Buffalo Nickel Value Chart
Indian Head Nickel • 1913–1938 • Key Dates • 3-Legged Buffalo
Most Valuable Buffalo Nickels & Related Guides
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 a 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.
Buffalo Nickel Key Dates & Famous Varieties
The Buffalo nickel series has more significant key dates than almost any other 20th-century U.S. coin series. The 1913 Type 1 and Type 2 distinction affects every date from that year — the reverse was redesigned mid-year, moving the denomination from on the mound to below it. Several dates were struck in tiny quantities, and the 1937-D 3-legged buffalo is one of the most famous error coins in American numismatics.
1913-S Type 2
The lowest-mintage date in the Buffalo nickel series — 1,209,000 struck with the recessed denomination. Most examples are heavily worn. Even circulated examples are worth $100+. Gem MS-65 examples are genuinely rare and worth $15,000+.
G-4: $100 · VF: $280 · MS-65: $15,000+1916 Doubled Die Obverse
The most dramatic die variety in the Buffalo nickel series — doubling visible on the date and LIBERTY. Only a few hundred authentic examples are known. A Good-4 example is worth $800+; MS examples are exceptionally rare and worth $30,000+.
1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo
The most famous Buffalo nickel error — an overworked die had the buffalo's right front leg polished away. The missing leg is unmistakable on authentic examples. Widely faked by removing the leg from 1937-D normal nickels. Always buy certified.
G-4: $500 · VF: $800 · MS-63: $5,000+1926-S
Only 970,000 struck — the lowest mintage regular-issue Buffalo nickel outside the 1913-S Type 2. Most examples are heavily worn. A major key date that jumps sharply in value above Very Fine. MS-65 examples are condition rarities worth $25,000+.
G-4: $75 · VF: $280 · MS-65: $25,000+1931-S
1,200,000 struck during the Depression — the third scarcest date in the series by mintage. Sharply struck examples are notably scarce. MS-65 is a significant condition rarity. 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+Complete Buffalo Nickel Value Chart (1913–1938)
Values below are for problem-free, unaltered examples. 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.
| 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 | $15,000 | 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 | $800 | $1,400 | $2,200 | $3,500 | $6,000 | $18,000 | $55,000+ | 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.
| 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 second scarcest regular-issue Buffalo nickel. Buy certified.
Shop 1920s →| 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 | $8 | $11 | $14 | $20 | $32 | $90 | $220 | eBay → |
| 1934-D | $10 | $14 | $20 | $30 | $55 | $175 | $440 | eBay → |
| 1935-P | $7 | $9 | $12 | $16 | $26 | $75 | $185 | eBay → |
| 1935-D | $8 | $11 | $15 | $22 | $38 | $115 | $290 | eBay → |
| 1935-S | $8 | $11 | $14 | $20 | $34 | $100 | $250 | eBay → |
| 1936-P | $7 | $9 | $12 | $16 | $26 | $75 | $185 | eBay → |
| 1936-D | $8 | $11 | $15 | $22 | $36 | $105 | $260 | eBay → |
| 1936-S | $8 | $11 | $14 | $20 | $34 | $100 | $250 | eBay → |
| 1937-P | $7 | $9 | $12 | $16 | $26 | $75 | $185 | eBay → |
| 1937-D | $7 | $9 | $12 | $16 | $26 | $75 | $185 | eBay → |
| 1937-D 3-Leg ERROR | $500 | $650 | $800 | $1,000 | $1,600 | $5,000 | $22,000 | eBay → |
| 1937-S | $7 | $9 | $12 | $16 | $26 | $75 | $185 | eBay → |
| 1938-D | $8 | $11 | $14 | $19 | $30 | $80 | $200 | 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 is the third-scarcest regular-issue date.
Shop 1930–1938 →Dateless Buffalo Nickels — What Are They Worth?
The most common question about Buffalo nickels: "I have one but I can't read the date — is it worth anything?" The answer is yes, but not much. Dateless Buffalo nickels are worth $1.00–$2.00 each at most coin dealers, primarily as filler pieces or novelty items.
Why Buffalo Nickels Lose Their Date
James Earle Fraser placed the date on a raised mound on the obverse — the highest point on the coin. This made the date the first element to wear away in circulation. After a few decades of pocket change, the date disappears entirely. This was a known flaw from the first year of production and led to the date being moved lower after 1913.
