Five Cents 1920 Buffalo Nickel, Coin from United States - detailed information

Five Cents 1920 Buffalo Nickel, Coin from United States
CoinFive Cents 1920 Buffalo Nickel

The Buffalo Nickel or Indian Head Nickel is an American copper-nickel five-cent piece (abbreviated as ) that was struck by the United States Mint from 1913 to 1938. It was designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser. The alloy is the same as modern nickels, 75% copper and 25% nickel.

As part of a drive to beautify the coinage, five denominations of US coins had received new designs between 1907 and 1909. In 1911, Taft administration officials decided to replace Charles E. Barber's Liberty Head design for the nickel, and commissioned Fraser to do the work. They were impressed by Fraser's designs showing a Native American and an American bison.

Despite attempts by the Mint to adjust the design, resulting in some reverse varieties, the coins proved to strike indistinctly and to be subject to wear; the dates and even the denomination were easily worn away in circulation. In 1938, after the expiration of the minimum 25-year period during which the design could not be replaced without congressional authorisation, it was replaced by the Jefferson Nickel. Fraser's design is still admired today as a numismatic classic, and has been used on commemorative coins and the gold American Buffalo series.

These Buffalo Nickel five cents have not been recalled and are still current, although they do not circulate to any realistic extent - most having been worn out, lost or hoarded by collectors.

MintMint markTotal Mintage
Philadelphia Mint No mint mark 63,093,000 (63.1 million)
San Francisco Mint Letter S 9,689,000 (9.7 million)
Denver Mint Letter D 9,418,000 (9.4 million)
Obverse
United States / Five Cents 1920 Buffalo Nickel - obverse photo

The obverse of the coin shows, within a plain border, the portrait of an American Indian man facing right, his plaited hair hanging below his shoulder, with a decoration of two large bird feathers hanging down in the back.

Around right, the inscription LIBERTY.

The date of issue: 1920, is in relief on the Indian's shoulder. Incuse below that, a small letter F represents the initial of the sculptor, James E. Fraser.

Obverse Inscription LIBERTY 1920
Reverse
United States / Five Cents 1920 Buffalo Nickel - reverse photo

Surrounded by a plain rim, the reverse of the coin shows an American bison (colloquially known as a buffalo, thus giving the coin its name), with its head lowered, standing to left.

Around above, the legend UNITED · STATES · OF · AMERICA. Below that, to the right and above the buffalo's back, on three lines the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM (from Latin: "Out of many, one").

In the exergue, the value and denomination in words: FIVE CENTS.

Coins struck by the Philadelphia Mint have no mint mark. Coins struck by the Denver Mint or the San Francisco Mint have a small letter D or S respectively, located below the denomination.

