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Buffalo Nickel Value ChartKey Dates, Rare Varieties & Collector Guide
Indian Head Nickel • 1913–1938 • Key Dates • 3-Legged Buffalo
Complete Buffalo Nickel Value Chart (1913–1938)
Values below are for problem-free, unaltered examples and reflect typical retail levels, not auction-record highs. G = Good-4, VG = Very Good-8, F = Fine-12, VF = Very Fine-20, EF = Extremely Fine-40, MS-63 = Choice Uncirculated, MS-65 = Gem Uncirculated. Dateless Buffalo nickels — where the date has worn completely flat — are worth $1.00–$2.00 regardless of date or mint. Type 1 coins (1913 only) have the denomination ON the mound; Type 2 coins have it below.
1913–1919 — First Years & Both Types
| Date | G-4 | VG-8 | F-12 | VF-20 | EF-40 | MS-63 | MS-65 | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913-P Type 1 | $14 | $18 | $22 | $28 | $38 | $90 | $200 | eBay → |
| 1913-D Type 1 | $18 | $24 | $30 | $40 | $60 | $160 | $380 | eBay → |
| 1913-S Type 1 | $28 | $38 | $50 | $70 | $110 | $280 | $700 | eBay → |
| 1913-P Type 2 | $18 | $24 | $30 | $40 | $60 | $160 | $380 | eBay → |
| 1913-D Type 2 | $80 | $120 | $170 | $240 | $360 | $900 | $2,200 | eBay → |
| 1913-S Type 2 KEY | $100 | $160 | $220 | $280 | $420 | $2,200 | $4,200 | eBay → |
| 1914-P | $18 | $24 | $30 | $42 | $65 | $170 | $400 | eBay → |
| 1914-D | $28 | $40 | $55 | $80 | $130 | $380 | $950 | eBay → |
| 1914-S | $22 | $30 | $42 | $60 | $100 | $280 | $700 | eBay → |
| 1915-P | $16 | $22 | $28 | $38 | $60 | $160 | $380 | eBay → |
| 1915-D | $30 | $45 | $62 | $90 | $145 | $420 | $1,050 | eBay → |
| 1915-S | $40 | $60 | $85 | $125 | $200 | $580 | $1,450 | eBay → |
| 1916-P DDO VARIETY | $5,000 | $7,000 | $9,500 | $15,000 | $22,000 | $85,000 | None known | eBay → |
| 1916-P | $10 | $14 | $18 | $24 | $38 | $100 | $240 | eBay → |
| 1916-D | $18 | $26 | $36 | $52 | $85 | $240 | $600 | eBay → |
| 1916-S | $22 | $32 | $45 | $65 | $110 | $320 | $800 | eBay → |
| 1917-P | $10 | $14 | $18 | $26 | $42 | $120 | $300 | eBay → |
| 1917-D | $22 | $32 | $48 | $75 | $130 | $400 | $1,000 | eBay → |
| 1917-S | $22 | $32 | $48 | $75 | $130 | $400 | $1,000 | eBay → |
| 1918-P | $12 | $16 | $22 | $32 | $55 | $160 | $400 | eBay → |
| 1918-D | $22 | $34 | $50 | $80 | $140 | $440 | $1,100 | eBay → |
| 1918-S | $18 | $28 | $42 | $65 | $115 | $360 | $900 | eBay → |
| 1919-P | $10 | $14 | $18 | $26 | $42 | $120 | $300 | eBay → |
| 1919-D | $30 | $48 | $72 | $115 | $200 | $620 | $1,550 | eBay → |
| 1919-S | $22 | $36 | $55 | $90 | $160 | $500 | $1,250 | eBay → |
The 1913-S Type 2 and 1916 DDO are the premier rarities of the early series — both require PCGS or NGC certification.
Shop 1913–1919 →1920–1929 — Roaring Twenties
| Date | G-4 | VG-8 | F-12 | VF-20 | EF-40 | MS-63 | MS-65 | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920-P | $10 | $14 | $18 | $26 | $42 | $120 | $300 | eBay → |
| 1920-D | $20 | $32 | $48 | $78 | $140 | $450 | $1,100 | eBay → |
| 1920-S | $14 | $22 | $34 | $55 | $100 | $320 | $800 | eBay → |
| 1921-P SEMI-KEY | $20 | $32 | $50 | $80 | $145 | $460 | $1,150 | eBay → |
| 1921-S SEMI-KEY | $30 | $50 | $80 | $130 | $240 | $780 | $5,000 | eBay → |
| 1923-P | $9 | $12 | $16 | $22 | $36 | $100 | $250 | eBay → |
| 1923-S | $14 | $22 | $34 | $55 | $100 | $320 | $800 | eBay → |
| 1924-P | $10 | $14 | $18 | $26 | $42 | $120 | $300 | eBay → |
| 1924-D | $28 | $45 | $68 | $110 | $195 | $620 | $1,550 | eBay → |
| 1924-S SEMI-KEY | $50 | $80 | $120 | $185 | $320 | $1,100 | $8,000 | eBay → |
| 1925-P | $9 | $12 | $16 | $22 | $36 | $100 | $250 | eBay → |
| 1925-D | $20 | $32 | $48 | $78 | $140 | $450 | $1,100 | eBay → |
| 1925-S | $16 | $26 | $40 | $65 | $120 | $380 | $950 | eBay → |
| 1926-P | $8 | $11 | $14 | $20 | $32 | $90 | $220 | eBay → |
| 1926-D | $14 | $22 | $34 | $55 | $100 | $320 | $800 | eBay → |
| 1926-S KEY | $75 | $120 | $180 | $280 | $520 | $3,200 | $25,000 | eBay → |
| 1927-P | $8 | $11 | $14 | $20 | $32 | $90 | $220 | eBay → |
| 1927-D | $12 | $18 | $26 | $40 | $70 | $210 | $520 | eBay → |
| 1927-S | $12 | $18 | $28 | $46 | $85 | $280 | $4,500 | eBay → |
| 1928-P | $8 | $11 | $14 | $20 | $32 | $90 | $220 | eBay → |
| 1928-D | $10 | $14 | $20 | $30 | $50 | $150 | $370 | eBay → |
| 1928-S | $10 | $14 | $20 | $32 | $55 | $170 | $420 | eBay → |
| 1929-P | $8 | $11 | $14 | $20 | $32 | $90 | $220 | eBay → |
| 1929-D | $10 | $14 | $20 | $30 | $50 | $150 | $370 | eBay → |
| 1929-S | $10 | $14 | $18 | $26 | $44 | $130 | $320 | eBay → |
The 1926-S is a major key — 970,000 minted, the lowest mintage of any regular-issue Buffalo nickel. Buy certified.
Shop 1920s →1930–1938 — Depression Era & Final Years
| Date | G-4 | VG-8 | F-12 | VF-20 | EF-40 | MS-63 | MS-65 | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930-P | $8 | $11 | $14 | $20 | $32 | $90 | $220 | eBay → |
| 1930-S | $10 | $14 | $18 | $26 | $44 | $130 | $320 | eBay → |
| 1931-S KEY | $60 | $90 | $120 | $160 | $240 | $900 | $8,000 | eBay → |
| 1934-P | $1.50 | $2 | $3 | $5 | $7 | $60 | $110 | eBay → |
| 1934-D | $10 | $14 | $20 | $30 | $55 | $175 | $440 | eBay → |
| 1935-P | $1.50 | $2 | $3 | $5 | $7 | $60 | $110 | eBay → |
| 1935-D | $8 | $11 | $15 | $22 | $38 | $115 | $290 | eBay → |
| 1935-S | $2 | $2.50 | $3.50 | $5 | $7 | $100 | $250 | eBay → |
| 1936-P | $1.50 | $2 | $3 | $5 | $7 | $60 | $110 | eBay → |
| 1936-D | $2 | $2.50 | $3.50 | $5 | $7 | $105 | $260 | eBay → |
| 1936-S | $2 | $2.50 | $3.50 | $5 | $7 | $100 | $250 | eBay → |
| 1937-P | $1.50 | $2 | $3 | $5 | $7 | $60 | $110 | eBay → |
| 1937-D | $2 | $2.50 | $3.50 | $5 | $7 | $60 | $110 | eBay → |
| 1937-D 3-Leg ERROR | $500 | $650 | $800 | $1,000 | $1,600 | $5,750 | $26,000 | eBay → |
| 1937-S | $2 | $2.50 | $3.50 | $5 | $7 | $60 | $110 | eBay → |
| 1938-D | $2 | $2.50 | $3.50 | $5 | $7 | $60 | $110 | eBay → |
| 1938-D/S | $12 | $17 | $22 | $30 | $48 | $130 | $320 | eBay → |
The 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo is widely faked — always buy PCGS or NGC certified. The 1931-S has the second-lowest mintage in the series.
Recommended Reading
A Guide Book of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels
Every date, mint and variety from 1913 on.
Check Price on Amazon →
The Buffalo Nickel — An American Icon in Five-Cent Form
The Buffalo nickel — officially the Indian Head nickel — is one of the most recognizable and artistically celebrated coins in American numismatic history. Designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser and first struck in 1913, it features a composite portrait of three Native American chiefs on the obverse and an American bison — modeled from Black Diamond, a resident of the Central Park Zoo — on the reverse. Fraser's design was considered a departure from the classical European tradition and a genuinely American artistic statement, and it remains one of the most beloved coin designs ever produced by the U.S. Mint.
