The popular Buffalo Nickels are 5 cent United States coins. They are called Buffalo Nickels because the reverse of the coin features a buffalo. This coin is also called the 2005 Jefferson nickel and 2005 Bison Nickel.
How much is a 2005 Buffalo Nickel Worth? That’s the question that has been coming up more and more these days. And the answer, it seems, is—it depends on what you’re looking for. They are a couple of variations.
These Jefferson Nickels are among the finest pieces of artwork ever struck by the United States Mint. The coins were printed using a brilliant finish consisting of Copper and Nickel, and each coin carries a distinctive design that melds together as one complete piece. This makes for an exceptional collectible coin and beautiful addition to any collection of rare coins.
This article will discuss how much a 2005 Jefferson Nickels American Bison Westward Journey Series is worth. Keep reading to know more.
2005 Buffalo Nickel
The value of a 2005-P Jefferson Nickel (American Bison Variety) in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition is $0.39 to $1.43 or more. Another variation of the 2005 Buffalo Nickel is the 2005-D Jefferson Nickel which is worth about $0.39 to $1.43 on average. The 2005-S also exists but was struck as proof-only coins and is worth about $10 on average.
In 2004 and 2005, the U.S. Mint issued four commemorative nickel coins to mark the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition. The American Bison Nickel is one of four coins in the Westward Journey series.
The 2005 Buffalo Nickel was minted at three different locations;
- Philadelphia
- Denver
- San Francisco
Each location has a different number of coins struck.
| Mintage (P) (D) (S) | (448,320,000) (487,680,000) (3,344,679) |
| Metal Composition | 75% Copper – 25% Nickel |
| Mass/Weight | 5 grams |
| Diameter | 21.2 mm |
| Thickness | 1.95 mm |
| Minted At | Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco |
| Mint Marks | “P” “D” “S” |
| Edge | Plain |
| Designer | Felix Schlag |
2005 Buffalo Nickel History
The first Buffalo nickels were produced from 1913-1938 and were eventually replaced by Jefferson nickel. This is the first coin that has an animal different from an eagle engraved on it.
The 2005 nickel designs are inspired by Jefferson’s dream to explore the great west. This design displayed Jefferson a little differently from the traditional way he had been displayed on the faces of other coins.
It was a fresh depiction of him like never seen. His entire head does not show this time as his face is cropped more closely. His right portrait replaced his left. Liberty is inscribed in a copy of Jefferson’s handwriting.
In the year 2005, the United States Mint issued two newly designed 5-cent coins to complete the Westward Journey Nickel Series. The 2005 Buffalo Nickel also called the 2005 Bison Nickel was among them.
On the new Nickels, President Thomas Jefferson’s image was changed. Both nickels had the same Obverse but two different reverse faces
The first reverse was released in early 2005, this is the one that depicted the bison, it was reminiscent of the Buffalo Nickel from 1913-1938. The buffalo design was to portray the first time Lewis and Clark encountered an American Bison grazing and the second 2005 nickel design was to portray the vastness of the western waters.
This second coin had 3 mints as they were produced in
- Philadelphia
- Denver
- San Francisco
It displayed the Pacific ocean with the words Ocean in view! O! the joy” These were the words that William Clark put down in his diary, capturing his thoughts when he reached the mouth of the Columbia River.
The designer and engraver are Felix Schlag. Out of 144 designs submitted by the United States Mint Sculptor – Engravers and 24 artists in the agency’s new Artistic Infusion Program. Joe Fitzgerald designed two of the new images, the Obverse of Thomas Jefferson and the reverse of the second nickel displaying the Pacific Ocean.
Artist Jamie Franki was the one who designed the first reverse displaying the grazing Buffalo but this time the buffalo was facing right, the initial buffalo Nickel had the buffalo facing left.
The law that approved these 3 new designs was actually passed by Congress and approved by President Bush in April 2003. It was the first time since 1938 that the nickel will undergo any form of redesign. It was done to commemorate the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Of all the designs, 17 most promising were evaluated by a National Endowment for the Arts/United States Mint panel, then these designs were submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee for their review.
The recommendations of these two panels were put into consideration by the Treasury Secretary before the final designs were approved.
2005 Buffalo Nickel Design (Obverse & Reverse)
Obverse
This face displays a close crop of Thomas Jefferson’s face. “IN GOD WE TRUST” is inscribed on the front of the coin. You will also find the word “LIBERTY” inscribed in a copy of Jefferson’s handwriting, beneath the word you should see the mint mark indicating where the coin was struck. Then the year of production which in this case is “2005”.
Reverse
The reverse design features an American Bison facing right and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” boldly engraved over the Bison. Then beneath this, you have “E PLURIBUS UNUM” engraved. Right beneath “E PLURIBUS UNUM” you can clearly find the words “FIVE CENTS.”
2005 Buffalo Nickel Value & Mint Marks
One of the most popular series of US coins, the Buffalo Nickel is a common choice for collectors as well. It’s big and it’s bold. At a time when we’re seeing more and more demand for specialty coins, coin values have certainly risen over the past five years.
It was pretty easy to find them in change because they were struck in the hundreds of millions for each design and from each mint. For such a modern coin, it was poorly struck, it had many scratches and other imperfections. Its MS65 condition or higher grades are extremely difficult to find.
| 2005 Buffalo Nickel Value By USACoinbook | ||||
| Year | Mintage | MS 60 | MS 65 | PR 65 |
| 2005 P | 448,320,000 | $0.39 | $1.43 | – |
| 2005 D | 487,680,000 | $0.39 | $1.43 | – |
| 2005 S | 3,344,679 | – | – | $10 |
2005 P Buffalo Nickel Coin Value & Chart
| Group | Jefferson Nickels |
| Type | American Bison |
| Mintage | 448,320,000 |
| Metal Composition | 75% Copper – 25% Nickel |
| Mass/Weight | 5 grams |
| Diameter | 21.2 mm |
| Minted At | Philadelphia |
| Mint Mark | P |
| Edge | Plain |
According to the USA coin book, the value of a 2005-P Jefferson Nickel (American Bison Variety) in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition is $0.39 to $1.43 or more. However, there are other coin grading platforms with various price ranges for this coin. We have listed them down below to help narrow down the actual worth of your 2005-P Buffalo Nickel.
| 2005 P Buffalo Nickel Coin Value By NGC coins | |
| Grade | Price |
| MS 64 | $5 |
| MS 65 | $20 |
| MS 66 | $35 |
| 2005 P Buffalo Nickel Value By PCGS | |
| Grade | Price |
| MS 63 | $4 |
| MS 63+ | $4 |
| MS 64 | $12 |
| MS 64+ | $16 |
| MS 65 | $25 |
| MS 65+ | $34 |
| MS 66 | $46 |
| MS 66+ | $110 |
| MS 67 | $1000 |
| 2005 P Buffalo Nickel Coin Value By Greysheet | |
| Grade | Price |
| XF 40 | $0.05 |
| XF 45 | $0.05 |
| AU 50 | $0.05 |
| AU 53 | $0.05 |
| AU 55 | $0.05 |
| AU 58 | $0.05 |
| MS 60 | $0.08 |
| MS 61 | $0.08 |
| MS 62 | $0.08 |
| MS 63 | $0.25 |
| MS 64 | $0.75 |
| MS 65 | $5.00 |
| MS 66 | $30 |
| MS 67 | $1000 |
2005 D Buffalo Nickel Coin Value & Chart
| Group | Jefferson Nickels |
| Type | American Bison |
| Mintage | 487,680,000 |
| Metal Composition | 75% Copper – 25% Nickel |
| Mass/Weight | 5 grams |
| Diameter | 21.2 mm |
| Minted At | Denver |
| Mint Mark | D |
| Edge | Plain |
This coin is fairly easy to find in circulation, the MS66 version is very scarce, also anything above this grade is considered a rarity. The D Bison was minted in Denver and has a mintage of 487,680,000. You will find the “D” mintmark just beneath the “Liberty” inscription on the Obverse side
| 2005 D Buffalo Nickel Coin Value By NGC coins | |
| Grade | Price |
| MS 64 | $5 |
| MS 65 | $20 |
| MS 66 | $35 |
| 2005 D Buffalo Nickel Coin Value By PCGS | |
| Grade | Price |
| MS 63 | $4 |
| MS 63+ | $5 |
| MS 64 | $8 |
| MS 64+ | $9 |
| MS 65 | $12 |
| MS 65+ | $18 |
| MS 66 | $50 |
| 2005 D Buffalo Nickel Coin Value Chart By Greysheet | |
| Grade | Price |
| XF 40 | $0.05 |
| XF 45 | $0.05 |
| AU 50 | $0.05 |
| AU 53 | $0.05 |
| AU 55 | $0.05 |
| AU 58 | $0.05 |
| MS 60 | $0.08 |
| MS 61 | $0.08 |
| MS 62 | $0.08 |
| MS 63 | $0.25 |
| MS 64 | $0.75 |
| MS 65 | $5.00 |
| MS 66 | $35 |
2005 S Buffalo Nickel Coin Value & Chart
| Group | Jefferson Nickels |
| Type | American Bison |
| Mintage | 3,344,679 |
| Metal Composition | 75% Copper – 25% Nickel |
| Mass/Weight | 5 grams |
| Diameter | 21.2 mm |
| Minted At | San Francisco |
| Mint Mark | S |
| Edge | Plain |
The 2005 S Bison has a mintage of 3,344,679. Minted at San Francisco, with a Thomas Jefferson Obverse and American Bullion reverse. This coin was struck only as proof coins.
| 2005 S Buffalo Nickel Coin Value Chart By PCGS | |
| Grade | Price |
| MS 67 | $1 |
| MS 67+ | $1 |
| MS 68 | $2 |
| MS 68+ | $3 |
| MS 69 | $14 |
| MS 70 | $30 |
| 2005 S Buffalo Nickel Coin Value Chart By Greysheet | |
| Grade | Price |
| PR 60 | $0.25 |
| PR 61 | $0.30 |
| PR 62 | $0.35 |
| PR 63 | $0.40 |
| PR 64 | $0.40 |
| PR 65 | $1.00 |
| PR 66 | $2.00 |
| PR 67 | $4.00 |
| PR 68 | $6.00 |
| PR 69 | $10.00 |
| PR 70 | $16.00 |
2005 Buffalo Nickel Errors
2005 Jefferson Nickels: American Bison Westward Journey Series have some error coins that collectors would pay top dollar for. There are a couple of errors in this series.
1. D Speared Bison
This is an error of the 2005 bison coin; it is found on the reverse side of the Denver issue. Some argue that it is a die crack some others say it is a die gouge, it goes from the top to the bottom of the bison making it look like the bison has been speared.
The monetary value of this error coin increased especially when it was discovered that it was a very rare coin. This error was actually discovered in 2005 and once it was, it took only a few days for the price to rise to about $100.
In its bad grade, this coin can be gotten for $30, in its high grade it ranges from $100 to over $1000
2005 D Speared Bison Value
This displays on the reverse, a bison that appears to be struck by a spear, it is actually a die gouge running vertically from the rim of the coin across the midsection of the bison. This appears to be the most valuable 2005 Buffalo Nickel error.
| 2005 D Speared Bison Value By Greysheet | |
| Grade | Price |
| XF 40 | $30 |
| XF 45 | $35 |
| AU 50 | $40 |
| AU 53 | $45 |
| AU 55 | $50 |
| AU 58 | $60 |
| MS 60 | $75 |
| MS 61 | $85 |
| MS 62 | $95 |
| MS 63 | $125 |
| MS 64 | $200 |
| MS 65 | $250 |
| MS 66 | $700 |
2. Detached Leg Error Coin
The left-hand leg of the Buffalo appears to be detached but this is only an error and has made this coin valuable
3. Improperly Annealed Planchet (reverse)
On this error coin, you will see that the reverse has been improperly annealed. An MS65 condition sold for over $125
4. Improperly Annealed Planchet (Obverse)
This reveals an Obverse side that has not been properly annealed. It sold for over $28
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a 2005 Buffalo coin?
The price of this coin really depends on its grade Usacoinbook.com has it on record that the price range of this coin is $0.39 to $1.43, while the proof version is $10 dollars. See our Value chart for more detailed prices of this coin in different grades.
Is the Buffalo Nickel the same as the 2005 Bison nickel
Yes it is, the 2005 Buffalo Nickel is the same as 2005 Bison nickel and it is also called the 2005 Jefferson nickel. It is named this because of the Buffalo on the reverse of the coin although some say that an American Bison on the new design and not a buffalo
How many Jefferson coins were released in 2005?
In 2005 two new Jefferson coins were released but with three new designs, one was a new portrait of Jefferson for the Obverse. The other two were for the reverse, the first reverse design was released in the spring of 2005 with a buffalo on it while the second was released during summer with the Pacific ocean in view.
How many mints does the 2005 bison Nickel have?
The bison Nickel was struck at three mints; Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver.
Where is the mint mark of the 2005 Buffalo?
The mint mark of this coin is found right beneath the “Liberty” inscription on the coin and above 2005.
What is the 2005 Buffalo Nickel Value?
The 2005 Buffalo Nickel, like most nickels, isn’t worth much. It is the high grades and error coins that are usually valuable and can be sold for over $1000 but the low grades can even go for less than a dollar.
Is the 2005 Buffalo Nickel rare?
The low grades of this coin are not rare but the high grades like the mint state 65 to 67 is what is rare.
Are there 2005 Buffalo Nickel error coins?
Yes, there are, with the 2005 D speared buffalo nickel being the most valued. In this error, the bison appears to have been struck by a spear as a die gouge runs through the bison diagonally from the top to the bottom.
Summary
The 2005 Buffalo nickel, also called the 2005 bison Nickel or 2005 Jefferson nickel is a historic coin. It has a lot of history attached to it. First of all, it is reminiscent of the very much loved Buffalo nickels of 1913 to 1938. The initial Buffalo coins had the face of an American Indian which was such a display of the rich American cultural heritage.
The Buffalo was a representation of the first time the wildlife “Grazing Buffalo” was seen on the Lewis and Clark expedition. It was after 67 whole years that the buffalo design was brought back on the nickel after it had been stopped in 1938.
This 2005 nickel is part of the Westward Journey Nickel Series, it was a continuation of the 2004 “Keelboat” and Peace Medal which were all part of the series. There is definitely a lot of American history and culture embedded in this work of art. 2005 seems to be a monumental year for the nickel as it was also in the same year that the very valuable Bison D-speared error was found and the price rose up to $100 only a few days later.