The Buffalo nickel was originally designed in 1913 by famous American sculptor James Earle Fraser, who was commissioned to “beautify the nickel.” The Buffalo nickel was minted from 1913 to 1938, making the 1927-D Buffalo nickel a mid-series coin that is popular with collectors. Buffalo nickels with a small “D” printed under the denomination mark were minted at the Denver branch of the U.S. Mint, and often hold more value than Buffalo nickels minted at the main U.S. Mint in Philadelphia.
Economic Prosperity and the Mint
Due to strong fiscal success during the 1920s, the U.S. Mint found a populace that had little desire for smaller coins. Many consumers eschewed one and five-cent coins for half-dollars and dollar coins because of their stronger buying power. This was especially true in 1927, where each minting location found themselves striking less than eighteen million Buffalo nickels combined. For comparison, in 1926, the Philadelphia Mint alone struck almost forty-five million coins.
1927-D Buffalo Nickel Value
An average 1927-D Buffalo nickel is valued at around two dollars and fifty cents. However, stay on the lookout for a higher quality coin. 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 a mint condition 1927-D Buffalo nickel is valued at one-hundred and sixty-five dollars.
Type of coin: Nickel
Year: 1927
Mint Mark: Denver
Total mintage: 5,730,000
Metal content: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Face value: Five Cents
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Designer: James Earle Fraser
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters