1917-S Buffalo Nickel Value: Price and Grading Guide

The 1917-S Buffalo Nickel is worth anywhere from $15 in worn condition to over $1,500 in high-grade mint state. This San Francisco minted coin is a favorite among collectors because it represents a time when American coinage featured truly rugged, artistic designs, and finding one in your pocket change is a rare but exciting event.

Condition	Estimated Value
Good (G-4)	$15 – $25
Very Fine (VF-20)	$65 – $80
Extremely Fine (EF-40)	$180 – $250
Uncirculated (MS-60+)	$450 – $4,000+

History of the 1917-S Buffalo Nickel

The 1917-S Buffalo Nickel is a fascinating piece of American history, minted during the height of World War I. Designed by James Earle Fraser, this five-cent piece features a profile of a Native American on the obverse and an American Bison (popularly called a buffalo) on the reverse. The “S” mint mark indicates it was produced in San Francisco, which typically minted fewer coins than the main Philadelphia facility, making these coins scarcer today.

If you have stumbled upon an old nickel and aren’t sure where to start, using a top coin identifier and value app is the best way to determine exactly what you have. The 1917 San Francisco strike is particularly notorious for having a “weak strike,” meaning the details like the buffalo’s horn or the Indian’s hair braid might look worn even if the coin didn’t circulate much.

Modern collectors use tools like CoinKnow to instantly identify mint marks and die varieties. In 1917, the San Francisco mint produced only 4,196,000 of these nickels. Compared to the 51 million produced in Philadelphia that same year, you can understand why the “S” version carries such a significant premium in the current market.

Determining the 1917-S Buffalo Nickel Value by Grade

The value of your 1917-S Buffalo Nickel depends almost entirely on its “grade” or state of preservation. Because the Buffalo Nickel design has high relief, the date is often the first thing to wear away. A 1917-S with a clear, readable date is already ahead of the curve in terms of value.

For those looking for precise market data, checking the current 1917-S Buffalo Nickel mint state auction prices will show that once these coins reach the “uncirculated” level, prices skyrocket. Even a small amount of wear on the buffalo’s hip or the chieftain’s cheek can drop the price by hundreds of dollars.

Grade (Adjective)	Technical Grade	Estimated Price Range
Good	G-4	$15 – $22
Fine	F-12	$35 – $50
Very Fine	VF-20	$70 – $95
About Uncirculated	AU-50	$300 – $450
Mint State 63	MS-63	$1,100 – $1,400
Mint State 65	MS-65	$3,500 – $4,800

Identifying Key Features and the “S” Mint Mark

To confirm you have the valuable San Francisco variety, you need to look at the reverse (the “tails” side) of the coin. Below the words “FIVE CENTS” and the mound the buffalo stands on, you should see a small letter “S.” If the area is blank, it was minted in Philadelphia. If it has a “D,” it was minted in Denver.

When using CoinKnow, you can take a photo of the reverse to zoom in on this specific area. The mint mark is often one of the first things to get obscured by dirt or wear. Beginners often mistake a dirty Philadelphia coin for a San Francisco coin, so cleaning the surface very gently with a soft cloth (never use chemicals!) might reveal the mark.

Design details also matter. On a 1917 nickel, the date is raised. This was a design flaw that caused the date to wear off quickly in circulation. Finding a 1917-S with a bold, crisp date is a sign that the coin is worth significantly more than the “average” finds.

Why Condition Matters Most for San Francisco Nickels

Collectors are particularly picky about 1917-S nickels because the San Francisco mint was known for using worn-out dies during this era. This resulted in “mushy” details. A coin could technically have never been spent in a store, but if the strike was weak, it might look like a lower grade.

The 1917 Buffalo Nickel value and rarity factors often hinge on the presence of the “split tail” on the buffalo or the detail in the Indian’s feathers. If these areas are flat, the coin is considered a “weak strike.”

Professional grading services like PCGS or NGC will look for luster. Luster is that “spinning” light effect seen on new coins. If your 1917-S still has its original mint frost, it could be worth thousands. Most coins found in jars today have a dull, grey appearance, which indicates they are in “Good” or “Fine” condition.

Total Mintage and Scarcity Trends

With a mintage of just over 4 million, the 1917-S is not the rarest Buffalo Nickel (that title belongs to the 1913-S Type 2), but it is considered a “semi-key date.” This means it is essential for anyone trying to complete a collection. Because so many were lost to time or worn down until the date disappeared, the surviving population of legible coins is much lower than the original mintage suggests.

Mint Location	Mintage Quantity	Rarity Scale
Philadelphia (No Mark)	51,424,019	Common
Denver (D)	9,910,000	Scarce
San Francisco (S)	4,196,000	Key Date / Rare

As the hobby of coin collecting grows, more people are using CoinKnow to inventory their collections. This increases the demand for “S” mint coins from the early 20th century, as these are the holes most people have in their coin albums.

Is Your 1917-S Buffalo Nickel An Error Coin?

While the 1917-S is valuable in its standard form, error collectors look for specific anomalies. Some 1917 nickels show “Doubled Die” features, where the lettering or the date appears blurry or doubled. While a major DDO (Doubled Die Obverse) is not as famous for the 1917-S as it is for the 1916, minor doubling can still add a 20-50% premium to the value.

Another thing to look for is “Cud” errors or die breaks. Since the San Francisco mint used dies until they literally fell apart, you might find a 1917-S with a strange lump of metal on the edge. These unique pieces of history are highly sought after by specialists who enjoy the “imperfections” of early American minting.

Always check the rim of the coin as well. If the rim is thick and the letters are merging into the edge, it’s a sign of a very late die state. While not always an “error” that adds value, it makes the coin a unique conversation piece for your collection.

FAQ

Q: Where is the mint mark on a 1917 nickel?

A: The mint mark is located on the reverse side (the side with the buffalo). Look directly under the words “FIVE CENTS.” You will see an “S” for San Francisco or a “D” for Denver. If the space is empty, it was made in Philadelphia.

Q: Can I find a 1917-S Buffalo Nickel in my pocket change?

A: It is extremely unlikely but not impossible. Most Buffalo Nickels were pulled from circulation by the 1960s. However, “collection dumps” happen where someone spends an old collection at a store, meaning these rare coins occasionally surface in the wild.

Q: Why is my 1917 nickel missing the date?

A: Buffalo Nickels had a design flaw where the date was placed on a raised part of the coin. Standard wear from rubbing against other coins in a pocket would eventually scrub the date off completely. “Dateless” Buffalo Nickels are usually worth only about 25 to 50 cents.

Q: Should I clean my 1917-S Buffalo Nickel to make it worth more?

A: No! Never clean your coins with abrasives or chemicals. Collectors prefer the natural patina and aging. Cleaning a coin often leaves microscopic scratches that can reduce its value by 50% or more instantly.

Q: What is the highest price ever paid for a 1917-S Buffalo Nickel?

A: Superbly graded specimens (MS-67) have sold at major auctions for over $40,000. However, these are museum-quality pieces. For the average person, a nice uncirculated version will typically fetch between $1,000 and $3,000.