After much commotion within the U.S. Mint about the Buffalo nickel, what was Variation II became standard across the United States. The design featured a cutaway to protect the denomination mark, and changed the hill the buffalo was standing on into a flat surface. On the front of the Buffalo nickel, sculptor James Earle Fraser opted for a Native American bust, and he consistently stressed that it was not based on any particular tribe or person, but rather a “type.”
Popularity of the Five Cent Coin
With the popularity of penny arcades and nickelodeons on the rise in the United States, it is no surprise that nickels were commonplace in American society. Not only could someone use a nickel to see a show or play a game, it was also used for public transportation and daily purchases. Nickelodeons were particularly popular during this period, with patrons only having to pay five cents to see a motion picture. Many say their popularity gave birth to what we know as the modern cinema.
1914 Buffalo Nickel Values
With many of the kinks of the 1913 series worked out, the 1914 Buffalo nickel truly marked the beginning of the Buffalo nickel era, with a design that would last for decades. Like many older coins, the value is tied to the condition of the coin. Stay on the lookout for clear edges on the design, and a clear engraving of the date, mint mark, and cent-value. A mint condition coin is valued up to sixty dollars!
Type of coin: Nickel
Year: 1914
Mint Mark: No mint mark
Total mintage: 20,664,463
Metal content: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Face value: Five Cents
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Designer: James Earle Fraser
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters