The 1917 Buffalo nickel is a fairly typical Philadelphia issue from its era, and most of these are pretty well struck. A total of 51,424,019 were struck and there are about 10,000 or so known survivors, with plenty available in circulated grades. There is a decent supply in Gem, and a few dozen in the MS67 range, which is where many registry set collectors focus their sights. PCGS and NGC have slabbed a collective handful in MS68, though these scarcely enter the public trading arena.
| coinage-type | Buffalo nickel |
| desg | MS |
| designer | James Earle Fraser |
| diameter | 21.2 |
| edge | Plain |
| material | 75% copper; 25% nickel |
| mintage | 51,424,019 |
| ngc-id | 22RD |
| 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 | 3934 |
| pcgs-number | 3934 |
| 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 |