1929 Nickel Value

Date and mint variety become key to 1929 nickel value. Next add the judgment of the coin's condition. Combined these facts define the coin and narrow its value range on the chart. Follow the step-by-step process and reference the illustrations pointing to subtle features needed for an accurate evaluation.

Refer to the chart as a range of wholesale values. Importantly, subtle qualities influence values within each grade category.

Step 1: | Date and Mintmark - Note the Three Distinct Varieties

The appeal of the Buffalo series to a large number of collectors keeps premiums strong. Their first focus as part of collecting requires an accurate reading of the date. Inspect the lower edge within the shoulder areas of the Indian's portrait. Record the date when easily recognized. If worn and faded, refer to the section below.

How to Recognize the Partial Date Buffalo Nickel

With the bold design of this coin, the date was placed on a high contour. This raised area quickly became worn, causing many coins to display a faded, partial date. Often the date appears as a slightly raised mound without any detail. However, applying viewing technique and spotting specific features begins to clarify these faded date areas.

At first glance, the faded date imaged shows only minor clarity. The one and nine of 1929 is now merged. Between the last number shows the greatest detail. Focus the examine on these last numbers.

Confirm the "2" of the date by its larger, wide, and curved top. Although similar to a three, it is the right-side curving downward to a triangle shape, defining the number as a two. Note the flat bottom, another feature of a two.

Tilting the coin and changing its angle to the light, note the left side area of the last digit. Here the difference of the left curve ending with a loop separates its identity from an eight. The small tail of the nine is faint but visible. Changing lighting direction and angles casts enough contrast with viewing shallow details.

Identify Three Varieties of 1929 Nickels

Mintmarks decide the variety of this year nickel. These mintmarks are small letters used to identify the mint that struck the coin. With three varieties, indicating the three mints in production, each becomes a necessary part of a collection.

This ending of the decade year remains popular with collectors. Three mints struck nickels within the year. Noted on the chart, the date with an "S" or "D" becomes part of their description.

Find the different marks on the reverse slightly above the lower rim. A small letter "S" or "D" indicates San Francisco or the Denver mints. However, if the area is blank, the Philadelphia mint struck the coin. Comparing with the images, identify the mint striking your coin. This identifies an important feature of its description.

Record an accurate date and now consider the mint and mintmark varieties of the date.

"S" Mintmark Buffalo Nickel

Throughout the 1920s the San Francisco Mint increased its production of nickels. Needed by commerce, the mint struck 7,750,000 in 1929. Many examples of this date and mint combination remain today. Considered as available on a rarity scale, values also remain affordable.

Notice on the chart, moderately to heavily worn examples are much lower in value than a higher quality example. This points to most of these remained in circulation for a long time. However, a Buffalo nickel from the 1920s has an appeal to the collecting market. A San Francisco 1929 nickel with ample detail showing hair strands and a bold buffalo on the reverse fits in the collectible category. The next step of judging condition narrows its premium range on value charts.

"D" Mintmark Nickel

A lack of higher quality Denver 1929 nickels shows within the value chart. Note strong premiums starting with the Extremely Fine grade. Although 8.3 million were produced, values indicate a lack of available pieces to supply collectors.

Have a second look at the mintmark to confirm. This coin has excellent value potential. An accurate date and mintmark recorded, plus a conservative judgment of condition, narrows its place on value charts. A nice find of an older date within the Buffalo nickel series.

"No" Mintmark Nickel

Philadelphia 1929 nickels represent a very collectible year in the Buffalo series. With a mintage of 36.4 million, they draw interest as an affordable nickel from the 1920s decade. The coin's overall demand comes from both new and young collectors in lightly circulated condition. Also, more advanced collectors seek high quality Mint State coins without wear on their surface.

Begin to handle these older nickels with care. Hold the coin by its edges when moving to the next step of examining condition.

Once completing the steps of verifying the date and mint, these become key to its accurate description. Judging condition next determines a narrow value range.

Step 2: | Viewing and Grading Condition

Grades are the terms used by the market defining a coin's condition. These grades represent different stages of detail remaining visible. Below is a set of images illustrating grades useful in finding a close match with your coin.

Closely inspect the overall appearance, noting areas of high contours and sharp details on the coin. These top surfaces wear in patterns and identify specific grades. Inspecting closely and referring to the descriptions, find a close match. This comparison method, with the aid of an example grade, helps add confidence with a grade judgment.

With a single light, plus magnification, examine the surface from different angles. This technique presents an accurate view of the coin.

Mint State Grade

A Buffalo nickel in Mint State condition shows no signs of wear. No wear on the surface becomes the strict definition of the Mint State grade. Recognizing the absence of wear on high points determines this highest quality.

Recognizing Wear: When a nickel is first minted, striking pressure imparts a fine grain texture on its surface. Undisturbed, this texture reflects light as a brilliant shine. Examine high points, wear smooths these areas, removing the texture. Worn, smooth metal reflects light with a duller shine.

Examine the Indian's cheek. This high contoured area typically presents wear first. The cheek's highest point, just under the eye, remains brilliant with luster. Compare with lower relief areas below, noting a similar texture and shine. Absence of smooth and slightly flattened metal confirms the no wear condition. Handle this quality coin by its edges.

Next, examine a second high point, hair above the forehead. The same evidence of a consistent shine remains on high points of hair strands. Comparing with recesses within the hair, both high and low areas appear similar in texture. Rotate your coin under a single light illuminating high and low contours helping see this similarity.

At the back of his head, feather details show an even overall brilliance of unworn metal. Examine the image (fig. 7); note the high feather edges match the lower inner areas of the feathers. Feather edges show the same texture and shine as the feather's center shaft. These delicate high points, when worn, become dull with a distinctly dull, gray color.

Mint State condition, a favorite with collectors, requires a close examine to confirm. Accurate judging techniques include a single light source plus magnification. One light shining on a coin's surface brings out subtle detail. Often confirming high and low points both remain with original texture and luster.

Extremely Fine Grade

A 1929 nickel in Extremely Fine grade condition represents a highly collectible coin. A coin from the 1920s in this condition ranks as somewhat elusive. Defining the condition, light wear shows only in small areas on the highest points. The appearance of light smoothness and flattening on the metal describes the look of this quality condition. Begin by comparing your coin with the professionally graded example.

Overall, this condition displays many fine line details. High contours within the hair separated by deep recesses remain visible. A well rounded temple and cheek also remain on the Indian's portrait.

First inspect the hair detail on the upper and lower areas along the part line. Above the part line, only small points of wear flatten high contours. Just below the part line, deep recesses remain, giving detail to this hair feature. Minimal flattened and smooth metal along the line indicates a lightly worn coin.

Complete high and low contours define the visible appearance of the Indian's face. Only with a close inspection are any signs of flattened metal visible. Focus on his temple; note slight surface wear just begins to smooth raised temple contours. Next, his bold cheek, a very high point, displays minimal, slight flatness. Raised and rounded facial contours become the visual definition of the Extremely Fine grade.

Across the surface, these areas of smooth metal only appear on the tops of design features. With a pleasing visual match with your coin, it becomes a candidate for the Extremely Fine grade.

Fine Grade

The overall visual condition of a Fine grade Buffalo nickel displays some sharp details. These fine details appear next to areas of worn, flattened surfaces. Moderate wear is the general definition of this grade level. Identifying the quality of visible detail refines an inspection of condition into a grade. Three areas help define the condition, hair detail, letters of the motto, and clarity of the feathers.

Hair Detail: In moderate wear condition, hair detail shows more clearly above the Indian's part line. From the front of his head extending to the back, flattened hair strands remain separated by deep recesses. Looking below the part line, large areas have a worn and smooth surface with few deep recesses. When compared, reference the example (fig. 9); these areas illustrate this visual quality difference.

Motto Clarity: Placed in front of the portrait, lettering of LIBERTY sits close to the rim. Fullness of the letters and the amount of separation from the rim measure this grading feature. Inspecting the image, letters remain clear and distinct along the bottom two thirds. Notice, some fading of outlines appears close to the rim. Fine grade allows one or two letters to slightly merge with the inner edge of the rim. On your coin, if all letters show separation from the rim, its condition is strong for the grade.