Reverse Inscription UNITED · STATES · OF · AMERICA FIVE CENTS E PLURIBUS UNUM
EdgePlainEdge InscriptionNone
Showing 100 from a total of 217 coins of type: Five Cents
Coin NameMintageSymbol or PortraitLegend
Five Cents 1909 Liberty Head Nickel 11,590,526 Liberty, Portrait ************* 1909
Five Cents 1910 Liberty Head Nickel 30,169,353 Liberty, Portrait ************* 1910
Five Cents 1911 Liberty Head Nickel 39,559,372 Liberty, Portrait ************* 1911
Five Cents 1912 Liberty Head Nickel 34,948,714 Liberty, Portrait ************* 1912
Five Cents 1913 Liberty Head Nickel 5 Liberty, Portrait ************* 1913
Five Cents 1913 Buffalo Nickel 73,659,220 Indian Head LIBERTY 1913
Five Cents 1914 Buffalo Nickel 28,047,738 Indian Head LIBERTY 1914
Five Cents 1915 Buffalo Nickel 30,061,270 Indian Head LIBERTY 1915
Five Cents 1916 Buffalo Nickel 88,691,066 Indian Head LIBERTY 1916
Five Cents 1917 Buffalo Nickel 65,527,019 Indian Head LIBERTY 1917
Five Cents 1918 Buffalo Nickel 45,330,314 Indian Head LIBERTY 1918
Five Cents 1919 Buffalo Nickel 76,395,000 Indian Head LIBERTY 1919
Five Cents 1920 Buffalo Nickel 82,200,000 Indian Head LIBERTY 1920
Five Cents 1921 Buffalo Nickel 12,220,000 Indian Head LIBERTY 1921
Five Cents 1923 Buffalo Nickel 41,857,000 Indian Head LIBERTY 1923
Five Cents 1924 Buffalo Nickel 28,315,000 Indian Head LIBERTY 1924
Five Cents 1925 Buffalo Nickel 46,271,100 Indian Head LIBERTY 1925
Five Cents 1926 Buffalo Nickel 51,301,000 Indian Head LIBERTY 1926
Five Cents 1927 Buffalo Nickel 47,141,000 Indian Head LIBERTY 1927
Five Cents 1928 Buffalo Nickel 36,783,000 Indian Head LIBERTY 1928
Five Cents 1929 Buffalo Nickel 52,570,000 Indian Head LIBERTY 1929
Five Cents 1930 Buffalo Nickel 28,284,000 Indian Head LIBERTY 1930
Five Cents 1931 Buffalo Nickel 1,200,000 Indian Head LIBERTY 1931
Five Cents 1934 Buffalo Nickel 27,693,003 Indian Head LIBERTY 1934
Five Cents 1935 Buffalo Nickel 80,656,000 Indian Head LIBERTY 1935
Five Cents 1936 Buffalo Nickel 158,745,420 Indian Head LIBERTY 1936
Five Cents 1937 Buffalo Nickel 102,946,769 Indian Head LIBERTY 1937
Five Cents 1938 Buffalo Nickel 7,020,000 Indian Head LIBERTY 1938
Five Cents 1938 Jefferson Nickel 28,996,365 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1938
Five Cents 1939 Jefferson Nickel 130,771,535 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1939
Five Cents 1940 Jefferson Nickel 259,729,158 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1940
Five Cents 1941 Jefferson Nickel 300,160,720 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1941
Five Cents 1942 Jefferson Nickel 154,557,200 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1942
Five Cents 1943 Jefferson Nickel 390,519,000 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1943
Five Cents 1944 Jefferson Nickel 173,099,000 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1944
Five Cents 1945 Jefferson Nickel 215,505,100 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1945
Five Cents 1946 Jefferson Nickel 219,968,200 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1946
Five Cents 1947 Jefferson Nickel 157,542,000 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1947
Five Cents 1948 Jefferson Nickel 145,382,000 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1948
Five Cents 1949 Jefferson Nickel 106,866,000 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1949
Five Cents 1950 Jefferson Nickel 12,477,416 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1950
Five Cents 1951 Jefferson Nickel 56,845,500 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1951
Five Cents 1952 Jefferson Nickel 115,279,980 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1952
Five Cents 1953 Jefferson Nickel 125,862,300 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1953
Five Cents 1954 Jefferson Nickel 194,484,410 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1954
Five Cents 1955 Jefferson Nickel 82,730,300 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1955
Five Cents 1956 Jefferson Nickel 103,108,324 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1956
Five Cents 1957 Jefferson Nickel 176,484,852 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1957
Five Cents 1958 Jefferson Nickel 186,212,772 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1958
Five Cents 1959 Jefferson Nickel 189,135,531 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1959
Five Cents 1960 Jefferson Nickel 249,689,782 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1960
Five Cents 1961 Jefferson Nickel 306,011,004 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1961
Five Cents 1962 Jefferson Nickel 380,797,739 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1962
Five Cents 1963 Jefferson Nickel 455,681,105 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1963
Five Cents 1964 Jefferson Nickel 2,815,919,922 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1964
Five Cents 1965 Jefferson Nickel 138,491,380 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1965
Five Cents 1966 Jefferson Nickel 158,469,866 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1966
Five Cents 1967 Jefferson Nickel 109,189,144 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1967
Five Cents 1968 Jefferson Nickel 194,665,370 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1968
Five Cents 1969 Jefferson Nickel 325,907,131 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1969