What a Dateless Buffalo Is Worth
$1.00–$2.00. Coin dealers will buy them in bulk at these prices for resale to novelty collectors and as pocket pieces. They have no numismatic premium without the date. No amount of acid or restoration will add collector value — and using chemicals to "restore" a date actually damages the coin and is frowned upon in numismatic circles.
Acid Date Restoration
Some dealers sell a chemical called "Nic-A-Date" that brings out a faint date on worn Buffalo nickels. This works by reacting with metal stress lines left by the die strike. The result is a barely legible date that proves the coin's identity — but the coin is still worth only $2–$5 as an "acid date" coin, not the value of a naturally readable example.
Could My Dateless Be a Key Date?
Theoretically yes — a dateless 1926-S or 1931-S exists under every worn-flat Buffalo nickel. But without a readable date and mint mark, the coin has no premium. Even if acid treatment reveals "1926-S," the coin with acid-restored date is worth only a fraction of a naturally readable certified example.
Lots vs Individual Coins
Dateless Buffalo nickels are most efficiently bought and sold in bulk lots — 10, 20, or 50 at a time at $1.00–$1.50 each. They make excellent display pieces, pocket pieces, and gifts for beginning collectors. Several dealers on eBay specialize in dateless Buffalo nickel lots at competitive prices.
What Makes a Buffalo Valuable
A readable date AND a readable mintmark (for D and S issues). Both must be clear. Sharp strike quality matters significantly in Mint State — many Buffalo nickels were weakly struck, and a sharply struck example commands premiums. Full horn detail on the buffalo is the equivalent of FSB on Mercury dimes.
Shop Buffalo Nickels on eBay
Browse certified PCGS and NGC Buffalo nickels — key dates, the famous 3-legged buffalo error, gem Mint State examples, and complete date sets from specialist dealers.
📚 Buffalo Nickel References on AmazonFindRareCoins.com participates in the eBay Partner Network and Amazon Associates program.
Where to Buy Buffalo Nickels
Certified Dealers · Key Date Specialists · Dateless Lots
For key dates and the 3-legged buffalo, PCGS or NGC certification is mandatory — the 3-legged variety is the most faked nickel in existence. For common circulated dates, raw coins are perfectly acceptable. For dateless lots, eBay and Money Metals Exchange offer competitive bulk pricing.
eBay — Certified Buffalo Nickels
The broadest market for certified and raw Buffalo nickels — filter to PCGS or NGC certified for key dates and the 3-legged error. Dateless lots also widely available at competitive prices.
Shop Certified on eBay →JM Bullion
JM Bullion carries circulated Buffalo nickels and occasional key date certified examples. Good source for common-date circulated Buffalos at accessible price points with insured shipping.
Shop JM Bullion →3-Legged Buffalo on eBay
The 1937-D 3-legged buffalo is the most widely faked U.S. nickel. Filter to PCGS or NGC certified listings only — raw examples claiming to be 3-legged must be treated with extreme skepticism.
Shop 3-Leg on eBay →Money Metals Exchange
Money Metals Exchange offers Buffalo nickel lots with no minimum order — good for dateless Buffalos and circulated common dates. Auto-invest subscription available for regular purchases.
Shop Money Metals →PCGS-Certified on eBay
Filter eBay specifically to PCGS-certified Buffalo nickels for the most reliable authentication and grade accuracy. PCGS population reports are the definitive resource for key date survival data.
Shop PCGS-Certified →Buffalo Nickel References on Amazon
David Lange's Complete Guide to Buffalo Nickels is the essential collector reference for die varieties, population data, and complete value tables. The Cherrypickers' Guide covers the 3-legged variety and other errors in depth.
Browse Amazon →Related Coin Value Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most valuable Buffalo nickel?
The 1913-S Type 2 is the rarest regular-issue Buffalo nickel — only 1,209,000 were struck and most circulated heavily. In Gem MS-65 condition a certified example is worth $15,000+. However, the 1916 Doubled Die Obverse is the most valuable Buffalo nickel overall — a major die variety with only a few hundred authentic examples known, with MS-63 examples worth $18,000–$30,000+. The 1937-D 3-legged buffalo is the most famous Buffalo nickel error — worth $500+ in Good condition and $5,000+ in MS-63.
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 updated periodically. 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.
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