The 1934-D Buffalo nickel is not considered a scarce coin in the absolute sense, but its certainly a conditional rarity in the Gem grades, and is the rarest regular-issue, business-strike entry in the series for any of the uncirculated pieces known from 1934 through 1938. There is an estimated 700 or so survivors in MS65 or better grades, and none graded as MS67 or higher by either PCGS or NGC.
| coinage-type | Buffalo nickel |
| desg | MS |
| designer | James Earle Fraser |
| diameter | 21.2 |
| edge | Plain |
| material | 75% copper; 25% nickel |
| mint-mark | D |
| mintage | 7,480,000 |
| ngc-id | 22SM |
| 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 | 3973 |
| pcgs-number | 3973 |
| 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 |