Throughout its long history, the U.S. Mint has produced a variety of iconic coins that are still celebrated by collectors today. 5-Cent pieces, known colloquially as nickels, are just one of many types of coins produced by the U.S. Mint, but are also some of the most popular in the eyes of collectors. The Buffalo Nickel is easily one of the most popular 5-cent pieces among coin collectors around the world, and the 1927 Buffalo Nickel is no exception.
Design Flaws in the Buffalo Nickel
In the early years of the Buffalo nickel, two varieties of the coin were tested for their durability. Both sets of coins seemed to lend themselves to more wear and tear than typical U.S. coins, but they ultimately settled on a design that did not allow for the denomination mark to completely wear down. However, the design that was chosen was especially tough on the die-casts, and during the production years of the Buffalo nickel, the U.S. Mint went through five times as many dies than other coins produced.
1927 Buffalo Nickel Worth
Finding a 1927 Buffalo nickel is important to many collectors, and an exciting addition to any collection, since so few were made compared to other coins in the series. For any coin nearing a century in rotation, it’s important to note that the coin’s value is tied directly to it’s value. Stay on the lookout for clear edges on the design, clear engravings of the date, “E Pluribus Unum,” and “Liberty,” and cent-value, and signs of wear and tear. Highly circulated coins go for, on average, around a dollar and twenty-five cents - making this an affordable coin to kick off a collection. A mint condition coin is valued at almost forty dollars.
Type of coin: Nickel
Year: 1927
Mint Mark: None
Total mintage: 7,981,000
Metal content: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Face value: Five Cents
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Designer: James Earle Fraser
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters