A 2005 buffalo nickel with a P mint mark is a 2005-P Jefferson nickel with the American Bison reverse, struck at the Philadelphia Mint in the first half of 2005 for the Westward Journey nickel series. It is not one of the original Buffalo nickels made from 1913 to 1938. The Mint struck 448,320,000 of them at Philadelphia, so a circulated 2005-P bison nickel is common and worth face value. What makes one worth more is an uncirculated coin in top condition with a full, sharp strike, a satin finish coin from a Mint set, or a genuine mint error.
What is a 2005 buffalo nickel P?
In 2004 and 2005 the United States Mint changed the nickel to mark the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The 2005 coins carry a one-year portrait of Thomas Jefferson by Joe Fitzgerald, with the word "Liberty" traced from Jefferson's own handwriting. The spring 2005 reverse shows an American bison, designed by Jamie Franki, and that bison is why people call it the 2005 buffalo nickel. Later in 2005 the reverse changed to the "Ocean in view! O! The Joy!" coastline, so there are two different 2005 nickels.
| 2005 bison nickel | Where it was struck | How many were made |
|---|---|---|
| 2005-P | Philadelphia | 448,320,000 |
| 2005-D | Denver | 487,680,000 |
| 2005-S proof | San Francisco, for proof sets only | 3,344,679 |
How much is a 2005 P buffalo nickel worth?
A coin found in change or in a roll that has circulated is worth face value, because hundreds of millions were made and the coin contains no silver. Collector value comes from four things, in this order:
- Condition. An uncirculated 2005-P with original luster and almost no marks is the starting point. Grading services rate coins on a 70 point scale, and the premium sits at the very top grades, where few coins survive without bag marks.
- Strike. A full, sharp strike shows detail in the bison's fur, the horn and Jefferson's hair. Weakly struck coins, even uncirculated ones, sit a tier below.
- Finish. The Mint's 2005 uncirculated sets were struck with a satin finish, a soft, matte look unlike a regular business strike. Satin finish coins are collected as their own type, so keep them in the set packaging.
- Known varieties and errors. Genuine minting errors such as off-center strikes, clipped planchets or strong die cracks can carry a premium, judged coin by coin.
Grading services such as PCGS list the 2005-P bison and the satin finish version as separate entries in their CoinFacts reference, which is a good sign of how much the finish matters to collectors.
What is the error on the 2005 P buffalo nickel?
The error most people have read about, the "Speared Bison," is a 2005-D coin: a die gouge runs through the bison as if a spear passed through it. Because it comes from Denver, a coin with a P mint mark cannot be a Speared Bison. A line or scratch across the bison on a P coin is almost always damage after the coin left the Mint, which lowers value rather than raising it.
P coins do turn up with real minting errors, the same kinds that show up on any modern coin. An off-center strike, a clipped edge or a coin struck on the wrong metal is judged on its own. If something looks unusual, leave it alone and have it examined before calling it an error.
Where is the mint mark on a 2005 buffalo nickel?
On the front, under the word "Liberty." A P means Philadelphia, a D means Denver, and an S means a San Francisco proof made for collector sets. The 2005 coins moved the mint mark from its old spot beside the date, so check under "Liberty" first.
Selling a 2005 P buffalo nickel? Bring it to a store
Most 2005-P bison nickels are worth face value, and the honest answer is the same at any counter. If you have one that looks uncirculated, came from a Mint set, or looks like an error, bring it in as it is and we will look at it in front of you, together with any older coins you have. Our coin selling page explains how we check collector value before metal value, and our guide to the original 1913 to 1938 Buffalo nickel covers the older coins that carry real premiums. To have a coin looked at in person, find the nearest Cash 4 Gold Trading Post location.
Sources checked
Research was checked on September 26, 2026 against the United States Mint's 2005 Westward Journey nickel designs page (archived), Mint production figures for the 2005 bison nickel, the PCGS CoinFacts entry for the 2005-P bison nickel, and American Numismatic Association guidance on coin-value factors and cleaned coins.
Questions people ask
Is a 2005 P buffalo nickel rare?
No. The Philadelphia Mint struck 448,320,000 nickels with the 2005 American Bison reverse, so a circulated 2005-P bison nickel is common and worth face value. The ones collectors pay more for are uncirculated coins in top condition, satin finish coins from Mint sets, and genuine mint errors.
What is the error on the 2005 P buffalo nickel?
The famous 2005 bison nickel error, the Speared Bison, is a Denver coin with a D mint mark, so a 2005-P cannot be one. P coins do turn up with ordinary minting errors such as off-center strikes or die cracks, and each of those is judged coin by coin.
Where is the mint mark on a 2005 buffalo nickel?
On the front, under the word Liberty. A P means Philadelphia, a D means Denver, and an S means a San Francisco proof made for collectors.
Is the 2005 buffalo nickel made of silver?
No. The 2005 bison nickel is 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel, the standard nickel alloy. Its value is collector value only, never metal value.
Should I clean a 2005 P buffalo nickel before selling it?
No. Cleaning leaves fine scratches and strips the original surface, which removes the only thing that can make a common date worth more: its condition. Leave it as it is.
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