Coin collecting revolves around collecting key date coins.  It is these key date coins that set the market for coin prices.  For any collector of a certain series of coins, you must know the key date coins because these are going to be the most difficult coins to buy.  Finding these rare coins can be difficult.  And, collecting rare coins can involve big money.

For the buffalo nickel coin series there are 7 key date coins.  Some coin collectors consider only the 1913-S Type II buffalo nickel to be a key date coin.  But, I think that for most coin collectors, the semi-key date coins can also be included in the list of buffalo nickel key date coins.

List of Buffalo Nickel Key Date Coins

1913-S Type II buffalo nickel, mintage – 1,200,000

1926-S buffalo nickel, mintage – 4,200,000

1913-D Type II buffalo nickel, mintage – 4,200,000

1914-D buffalo nickel, mintage – 3,900,000

1915-S buffalo nickel, mintage – 1,500,000

1921-S buffalo nickel, mintage – 1,600,000

In addition to these buffalo nickel key date coins there are some buffalo nickel varieties that are also considered key date coins for buffalo nickel collections.

These key buffalo nickel varieties include the following,

1937-D 3-legged buffalo nickel

1936-D 3 1/2 legged buffalo nickel

1916-P double die obverse buffalo nickel

1918-D 8-over-7 buffalo nickel

If you would like to read more about buffalo nickels, Stella Coin News has the Complete Guide to Buffalo Nickels book on its site.  Another great book to read is The Authoritative Reference on Buffalo Nickels.

Here are some current auctions to buy key date buffalo nickels.

The Official Red Book a Guide Book of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels:
Complete Source for History, Grading, and Values
(Official Red Books)

Here are the top 10 lowest mintage buffalo nickels:

Date                                                                Mintage

1.  1926-S Buffalo Nickel -                             978,000

2.  1931-S Buffalo Nickel -                             1,200,000

3.  1931-S Type 2 Buffalo Nickel -              1,209,000

4.  1924-S Buffalo Nickel -                             1,437,000

5.  1915-S Buffalo Nickel -                              1,505,000

6.  1921-S Buffalo Nickel -                              1,557,000

7.  1913-S Type 1 Buffalo Nickel -               2,105,000

8.  1927-S Buffalo Nickel -                              3,430,000

9.  1914-S Buffalo Nickel -                               3,470,000

10.  1914-D Buffalo Nickel -                            3,912,000

Based on mintage numbers alone these would be considered key date buffalo nickels.

If you want to specialize in collecting buffalo nickels or just learn more about them, I highly recommend these books,

• The Official Red Book a Guide Book of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels: Complete Source for History, Grading, and Values (Official Red Books)
• The Authoritative Reference on Buffalo Nickels

I will do another post about what truly are the key date buffalo nickels taking into account factors other than mintage numbers.  In the meantime, check out these articles on key date coins.

The design of the reverse of the Jefferson nickel depicts Monticello with 6 full steps leading up to the front door of Jefferson’s Monticello.  Finding a us nickel with these 6 Full Steps is very rare.  In fact finding a 5 Full Step nickel is also rare.  But why?  Aren’t all coins stamped the same?

It turns out that the answer to that question is no.  Finding nickels with sharply defined steps is tough because the Mint often used old dies to make these us coins.  Additionally, for some years the dies used to make the Jefferson nickels only had 5 steps and not 6.

I don’t know about you, but I find this fascinating.  It is fun to become knowledgeable for what to look for when evaluating the value of coins.  I can just imagine my sense of victory when I find my first 5 or 6 Full Step Jefferson nickels.

1913 Buffalo Nickel Obverse

I thought that this would be a fun way to kick off this blog, but it took me a while to decide which type of coin to start collecting first.  But, after reading a ton of information about the different coin types, I decided that my first type set would be a nickel type set collection.

Why did I decide on collecting a U.S. nickel type set collection?

I have been reading a ton of books about coin collecting.  In doing my research, I have been drawn to James Earle Fraser’s buffalo nickel coin.   I don’t think that I am alone in my love of the Fraser buffalo nickel design.  It is a favorite among coin collectors.

Another factor in my choice of collecting a U.S. nickel type set is price.  I would love to be able to afford a U.S. gold coin or U.S. silver dollar type set collection, but unfortunately my budget won’t allow it.  On the other hand, a nickel type set collection is much more affordable.

So, I hope that you will enjoy my journey of collecting a nickel type set.  For those nusimatists out there that would like to provide me with some advice as I begin my collection, please leave your advice in the comments below.  Additionally, you can contact me on my contact form above.