21 million, this issue is common enough in well-worn grades and can be easily found in higher circulated grades, too. Uncirculated pieces are predictably tougher to find than circulated examples, though even in this case there are decent quantities of Gem specimens available up through MS66.
Obverse: James Earle Fraser's famous and simple design depicts a Native American chief with the word LIBERTY from 1-2 o'clock. The date is placed on the lower left of the chieftain's bust.
Reverse: A full portrait of the bison, Black Diamond, with the words UNITED STATES oF AMERICA at the top periphery with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM just underneath. The denomination FIVE CENTS is spelled out at the bottom. For the Type 1, the denomination is embossed on a flat surface.
Mint & Coinage Details
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
20,986,220
Coinage Type:
Buffalo nickel
Coinage Years:
1913-1938
Composition:
75% copper; 25% nickel
Physical Characteristics
Weight:
5 gr
Weight:
0.1608 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
21.2 mm
Coin Shape:
Round
Design Details
Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Obverse Lettering:
LIBERTY, 1915
Obverse Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Reverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, FIVE CENTS
Reverse Designer:
James Earle Fraser
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