The Buffalo nickel was struck from 1913 through 1938 at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints. The series is characterized by several dramatic key dates, a famous error variety (the 1937-D 3-legged buffalo), and the well-known problem of date wear — the date on Buffalo nickels sits on a raised mound that wears rapidly, producing the ubiquitous "dateless" Buffalo nickel found in countless junk boxes. This guide covers every date from 1913 through 1938 with values for circulated and mint-state grades, the key dates that define the series, and what your dateless Buffalo nickel is actually worth. For context across all U.S. nickels, see the full coin price guide.
Sourcing & last updated: Values on this page are cross-checked against the PCGS Price Guide, Greysheet (CDN Coin Dealer Newsletter), and verified auction results from Heritage Auctions, Stack's Bowers, Legend Rare Coin Auctions, and GreatCollections. Flagship key-date and record figures were last spot-checked in August 2026. Auction records reflect the single highest verified sale for a given variety and typically far exceed typical retail value at that grade — both figures are noted separately below where they diverge.
Buffalo Nickel — Series Facts
Years Struck
1913–1938
Designer
James Earle Fraser
Composition
75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Weight
5.00 grams
Diameter
21.2 mm
Key Date
1926-S
Buffalo Nickel Key Dates & Famous Varieties
The 1913-S Type 2, at 1,209,000 struck, has the lowest mintage of the series' first year and the third-lowest overall, behind the 1926-S and 1931-S — that scarcity makes it the coin many date-set collectors chase first. The Buffalo nickel series has more significant key dates than almost any other 20th-century U.S. series, and the 1913 Type 1 / Type 2 split, several tiny-mintage dates, and one of the most famous error coins in American numismatics (the 1937-D 3-legged buffalo) all compound the challenge of completing a set.
1913-S Type 2
Only 1,209,000 struck with the recessed denomination — the lowest mintage of any 1913 Buffalo nickel and the third-lowest in the series. Most surviving examples are heavily worn; Greysheet estimates roughly 14,000 total survivors. Gem examples are genuinely scarce, and a PCGS MS67+ example set the variety's auction record at $84,000 in an August 2025 Heritage sale.
G-4: $100 · VF: $280 · MS-65: $4,2001916 Doubled Die Obverse
The most dramatic die variety in the Buffalo nickel series — doubling visible on the date, LIBERTY, and the chief's chin and lips. PCGS has certified roughly 200 examples across all grades, with fewer than 15 known in Mint State and MS64 the finest graded. A PCGS MS64 set the auction record at $281,750 in an August 2004 Bowers & Merena sale.
G-4: $5,000 · VF: $15,000 · MS64 (finest known): $281,7501937-D 3-Legged Buffalo
The most famous Buffalo nickel error — an overworked reverse die had the buffalo's right front leg polished away. Widely faked by grinding the leg off a normal 1937-D nickel, so always buy PCGS or NGC certified. A PCGS MS66+ example set the auction record at $99,875 at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in October 2021.
G-4: $500 · VF: $800 · MS-65: $26,0001926-S
Only 970,000 struck — the lowest mintage of any regular-issue Buffalo nickel. Most examples are heavily worn, and the date jumps sharply in value above Very Fine. A top-registry PCGS MS65 realized $92,000 in a landmark 2004 Bowers & Merena sale, though that reflects an exceptional registry-set example rather than typical gem-grade value today.
G-4: $75 · VF: $280 · MS-65: $25,0001931-S
1,200,000 struck during the Depression — the second-lowest mintage in the series, behind only the 1926-S. Sharply struck examples are notably scarce. MS-65 is a significant condition rarity and a natural target for complete date-set collectors.
G-4: $60 · VF: $120 · MS-65: $8,000+1921-S & 1924-S
Both are semi-key dates with mintages under 2 million. The 1921-S (1,557,000) and 1924-S (1,437,000) are scarce above Fine and genuinely rare in gem condition. Both reward careful cherry-picking at coin shows for sharply struck examples.
G-4: $30–50 · VF: $90–130 · MS-65: $10,000+
1936 Buffalo Nickel PCGS MS64
USD $59.99
1938-D Buffalo Nickel PCGS MS-64 (Well Struck)
USD $54.00
1929-S 5c Buffalo Nickel - PCGS MS 64 CAC
USD $298.00
1929 5c Buffalo Nickel - PCGS MS 64 CAC
USD $249.99
1913 Type 1 Buffalo Nickel 5C GEM UNC PCGS MS 65
USD $228.12
1938‑D Buffalo Nickel MS65 – Brilliant Gold Toning – Final Year Issue
USD $295.00
1938-D Buffalo Nickel 5 Cents PCGS MS66 CAC Superb Eye Appeal
USD $149.00
1936 Buffalo Nickel MS66 PCGS GSH
USD $222.00
1937-D Indian Head Buffalo Nickel MS65 PCGS Blue Label
USD $99.95
1913 Buffalo Nickel 5C PCGS MS64 Type 1 First Year Philadelphia Indian Head BU
USD $135.00
1928 5c Buffalo Nickel - PCGS MS 64
USD $198.00
1937 -s/s 5¢ Buffalo Nickel Anacs graded MS 64
USD $175.00
Related Coin Value Guides
About this guide: This value chart is compiled and maintained by the FindRareCoins.com editorial team using published PCGS Price Guide and Greysheet data, cross-referenced against verified realized prices from Heritage Auctions, Stack's Bowers, Legend Rare Coin Auctions, and GreatCollections. Auction-record figures are labeled explicitly and represent a single top sale for that variety, not typical market value. FindRareCoins.com has covered U.S. coin values since its founding and is a member of the American Numismatic Association.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most valuable Buffalo nickel?
By mintage, the 1926-S is the rarest regular-issue Buffalo nickel at 970,000 struck, followed by the 1931-S (1,200,000) and the 1913-S Type 2 (1,209,000); a PCGS MS67+ 1913-S Type 2 brought $84,000 at auction in August 2025. But the 1916 Doubled Die Obverse is the single most valuable Buffalo nickel overall — a major die variety with only about 200 authentic examples known across all grades. A PCGS MS64, the finest graded, set the variety's auction record at $281,750 in an August 2004 Bowers & Merena sale. The 1937-D 3-legged buffalo is the most famous Buffalo nickel error, with a PCGS MS66+ auction record of $99,875.
How do I tell if my 1937-D buffalo nickel is the 3-legged variety?
On the genuine 3-legged 1937-D, the buffalo's right front leg (the one closest to the viewer) is completely absent — polished away by an overzealous Mint worker who was trying to remove die gouges. The area where the leg should be is smooth and flat. On a fake, the leg has been ground or filed away — this typically leaves tool marks or an unnatural surface texture. Additionally, on the genuine 3-legged variety, you can often see a remnant of the leg at the belly — a slight bulge where it connects to the body. Always buy PCGS or NGC certified examples. Any claimed raw 3-legged should be treated as suspect.
What is a dateless Buffalo nickel worth?
$1.00–$2.00. Dateless Buffalo nickels — where the date has worn completely flat — have no numismatic premium regardless of what date might be underneath. The date sits on a raised mound that wears away first in circulation, producing the common dateless coins found in junk boxes at every coin show. Acid restoration (using a product called Nic-A-Date) can sometimes reveal a faint date, but acid-date coins are still only worth $2–$5 — far less than naturally readable examples of the same date.
What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Buffalo nickels?
Both types were struck in 1913 only. Type 1 (also called the Mound Type) has the denomination FIVE CENTS written on a raised mound on the reverse — the bison stands on a raised earth formation. Type 2 (the Line Type) has the denomination on a recessed line below the mound — the mound was removed after concerns that the denomination would wear away rapidly, as it did on Type 1. Both types were struck at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco in 1913. After 1913, all Buffalo nickels are Type 2.
Are Buffalo nickels a good investment?
Investment decisions should be made with professional guidance — nothing here constitutes financial advice. The factual case for key-date Buffalo nickels is that they are universally recognized, liquid across the U.S. coin dealer network, and backed by transparent PCGS/NGC certified price discovery. Key dates in certified grades have historically maintained value across long time horizons. Common-date Buffalos in circulated grades trade at minimal premiums above face value and are primarily collected rather than invested. The 1937-D 3-legged buffalo has an unusually stable collector base given its famous story — demand from non-specialists keeps prices supported even in soft markets.
Where can I find current Buffalo nickel prices?
This value chart is checked periodically against the PCGS Price Guide and Greysheet, most recently in August 2026. For real-time prices, use the PCGS Price Guide at PCGS.com (updated monthly), recent eBay sold listings filtered to certified examples, and Heritage Auctions' free price archive. The FRC coin price guide covers the Buffalo nickel series alongside all major U.S. denominations. For a complete set checklist and population data, PCGS CoinFacts provides free access to survival estimates and auction records by date and grade.
What's the difference between a "typical" value and an "auction record" on this chart?
The grade-by-grade chart above reflects typical retail value — what a normal, problem-free example in that grade generally sells for. Auction records, called out separately in the key-dates section and FAQ, are the single highest verified price ever paid for that variety, usually for an exceptional, top-population example with strong eye appeal or a notable pedigree. A coin's auction record is not what a typical collector should expect to pay, or receive, for a similarly graded piece — it represents the ceiling, not the market average.
A complete study of Buffalo nickels (1913–1938) and Jefferson nickels (1938 to date), richly illustrated in full color with high-resolution enlargements for overdates and varieties.
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