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COIN VALUE GUIDES · NICKELS
1929 Buffalo Nickel Value:No Mint Mark, D, S and Readable Dates
Locate the reverse mint mark, distinguish Fraser’s F from a mint letter, and compare strike quality without assigning a Three-Legged premium.
HeriBase TeamPublished In this article
Quick answer
A readable 1929 Buffalo nickel can have a collector value above face value. NGC’s dated ordinary guides list Good at $2 for Philadelphia, $2.50 for Denver and $2 for San Francisco (August 23–24, 2021). A clear date and problem-free surfaces are important assumptions.
Higher grades and sharp strikes need separate comparisons: the 1929-D guide, for example, differs substantially in gem condition. A dateless, acid-restored or damaged coin does not inherit readable-date prices, and the famous 1937-D Three-Legged variety does not apply to 1929.
Coin photos
Basics & coin story
James Earle Fraser’s Buffalo design paired a Native American portrait with an American bison. In 1929 it was already an established circulating design, with a date position that could become difficult to read after wear.
NGC’s issue analysis links surviving 1929-S Mint State supply with coins held idle during the Depression. That survival pattern shows why mintage alone cannot rank every issue’s scarcity. The Buffalo nickel series guide provides the broader comparison.
| Feature | What to check |
|---|---|
| Type / denomination | 1929 Buffalo nickel / five cents |
| Designer | James Earle Fraser |
| Standard alloy | 75% copper; 25% nickel |
| Nominal weight / diameter | 5.00 g / 21.2 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Mint-mark position | Reverse below FIVE CENTS; Philadelphia blank |
Identification
Read the date before searching for a premium
The date is on the obverse shoulder area and can wear away. Check all four digits under gentle angled light. Do not use acid to reveal a date; a restored-date coin is a different market category.
Use the reverse letter, not Fraser’s F
D or S appears below FIVE CENTS on the reverse; Philadelphia is blank. The small F beneath the obverse date is the designer’s initial, not a fourth mint or an error.
Judge strike and wear separately
Inspect the hair, bison’s shoulder and horn along with luster and friction. Weakly struck high points can survive on unworn coins. A missing-looking leg caused by wear or damage does not establish the different 1937-D variety.
Condition & value
Amounts are in U.S. dollars. The final column gives each source row’s update date (month/day/year), separate from the access date of November 13, 2026. Published guides are reference estimates, not guaranteed buying offers or seller net proceeds. Obtain recent like-for-like completed comparisons for an actual transaction.
MS means Mint State. Full Steps, Proofs and attributed varieties are excluded from the ordinary entries.
| Issue | Grade / condition | USD reference | Basis | Source updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 no mark | Good | $2 | NGC retail guide | 08/23/2021 |
| 1929 no mark | Fine | $5 | NGC retail guide | 08/23/2021 |
| 1929 no mark | Extremely Fine 40 | $17.50 | NGC retail guide | 08/23/2021 |
| 1929 no mark | MS63 | $90 | NGC retail guide | 08/23/2021 |
| 1929 no mark | MS65 | $280 | NGC retail guide | 08/23/2021 |
| 1929-D | Good | $2.50 | NGC retail guide | 08/23/2021 |
| 1929-D | Fine | $5 | NGC retail guide | 08/23/2021 |
| 1929-D | Extremely Fine 40 | $35 | NGC retail guide | 08/23/2021 |
| 1929-D | MS63 | $175 | NGC retail guide | 08/23/2021 |
| 1929-D | MS65 | $1000 | NGC retail guide | 08/23/2021 |
| 1929-S | Good | $2 | NGC retail guide | 08/24/2021 |
| 1929-S | Fine | $5 | NGC retail guide | 08/24/2021 |
| 1929-S | Extremely Fine 40 | $22.50 | NGC retail guide | 08/24/2021 |
| 1929-S | MS63 | $125 | NGC retail guide | 08/24/2021 |
| 1929-S | MS65 | $425 | NGC retail guide | 08/24/2021 |
Readable circulated examples
Match the mint, full date and wear level to the table. The XF40 references are $17.50 for Philadelphia, $35 for Denver and $22.50 for San Francisco, updated August 23–24, 2021. These remain dated estimates, not live bids.
Denver gems and strike quality
The 1929-D ordinary guide lists $175 at MS63 and $1,000 at MS65, updated August 23, 2021. That difference concerns properly graded unworn specimens; it cannot be transferred to a worn D-mint nickel or to a coin made glossy by polishing.
Varieties, restoration and Proof claims
Price only a confirmed variety as that variety. There was no regular 1929 Proof Buffalo nickel issue. Restored dates, scratches, corrosion and altered surfaces require separate comparisons from problem-free regular strikes.
Photograph both faces under even light and record the visible date and mint mark. HeriBase can help organize an initial photo-based identification; verify important mint, finish and variety details against the references before using a price. An app result is not a certified grade, authentication or purchase offer.
Summary
Higher grades and sharp strikes need separate comparisons: the 1929-D guide, for example, differs substantially in gem condition. A dateless, acid-restored or damaged coin does not inherit readable-date prices, and the famous 1937-D Three-Legged variety does not apply to 1929. Match the complete issue and condition to a dated reference before seeking a current offer.
FAQ
Where is the 1929 Buffalo nickel mint mark?
D or S is on the reverse below FIVE CENTS. Philadelphia has no mint letter.
What does the F below the 1929 date mean?
It is Fraser’s designer initial, not a mint mark.
Is a 1929 Three-Legged Buffalo nickel the famous variety?
The famous Three-Legged variety is dated 1937-D. Wear, damage or a weak strike on a 1929 coin does not establish it.
Should I restore a worn Buffalo date with acid?
No. Acid changes the surface and creates a restored-date coin, which is valued separately from an original readable-date example.
References
References and further reading
- NGC: 1929 5C MS specifications, issue analysis and dated guide
- NGC: 1929 D 5C MS specifications, issue analysis and dated guide
- NGC: 1929 S 5C MS specifications, issue analysis and dated guide
References accessed November 13, 2026. Guide update dates, source publication dates and sale dates are distinct. No independent examination or current buying offer for a reader’s coin is implied.