Like other Buffalo head nickels of the era, those struck at the San Francisco mint are important for collectors looking for a full set of Buffalo nickels - but they are harder to find due to their lower mintage numbers. For some, hunting down a 1914-S Buffalo nickel may be the final piece of their Buffalo nickel coin series, and for others, it may be the beginning of a love for coin collecting.
Where Does the Name Nickel Come From?
Formally known as the five-cent piece, the nickel has not always been called a nickel in American tradition. Before mixed metals were allowed in the Mint, all coins had to be struck from gold, silver, or copper. The five-cent piece was originally called a “half-disme,” and wasn’t until 1866 that five-cent pieces were made with nickel, which is where the name came from. The Buffalo nickel series is made with a mixture of copper and nickel.
1914-S Buffalo Nickel Values
The 1914-S Buffalo nickel was minted in smaller numbers than the Philadelphia counterpart, at the historic San Francisco mint. Because of this, and the rarity of a Buffalo nickel in great condition, this is a very valuable and collectible coin with an average value of almost thirty dollars. Like many older coins, condition is key to the coin’s value - look for clear, distinct engravings and signs of wear to determine a coin’s grade. A mint condition, uncirculated coin can fetch a couple hundred dollars.
Type of coin: Nickel
Year: 1914
Mint Mark: San Francisco
Total mintage: 3,470,000
Metal content: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Face value: Five Cents
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Designer: James Earle Fraser
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters