Buffalo Nickels That Are Worth Serious Money and What to Look For

The Buffalo Nickel, also known as the Indian Head Nickel, is worth anywhere from $1 in heavily worn condition to well over $100,000 for rare dates and pristine mint-state examples. If you’ve found one of these coins rattling around in a jar or inherited a collection, you might be sitting on more than you think.

These rugged little five-cent pieces were minted from 1913 to 1938, and they’re one of the most beloved coins in American history. The bold design — featuring a Native American chief on one side and an American bison on the other — was the work of sculptor James Earle Fraser. But beyond their beauty, certain Buffalo Nickels carry serious collector value.

If you want a quick and easy way to check what your coin is worth, a coin identifier and value app can help you identify the date, mint mark, and estimated value right from your phone — no coin dealer visit required.

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Which Buffalo Nickels Are the Most Valuable

Not all Buffalo Nickels are created equal. The value depends heavily on three things: the date, the mint mark, and the condition of the coin. Some dates were minted in small quantities, making them genuinely rare. Others are common but worth decent money simply because collectors want them in top grade.

The most valuable Buffalo Nickel by far is the 1918/7-D Overdate, where a 1917 die was used to stamp 1918 coins, creating a visible doubling in the date. In top condition, this coin can sell for $50,000 or more.

Other standout dates include the 1916 Doubled Die Obverse, the 1926-S, and the 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo — a famous mint error where the front leg of the bison was accidentally ground away during die polishing. That last one alone can fetch $500 to $10,000+ depending on grade.

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Buffalo Nickel Value by Key Date and Grade

Here’s a quick look at some of the most valuable Buffalo Nickels and what they’re worth across different conditions:

Date & Mint Mark	Good (G-4)	Fine (F-12)	MS-63	MS-65
1913 Type 1 (P)	$15	$25	$175	$550
1913 Type 2 (P)	$15	$22	$160	$475
1916 Doubled Die	$3,000+	$6,000+	$25,000+	$50,000+
1918/7-D Overdate	$1,200	$3,500	$30,000+	$55,000+
1926-S	$80	$220	$3,500	$18,000
1937-D 3-Legged	$500	$900	$3,200	$10,000+
1938-D (last year)	$8	$12	$55	$140

For a deeper look at 1913 Type 1 Buffalo Nickel prices across all mint-state grades, you can explore a full price breakdown by coin grade and auction history.

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How Condition Affects Buffalo Nickel Value

One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming a Buffalo Nickel is worthless just because it looks worn. Yes, condition matters enormously — but even a well-worn key date coin can be worth hundreds of dollars.

Coin graders use a scale from 1 to 70. A coin graded Good (G-4) still shows the outline of the design but has heavy wear. Fine (F-12) shows moderate wear with some detail remaining. Mint State coins (MS-60 and above) have never circulated and show original luster.

Buffalo Nickels are notorious for wearing down quickly in circulation, especially the date. If the date is completely worn off your coin, it’s generally worth only a few cents. But if the date is readable and it’s a key date, condition jumps to the top of the value equation.

CoinKnow is a great tool to help assess your coin’s grade using just a photo — it uses image recognition to estimate wear level and match it to current market values.

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Mint Marks and Why They Matter on Buffalo Nickels

The mint mark on a Buffalo Nickel appears on the reverse side, just below the words “FIVE CENTS.” A “D” means it was struck at the Denver Mint, and an “S” means San Francisco. Coins with no mint mark came from Philadelphia.

Generally speaking, Philadelphia coins have higher mintage numbers and are more common. Denver and San Francisco coins from certain years were produced in much smaller quantities, driving up their collector value.

The 1926-S is a perfect example — the San Francisco Mint struck only 970,000 of them, making it one of the lowest-mintage regular-issue Buffalo Nickels. Compare that to over 44 million struck in Philadelphia the same year, and you can see why the “S” coin commands a premium.

To get a full overview of which nickels are worth money beyond just the Buffalo Nickel series, it helps to browse a comprehensive nickel value guide that covers all eras and denominations.

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How to Use CoinKnow to Check Your Buffalo Nickel’s Worth

If you’ve got a Buffalo Nickel in hand and want to know what it’s actually worth today, CoinKnow makes it simple. Just snap a photo of both sides of the coin, and the app identifies the date, mint mark, and variety — then pulls in current market pricing based on recent sales data.

This is especially useful for Buffalo Nickels because so many details matter: Is the date clear? Is the horn on the bison visible? Are there any doubling errors on the date or lettering?

CoinKnow also helps you spot potential errors and varieties that most casual collectors miss entirely. The 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo, for example, is a coin many people have unknowingly sold for face value simply because they didn’t know the front leg was missing. Don’t make that mistake — check before you spend or sell.

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FAQ

Q: How do I know if my Buffalo Nickel is worth anything?
A: Start by reading the date clearly. Key dates like 1913-S Type 2, 1916 Doubled Die, 1918/7-D, 1926-S, and 1937-D Three-Legged are the ones with the highest value. If the date is worn off completely, the coin is generally worth only melt or novelty value. Use CoinKnow or a coin price guide to get a current estimate based on your specific coin.

Q: What is the rarest Buffalo Nickel?
A: The 1916 Doubled Die Obverse and the 1918/7-D Overdate are among the rarest and most expensive. However, the 1913-S Type 2 is often considered the classic key date of the series, with only 1.2 million struck. In top mint-state grade, it can sell for tens of thousands of dollars.

Q: Should I clean my Buffalo Nickel before selling it?
A: Absolutely not. Cleaning a coin — even lightly — removes the original surface and dramatically lowers its value to collectors. A naturally toned or worn coin is always preferable to one that has been polished or dipped. Leave it as-is and let a professional or app like CoinKnow evaluate it in its natural state.