Description:
The 1917 Buffalo Nickel “Two Feathers” variety, certified by NGC with VF Details, is a popular subtype in the series. On this variety, one of the three feathers on Liberty’s headdress was accidentally omitted due to die polishing, leaving only two visible. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, this certified example shows even wear with clear variety diagnostics. Affordable and collectible, it offers an excellent opportunity for Buffalo Nickel and variety specialists to acquire a certified example of this classic error.
Specifications:
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Denomination: Five Cents (5¢)
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Year of Issue: 1917
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Mint: Philadelphia (no mintmark)
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Designer: James Earle Fraser
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Series: Buffalo Nickel (1913–1938)
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Variety: Two Feathers
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Composition: Copper-Nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel)
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Diameter: 21.2 mm
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Weight: 5 grams
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Grade: VF Details
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Certification: NGC
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Holder: NGC-certified slab
Highlights:
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Certified VF Details by NGC
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Scarce “Two Feathers” variety caused by die polishing
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Classic Buffalo Nickel design (1913–1938)
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Designed by James Earle Fraser, student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens
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Obverse: Native American portrait with missing feather in headdress
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Reverse: American bison standing on raised mound
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Affordable certified example of a popular variety
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Collectible early 20th-century U.S. nickel
Historical Note:
The “Two Feathers” Buffalo Nickel is one of the most collected varieties in the series. It was created when Mint workers over-polished the dies, inadvertently removing one of the feathers from Liberty’s headdress. This variety is found on several years of the Buffalo Nickel series, but the 1917 issue remains one of the more widely recognized. Certified examples like this VF Details coin allow collectors to add an interesting variety at an accessible price point.
Searching for more certified Buffalo Nickels or classic die varieties? Contact us — we carry a curated selection of early nickels and collectible U.S. coins.
