The 1917-D Buffalo nickel is among the more challenging early mintmarked issues in the series, proving scarce even in circulated grades and downright difficult in uncirculated grades of Gem or better. Only 9,910,000 were made and far fewer than 10,000 are known to exist across the grading spectrum. At present, PCGS and NGC have each certified one example in MS67, suggesting how few of these coins were really saved and well preserved by collectors of that period.
| coinage-type | Buffalo nickel |
| desg | MS |
| designer | James Earle Fraser |
| diameter | 21.2 |
| edge | Plain |
| material | 75% copper; 25% nickel |
| mint-mark | D |
| mintage | 9,910,000 |
| ngc-id | 22RE |
| 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 | 3935 |
| pcgs-number | 3935 |
| 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 |