Whitman Expo
1929-S Nickel MS Values
Details
The 1929-S Buffalo nickel is by and large the most common S-mint issue from the series for any period of the 1920s. While its mintage of 7,754,000 isn’t any significantly higher than many of the earlier S-mint Buffalo nickels, many of these coins languished in bank vaults during the Great Depression due to less spending by an economically starving public. With 1,000 specimens estimated to survive in MS65 or better, this S-mint nickel is scarce but not impossibly difficult in Gem grades.
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:
San Francisco
Mintage:
7,754,000
Coinage Type:
Buffalo nickel
Coinage Years:
1913-1938
Composition:
75% copper; 25% nickel
Mint Mark:
S
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, 1929
Obverse Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Reverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, FIVE CENTS
Reverse Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Feedback:
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