What Is Your Buffalo Nickel Worth?
The Buffalo nickel, struck from 1913 to 1938, is one of the most admired American designs. Its weak point is the date, which wore off quickly in circulation. Value Identifier reads what detail remains to identify the coin and estimate its grade and value.
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Why knowing your Buffalo Nickel value matters
Buffalo nickels are everywhere in old collections, and most are dateless, which makes them nearly worthless beyond a few cents. The ones that matter have a readable date and a key mint mark, or a famous error. The difference between a dateless common coin and a sharp 1913-S Type 2 is the difference between bulk and serious money.
What your scan returns
Point your camera at your buffalo nickel and get a full report in seconds: identification, a market-based price range, condition, rarity and more. Here's an example of the kind of report you'll see.
Watches
Rolex Submariner Date 16610
$9,500 – $12,000
Condition
Excellent
Rarity
Highly Sought After
Year
c. 1998
A stainless steel Submariner Date with a black dial and unidirectional bezel. Box and papers, light wear consistent with age. Pricing reflects recent dealer and auction comparables for this reference.
Fun fact
The Submariner was the first wristwatch rated to a depth of 100 meters when it launched in 1953.
Key factors that determine Buffalo Nickel value
Date & Mint Mark
Keys include 1913-S Type 2, 1921-S, 1924-S, and 1926-S. The mint mark sits under FIVE CENTS on the reverse.
Date Visibility
A fully readable date is essential. Dateless Buffalo nickels are worth only their small base value.
Errors & Varieties
The 1937-D three-legged buffalo and the 1918/7-D overdate are the marquee varieties and carry large premiums.
Condition
A sharp horn and full detail on the buffalo, plus a clean cheek and braid on the obverse, separate average coins from premium ones.
Surfaces
Original surfaces matter. Acid-restored dates, a common trick to revive a worn date, are detectable and carry no collector premium.
Tips for scanning your Buffalo Nickel
Photograph the obverse to capture whatever remains of the date on the raised area below the profile.
Shoot the reverse to read the mint mark beneath FIVE CENTS and to judge the buffalo's horn and detail.
Use raking light from a low angle to bring out faint date digits on worn coins.
Do not apply acid or restoration products. Restored dates are obvious to buyers and kill the premium.
Buffalo Nickel market overview
The series splits hard between dateless bulk coins and collectible dated examples. Key dates and the famous errors have strong, durable demand. High-grade common dates with full strikes are popular with type collectors. Acid-dated and heavily worn coins are abundant and cheap, so condition honesty drives the real prices.
Buffalo Nickel valuation FAQ
Why doesn't my Buffalo nickel have a date?+
The date sat on a high point of the design and wore off in circulation. Dateless Buffalo nickels are common and worth only a few cents each.
What is the rare three-legged Buffalo nickel?+
The 1937-D three-legged variety, caused by an over-polished die, removed one of the buffalo's front legs. It is a well-known error that commands strong premiums in any grade.
Where is the mint mark on a Buffalo nickel?+
On the reverse, below the words FIVE CENTS. No mark means Philadelphia, D is Denver, and S is San Francisco.
Are Buffalo nickels silver?+
No. They are 75% copper and 25% nickel, with no silver content. Their value is numismatic, not bullion.
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