The 1917-S Buffalo nickel is one of the toughest of the early S-mint Buffalo nickels, with fewer than 5,000 known in any grade. Of course, scarcity is usually the case with early mintmarked Buffalo nickels, but this is especially the case with the 1917-S, which is quite difficult to locate in the Gem grades and rare in MS67, with none certified that high by PCGS and only 1 slabbed at the grade by NGC. Examples are generally well struck and many Mint State pieces exhibit frosty luster.
| coinage-type | Buffalo nickel |
| desg | MS |
| designer | James Earle Fraser |
| diameter | 21.2 |
| edge | Plain |
| material | 75% copper; 25% nickel |
| mint-mark | S |
| mintage | 4,193,000 |
| ngc-id | 22RF |
| 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 | 3936 |
| pcgs-number | 3936 |
| 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 |