The 1914 editions of the Buffalo Nickel are considered especially elusive - with the Denver minted coin being a standout. With a mintage of almost four million coins, this is a rare and exciting coin for any collector to find. The 1914-D Buffalo nickel features the iconic Buffalo reverse, as well as the Indian Head obverse, and is marked by the small D mint mark at the bottom.
Origins of the Buffalo Design
While we know them colloquially as buffalo, the mighty creature on the reverse of the nickel is actually an American Bison. Sculptor James Earle Fraser stated that the buffalo on the reverse of the Buffalo Nickel was inspired by Black Diamond, an American Bison at the Bronx Zoo. Historians have disputed this, however, since there was no American Bison at the Bronx Zoo, and Black Diamond was housed at the Central Park Zoo. Black Diamond also had significantly different horns than the buffalo represented on the reverse of the Buffalo nickel.
1914-D Buffalo Nickel Values
With many of the issues of the 1913 series worked out, the 1914-D Buffalo nickel marked the beginning of the Buffalo nickel era, with a design that would last for decades. The 1914-D nickel is incredibly valuable, with the average coin valued at almost a hundred dollars. Like many older coins, the value is tied to the condition of the coin. Collectors should look for clear edges on the design, and a clear engraving of the date, mint mark, and cent-value. These coins are highly sought after, and rare - a mint condition 1914-D Buffalo nickel is worth almost five-hundred dollars.
Type of coin: Nickel
Year: 1914
Mint Mark: Denver
Total mintage: 3,912,000
Metal content: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Face value: Five Cents
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Designer: James Earle Fraser
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters