Releasing two new types of 5-cent designs in 2005 as part of the “Westward Journey Nickel Series” program, the United States Mint created a very special year for collectors.

• Metal: Copper-nickel alloy consisting of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
• Weight: 5.00 grams.
• Diameter: 21.21 mm.
• Mints: Philadelphia (P) and Denver (D).
• Obverse Design: A new portrait of Thomas Jefferson created by Joe Fitzgerald.
• Reverse Design: An American bison created by Jamie Franki.

Appearing because of mass production and the use of new stamps, a significant number of technical errors and varieties became the main object of professional numismatic search.

The Most Famous Variety: “Speared Bison”

Being the most wanted and expensive error in the 2005 series, the “Speared Bison” variety appeared only at the Denver Mint (2005-D).

Description of the Defect

The “Speared Bison” not being a mistake of the artist or the engraver, it actually happened because of a die crack on the stamp.

Seeing a clear raised line passing vertically through the body of the bison on the reverse side, you can easily identify this error.

Starting above the back of the animal and passing through the main body to finish near the stomach area, the line creates a visual effect of a spear sticking into the bison.

Technical Identification

1. Location: The line staying strictly vertical and appearing between the letters “E” and “P” in the words “E PLURIBUS UNUM”, it must be in the correct place.
2. Structure: Being a crack in the metal stamp, this defect always appears as a raised element on the coin. If finding a deep line instead of a raised one, you see a simple mechanical scratch having no value for collectors.
3. Mint Mark: Having the letter “D”, the coin belongs to the group where this error was officially recorded.

Market Value

• MS-63 Condition: Costing from 70 to 150 dollars depending on the market.
• MS-65 Condition: The price moving from 300 to 600 dollars for better pieces.
• Record Sales: Finding coins in MS-66 grade or higher, people pay several thousand dollars at big auctions like Heritage or Stack’s Bowers.

“Doubled Die” Errors

Appearing on both the front side (DDO) and the back side (DDR) of 2005 coins, doubling happens when the machine hits the metal in a wrong way.

Doubled Die Obverse (DDO)

Searching for doubling on the front side, you can often see it on these elements:

• The word “LIBERTY”: Having a small move in the edges of the letters, the text looks thicker.
• The year “2005”: Doubling of the numbers appearing most clearly on the number “5”.
• Jefferson’s Eye: Sometimes seeing an effect called a “double eyelid”, you find a very rare version.

Doubled Die Reverse (DDR)

Being very interesting for collectors, cases of doubling on the back side usually connect to:

• The words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”: The moving of the stamp causing the thickening or doubling of the letters.
• Bison’s Legs: Doubling of the hoof outlines happening in some rare pieces.
• The words “FIVE CENTS”: Seeing doubled letters at the bottom of the coin, you find a good error.

How to See the Difference from “Machine Doubling”

Distinguishing real doubled dies from “Machine Doubling” being very important for every collector, we must look at the details.

• Real Doubling: The elements being clearly separated and having the same height and sharp edges.
• Machine Doubling: Looking like a flat “step” or a small move of the letter edge, this version has no interest for serious people.

Stamp Errors: “Die Clashes”

Happening when the machine works without a metal piece inside, this error occurs because the front and back stamps hit each other directly. Leaving marks of the design on the opposite sides, this mistake creates very unusual coins. 

Identification on the 2005 Buffalo Nickel

Showing “Die Clashes” on 2005 coins, the metal surface has these signs, which can be easily detected with a coin evaluator:

• On the front side: The outlines of the bison’s back appearing behind the face of Jefferson.
• On the back side: Parts of Jefferson’s collar or chin showing in the empty space above the bison.

Valuing these coins based on the clarity of the “wrong” design, collectors pay more money for very clear marks.

Defects of Metal Pieces and Minting Process

Clipped Planchet

Appearing during the stage of cutting metal pieces from a large tape, this error happens when the machine hits the edge of an old hole. Having a characteristic round cut, the coin looks incomplete.

• Checking for Truth: Finding a “Blakesley Effect” on the opposite side of the cut, you see a small smoothing of the edge which proves the coin is real.

Off-Center Strike

Having the metal piece put into the machine in a wrong way, the image appears away from the center.

• Value: A move of less than 10% being not very interesting, coins with a 30–50% move keeping the date and mint mark cost from 50 to 200 dollars.

Die Chips

Being small raised metal dots appearing because of the breaking of the stamp surface, these errors are common. Finding them near the tail or the face of the 2005 bison, you usually see a small value of 1–5 dollars. If the dot creates a new image like an “extra horn”, the price can grow.

Rare “Detached Leg” Varieties

Although being more famous for the 1937 Buffalo Nickel having 3 legs, similar effects appear on 2005 coins because of too much cleaning of the stamps. Trying to remove marks of a die clash, workers sometimes rub the stamp too hard.

How to Identify

Studying the front legs of the bison carefully, you must look for a gap. If seeing a leg “flying” in the air or having no connection to the body, you find the result of aggressive cleaning. Being a rare thing for modern production, this variety has a high value for specialized collectors.

Type of Error	Grade	Average Price
Speared Bison (D)	MS-64	$250 – $400
Off-Center (25%)	MS-63	$75 – $120
Clipped Planchet	MS-62	$15 – $30
Major DDO/DDR	MS-65	$50 – $150
Die Clash (Clear)	MS-64	$40 – $80

Technical Details of Stamp Wear

Following the long life of a metal stamp, its surface starts to change because of high pressure.

Producing thousands of coins every hour, the machine makes the metal “flow” toward the edges.

Seeing small lines appearing around the letters, collectors call this “die deterioration”. Not being a real error, this process helps to understand how old the stamp was during the minting of a specific coin.

The Role of Professional Grading

Sending your 2005 Buffalo Nickel to companies like PCGS or NGC being a very smart move, or checking it with the best coin app, you can increase its value.

Having a plastic “slab” with an official number, the coin becomes easier to sell to other people. Professionals checking every micron of the surface under a microscope, they provide a guarantee of truth for the “Speared Bison” and other rare types.

Storage Recommendations for Error Coins

Keeping your error coins in a safe place being necessary for their future value, you must avoid plastic bags having PVC.

Using special “flips” made of Mylar or keeping coins in hard plastic capsules, you protect the copper-nickel surface from oxidation and dark spots.

Storing your collection in a room with low humidity, you stop the metal from changing its color over time.

Future Value Predictions

Predicting that the price for “Speared Bison” will grow because of the small number of surviving pieces, experts suggest holding these coins for many years.

Being part of a popular series called “Westward Journey”, these 5-cent pieces will always have a high demand among people building full sets of modern US coins. Finding an error today being a great investment for the future, collectors continue to search through old bags of money.

Conclusion

The 2005 Nickel with the bison image staying one of the best coins for searching for technical errors among modern US issues, it offers many chances for collectors.

The physical nature of the defect being the main factor of the price, we see that raised elements appearing from stamp damage have more value than deep marks appearing from simple use.

Identifying rarities like the “Speared Bison” requiring a lot of attention to small details and understanding the mechanics of mint production, this hobby stays very exciting for many people.