The 1915-S Buffalo nickel is extremely scarce in all grades and is particularly challenging in Gem Uncirculated grades. Only 1,505,000 were struck and, of these, an estimated 6,000 pieces survive. Oddly enough the coin is scarcer in the circulated grades than many of its early mintmarked counterparts in the series, yet population figures indicate it is about as scarce in uncirculated grades as any of the other early mintmarked Buffalo nickels.
| coinage-type | Buffalo nickel |
| desg | MS |
| designer | James Earle Fraser |
| diameter | 21.2 |
| edge | Plain |
| material | 75% copper; 25% nickel |
| mint-mark | S |
| mintage | 1,505,000 |
| ngc-id | 22R9 |
| obverse-description | James Earle Fraser's famous and simple design depicts a Native American chief with the word LIBERTY from 1-2 o'clock. The date is placed on the lower left of the chieftain's bust. |
| pcgs-link | 3929 |
| pcgs-number | 3929 |
| reverse-description | A full portrait of the bison, Black Diamond, with the words UNITED STATES oF AMERICA at the top periphery with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM just underneath. The denomination FIVE CENTS is spelled out at the bottom. For the Type 1, the denomination is embossed on a flat surface. |
| weight-grams | 5 |
| year-display | 1913-1938 |