Five Cents 1970 Jefferson Nickel 756,950,194 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1970
Five Cents 1971 Jefferson Nickel 426,249,533 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1971
Five Cents 1972 Jefferson Nickel 556,991,596 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1972
Five Cents 1973 Jefferson Nickel 648,561,339 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1973
Five Cents 1974 Jefferson Nickel 881,737,568 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1974
Five Cents 1975 Jefferson Nickel 586,492,750 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1975
Five Cents 1976 Jefferson Nickel 935,237,877 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1976
Five Cents 1977 Jefferson Nickel 885,940,574 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1977
Five Cents 1978 Jefferson Nickel 707,528,561 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1978
Five Cents 1979 Jefferson Nickel 792,732,847 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1979
Five Cents 1980 Jefferson Nickel 1,098,882,254 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1980
Five Cents 1981 Jefferson Nickel 1,026,368,926 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1981
Five Cents 1982 Jefferson Nickel 669,939,023 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1982
Five Cents 1983 Jefferson Nickel 1,101,620,402 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1983
Five Cents 1984 Jefferson Nickel 1,267,509,256 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1984
Five Cents 1985 Jefferson Nickel 1,110,225,229 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1985
Five Cents 1986 Jefferson Nickel 901,713,120 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1986
Five Cents 1987 Jefferson Nickel 786,317,813 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1987
Five Cents 1988 Jefferson Nickel 1,438,394,600 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1988
Five Cents 1989 Jefferson Nickel 1,472,874,668 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1989
Five Cents 1990 Jefferson Nickel 1,328,874,062 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1990
Five Cents 1991 Jefferson Nickel 1,053,468,465 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1991
Five Cents 1992 Jefferson Nickel 854,293,673 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1992
Five Cents 1993 Jefferson Nickel 821,554,927 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1993
Five Cents 1994 Jefferson Nickel 1,441,359,736 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1994
Five Cents 1995 Jefferson Nickel 1,665,065,481 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1995
Five Cents 1996 Jefferson Nickel 1,649,593,265 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1996
Five Cents 1997 Jefferson Nickel 940,433,678 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1997
Five Cents 1998 Jefferson Nickel 1,325,718,507 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1998
Five Cents 1999 Jefferson Nickel 2,282,067,966 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 1999
Five Cents 2000 Jefferson Nickel 2,359,807,993 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 2000
Five Cents 2001 Jefferson Nickel 1,306,568,606 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 2001
Five Cents 2002 Jefferson Nickel 1,233,691,995 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 2002
Five Cents 2003 Jefferson Nickel 828,178,439 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 2003
Five Cents 2004 Louisiana Purchase 736,432,069 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 2004
Five Cents 2004 Westward Journey - Keelboat 714,592,069 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * 2004
Five Cents 2005 Westward Journey - Bison 941,664,679 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST Liberty 2005
Five Cents 2005 Westward Journey - Ocean in View 810,864,679 Thomas Jefferson (left) IN GOD WE TRUST Liberty 2005
Five Cents 2006 Jefferson Nickel 1,507,149,158 Thomas Jefferson (facing) IN GOD WE TRUST Liberty 2006
Five Cents 2007 Jefferson Nickel 1,154,208,422 Thomas Jefferson (facing) IN GOD WE TRUST Liberty 2007
Showing 101 to 200 of 217 Coins.
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Five Cents 1920 Buffalo Nickel: Details
CountryUnited States
CurrencyUS Dollar
Coin TypeFive Cents, Buffalo Nickel
Issued1920
Symbolic PortraitIndian Head
Face Value5 (x Cent)
Circulation Mintage82,200,000 (82.2 million)
Total Mintage82,200,000 (82.2 million)
CurrentYes
MaterialCuproNickel
DesignerJames E. Fraser
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationCoin Alignment (Axis 6)
Size21.2000 mm
Thickness1.9500 mm
Mass5.0000 g
OCC IDWMRA-EQPC-QJND-OYPL
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Five Cents 1920 Buffalo Nickel: Photos
ImageDetails
Five Cents 1920 Buffalo Nickel: Photo Coin, United States, Buffalo Nickel 1920 / thumbnail Coin, United States, Buffalo Nickel 1920
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Notes: No mint mark.
Source
Five Cents 1920 Buffalo Nickel: Photo Coin, United States, Buffalo Nickel 1920 / thumbnail Coin, United States, Buffalo Nickel 1920
Copyright: NumisCorner.com
Source
Five Cents 1920 Buffalo Nickel: Catalogue Reference IDs
SourceReference ID
Krause, Standard Catalog of World CoinsUnited States KM# 134
Schön, WeltmünzkatalogSchön# 132