2005-S American Bison Nickel Proof
Proof struck at the San Francisco Mint · 3,344,679 made
- Mintage
- 3,344,679
- Metal
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 21.21 mm
Original illustration. Tap to flip. Not a photograph of the actual coin.
Face value · Metal value · Small premium · Collector premium · Significant rarity. We use bands because prices change daily.
What is a 2005-S American Bison Nickel Proof worth?
Age alone gives this coin a small premium, even worn. Sharp details and original surfaces push it higher.
What would make yours worth more:
- Grade and, for proofs, strong cameo contrast
- A known variety for the date: 2005-D Speared Bison Nickel
For market prices, check recent sold results for certified coins in the same grade.
Quick answers
- Is the 2005-S American Bison Nickel Proof rare?
- Not especially. The Mint made 3,344,679 for collectors. Most were kept in their original packaging.
- Is the 2005-S American Bison Nickel Proof silver?
- No. It's 75% copper, 25% nickel. The only silver nickels are the 1942 to 1945 wartime coins with a large mint mark above Monticello.
- Where is the mint mark on a 2005 Westward Journey Nickel?
- On the obverse: near the date on 2004 coins and just above the date, below LIBERTY, on 2005 coins (P, D or S). On this coin the mark is S, for San Francisco.
- How many 2005-S American Bison Nickel proofs were made?
- 3,344,679.
What to check on your 2005-S
- Make sure the mint mark really is an S. A worn or filled mark can be misread. It's what separates your coin from the 2005-P (448 million made).
- Look for the 2005-D Speared Bison Nickel (it's on Denver coins, not this one).
- Judge the grade under good light. Modern nickels are graded on luster and strike. Look for weakness on the reverse devices and for contact marks across Jefferson's cheek.
Proofs from 2005 come with and without frosted devices. Coins with strong contrast are labeled Cameo or Deep Cameo and are worth more.
The story of the 2005-S American Bison
Lewis and Clark on the nickel (2004 to 2005)
The Westward Journey nickels marked the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition. In 2004 two reverses used the original obverse. The Peace Medal by Norman E. Nemeth was based on medals given to tribal leaders, while the Keelboat by Al Maletsky shows the expedition's boat. The American 5-Cent Coin Design Continuity Act of 2003 required the Monticello reverse to return after the series.
In 2005 a new obverse by Joe Fitzgerald showed Jefferson facing right with Liberty in his handwriting. The American Bison reverse by Jamie Franki and the Ocean in View reverse by Fitzgerald completed the series. The 2005-D Bison has a die gouge variety called the Speared Bison. Satin finish coins came in 2005 mint sets. Many were saved, so uncirculated coins are plentiful.
How to recognize it
The American Bison design
A single American bison stands on the reverse, recalling the Buffalo nickel of 1913 to 1938. Lewis and Clark saw vast herds of bison on the Great Plains, where the animal held great importance for many Native American nations. The design was created by Jamie Franki and sculpted by Norman E. Nemeth. It was paired with a new obverse showing a close-up portrait of Jefferson. The American Bison was the first of the two Westward Journey nickels issued in 2005.
The Westward Journey Nickel design
Four reverses marked the Lewis and Clark expedition: the Peace Medal with clasped hands and the Keelboat in 2004 and the American Bison and the Pacific coast "Ocean in view" design in 2005. The 2005 coins also introduced a close-up portrait of Jefferson facing right, with LIBERTY written in his own handwriting.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Series | Westward Journey Nickel (2004–2005) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2005 |
| Mint | San Francisco Mint |
| Mint mark | "S" |
| Strike type | Proof |
| Mintage | 3,344,679 |
| Face value | 5¢ |
| Composition | 75% copper, 25% nickel |
| Weight | 5 grams |
| Diameter | 21.21 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Designer | Various (Norman E. Nemeth, Al Maletsky, Jamie Franki, Joe Fitzgerald) |
Other 2005 Westward Journey Nickel issues
| Coin | Mintage | Type | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-P American Bison Nickel | 448,320,000 | Circulation strike | – |
| 2005-P Ocean in View Nickel | 394,080,000 | Circulation strike | – |
| 2005-D American Bison Nickel | 487,680,000 | Circulation strike | – |
| 2005-D Ocean in View Nickel | 411,120,000 | Circulation strike | – |
| 2005-S American Bison Nickel Proof | 3,344,679 | Proof | – |
| 2005-S Ocean in View Nickel Proof | 3,344,679 | Proof | – |
Mintage: United States nickel mintage figures (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from US Mint records and the Guide Book of United States Coins. How we build these pages.