Feather Detail: Feathers at the back of the head appear with some detail and obvious visible wear. Examine the area where the large feather sits over the smaller. A subtle separation remains. This same subtle separation shows where the large feather meets hair detail. Metal in these areas has not smoothed to the point that all have merged with each other. Nice detail remains separating the hair from feathers.

Match the visual quality of your coin with highlighted areas identifying the Fine grade condition.

Good Grade

A heavily worn 1929 nickel must draw the attention of collectors with positive qualities. Heavy wear indicates a nickel within the Good grade range. When the coin displays nice eye appeal, they begin to have a place with many starting collections of the series.

Begin judging condition and appeal starting with the date area. Compare the clarity of the example (fig 10), a professionally graded coin. Notice the many remaining outline features of the date and its clarity. Because all four numbers show some clarity, this coin has collectible appeal. When your coin matches closely, it begins to fit within the solid Good condition range.

Secondly, feather detail at the back of the portrait remains disconnected from the rim. With a close examination, each end of the two feathers shows complete outlines raised above the field. Additionally, each feather shows a visible separation from the rim. This becomes an indication of quality preservation.

Judge your coin looking for bold facial features, a faded but mostly clear date, and outlined feather ends. These elements add up to a quality Good grade nickel.

How to Video: Grading Buffalo Nickels

Somewhat plentiful supplies remain of 1929 nickels. However, the value chart shows a premium for the higher quality examples. Strong features in key areas help recognize higher grades. Review the guide and grading images used for comparison.

Grading Buffalo Nickels | Visual Grading Guides

Step 3: | Special Qualities: 1929 Nickels Enjoy Solid and Steady Value

Any 1920s nickel represents a highly popular coin from a collectible decade of the Buffalo nickel series. 1929 nickels in particular attract many levels of collectors. It is an available year along with an affordable premium.

In relation to the rest of the 1920s decade production, 1929 nickels show large production numbers. This abundance becomes an advantage of the coin. As an plentiful issue on the rarity scale, supplies meet demand, keeping premiums within range of all collectors.

Historical Mintage Perspective: Within fourteen years after the 1929 nickels, mintage of 1943 nickels exceeded 390.5 million. A single year mintage almost as large as all years of the 1920s Buffalo nickel production of 398.6 million pieces. Buffalo nickels characterize an era of lower overall coin production.

Today, 1929 nickels represent strong value fundamentals. Popular with collectors, with a popular aesthetic design. High quality examples at affordable premiums. A rarity advantage because of numbers produced. Consider all a special coin.

Knowing a special quality of the 1929 nickel identifies the key elements of value. These include an accurate date, mint of issue, a judgment of condition, and solid underlying demand. Continue to the complete listing of Buffalo nickel values and how to store and preserve a coin's qualities.

References

U.S. Mint. 1930 U.S. Mint Annual Report https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/332
U.S. Mint. 1944 U.S. Mint Annual Report https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/337
U.S. Mint. Catalogue of Coins of the United States. https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/554591

🔎What's next: Review the articles helping decide how to Value, Record, Store, and Sell these Buffalo nickels.

Coin Values | CoinStudy Articles

Print the Coin Values Worksheet

Print the Coin Values Worksheet to list your coins and record their values. Add comments and keep as a written copy of the entire collection.

Safe Coin Storage | Recommendations

Recommendations on basic supplies that greatly improve coin storage. Providing for safe handling, preserving value, and organizing your box of old coins. Safely house and store old nickels and maintain their value into the future.

Selling Coins | How to Get the Best Value

Selling coins follows a defined method. Organize and research the value of the coin. Secondly, research for a dealer with an interest in the coin. Reference the selling guide and refer to listings of dealers to contact.

★Coin Values Discovery... finds 1929 nickel value and...

All old US coin values. It is an excellent index with images and text links to coin series, from Cents to Gold. Value charts, grading images, and descriptions uncover how much your box of old coins is worth.