Design and Specifications of the Buffalo Nickel

The Buffalo Nickel, also known as the Indian Head Nickel, was introduced as part of the drive to beautify American coinage in the early 20th century. It replaced the Liberty Head nickel and symbolized the native beauty and history of the American West.
Weight 5 grams
Diameter 21.2 mm
Mint Marks D (Denver), S (San Francisco), P or no mark (Philadelphia)
Composition 75% copper, 25% nickel
Obverse Design Profile of a Native American chief, designed by James Earle Fraser
Reverse Design American bison (buffalo) standing on a mound, designed by James Earle Fraser
Years of Minting 1913-1938

Collectibility and Rare Varieties

The condition of Buffalo Nickels greatly affects their value due to the coin’s propensity for wear, especially on the date and the buffalo’s horn. High-grade examples and those with full horn details command significant premiums. Varieties like the 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo and the 1916 Doubled Die Obverse are highly sought after by collectors.
1914-D 3,912,000 minted; scarce in higher grades
1921-S 1,557,000 minted; low mintage year
1926-S 970,000 minted; lowest mintage of the series
1913-S Type 2 1,209,000 minted; one of the key dates in the series
1937-D 3-Legged Unknown mintage; famous error variety with the buffalo's front leg missing

Explore Buffalo Nickel Values by Year

1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938

Most Valuable Buffalo Nickel

This section highlights the most valuable coins in the series, based on PCGS price guides. The table shows price ranges for each coin in various conditions.

Coin Name Circulated Price Uncirculated Price
1937-D Nickel 3 Legs (Regular Strike) $450.00 – $3,000.00 –
1936 Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $28.00 –
1913 Nickel Type 1 (Regular Strike) $8.00 – $57.00 –
1935 Nickel Doubled Die Reverse (Regular Strike) $65.00 – $4,500.00 –
1935-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $55.00 –
1936-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $37.00 –
1936-D Nickel 3-1/2 Legs (Regular Strike) $500.00 – $12,500.00 –
1937-D Nickel 3 Legs, FS-901 (Regular Strike) $375.00 – $1,650.00 –
1935 Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $28.00 –
1937-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $28.00 –
1936 Nickel Brilliant (Proof) $335.00 – $500.00 –
1938-D Nickel Buffalo (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $28.00 –
1920 Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $70.00 –
1929 Nickel (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $45.00 –
1916 Nickel (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $70.00 –
1926 Nickel (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $55.00 –
1926-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $12.00 – $4,750.00 –
1934 Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $60.00 –
1913 Nickel Type 2 (Regular Strike) $9.00 – $55.00 –
1937 Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $28.00 –
1937-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $28.00 –
1936-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $35.00 –
1916 Nickel Doubled Die Obverse (Regular Strike) $2,000.00 – $67,500.00 –
1913-S Nickel Type 2 (Regular Strike) $100.00 – $925.00 –
1930-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $90.00 –
1925-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $9.00 – $775.00 –
1927 Nickel Special Strike (Special Strike) – $65,000.00 – $87,500.00
1930 Nickel (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $50.00 –
1938-D/D Nickel Buffalo (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $27.00 –
1915 Nickel (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $65.00 –
1923 Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $77.00 –
1927-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $775.00 –
1935-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $80.00 –
1925 Nickel (Regular Strike) $3.00 – $60.00 –
1936-D Nickel 3 1/2 Legs FS-901 (Regular Strike) $475.00 – $10,000.00 –
1931-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $10.00 – $90.00 –
1928-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $80.00 –
1914 Nickel (Regular Strike) $16.00 – $75.00 –
1918 Nickel (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $185.00 –
1919 Nickel (Regular Strike) $3.00 – $85.00 –
1917 Nickel (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $70.00 –
1921-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $2,750.00 –
1929-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $85.00 –
1929-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $65.00 –
1920-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $6.00 – $925.00 –
1928-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $360.00 –
1934-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $90.00 –
1915-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $800.00 –
1918-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $22.00 – $600.00 –
1913-S Nickel Type 1 (Regular Strike) $25.00 – $160.00 –
1924 Nickel (Regular Strike) $3.00 – $90.00 –
1913-D Nickel Type 1 (Regular Strike) $13.00 – $92.00 –
1921 Nickel (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $335.00 –
1927 Nickel (Regular Strike) $2.00 – $50.00 –
1918/7-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $650.00 – $32,500.00 –
1918-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $6.00 – $1,150.00 –
1938-D/S Nickel Buffalo (Regular Strike) $11.00 – $55.00 –
1916-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $15.00 – $185.00 –
1913-D Nickel Type 2 (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $345.00 –
1923-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $5.00 – $650.00 –
1927-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $4.00 – $300.00 –
1914/(3) Nickel (Regular Strike) $400.00 – $2,450.00 –
1924-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $8.00 – $3,150.00 –
1914-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $70.00 – $465.00 –
1919-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $10.00 – $975.00 –
1920-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $13.00 – $750.00 –
1926-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $10.00 – $525.00 –
1914-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $235.00 –
1919-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $10.00 – $700.00 –
1915-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $20.00 – $300.00 –
1916-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $7.00 – $235.00 –
1917-S Nickel (Regular Strike) $22.00 – $1,050.00 –
1925-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $9.00 – $550.00 –
1937 Nickel (Proof) $460.00 – $500.00 –
1917-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $15.00 – $510.00 –
1924-D Nickel (Regular Strike) $9.00 – $650.00 –
1935-D/D Nickel RPM FS-502 (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $1,150.00 –
1936-S/S Nickel RPM FS-501 (Regular Strike) $15.00 – $135.00 –
1938-D/S Nickel Overmintmark FS-512 (Regular Strike) – $75.00 – $1,150.00
1916 Nickel DDO FS-101 (Regular Strike) $2,700.00 – $48,500.00 –
1921-S Nickel 2 Feathers FS-401 (Regular Strike) $75.00 – $2,200.00 –
1935-S Nickel DDR FS-801 (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $1,360.00 –
1936 Nickel Satin (Proof) $460.00 – $500.00 –
1929-S Nickel 2 Feathers FS-401 (Regular Strike) – $3,600.00
1935 Nickel DDR FS-801 (Regular Strike) $65.00 – $3,150.00 –
1918/7-D Nickel Overdate FS-101 (Regular Strike) $500.00 – $3,500.00 –
1917-S Nickel 2 Feathers FS-401 (Regular Strike) $60.00 – $600.00 –
1918-S Nickel 2 Feathers FS-401 (Regular Strike) $65.00 – $1,075.00 –
1925-D Nickel 2 Feathers FS-401 (Regular Strike) $100.00 – $600.00 –
1925-S Nickel 2 Feathers FS-401 (Regular Strike) $30.00 – $725.00 –
1926-D Nickel 3 1/2 Leg FS-901 (Regular Strike) $85.00 – $1,100.00 –
1927-D Nickel 3 1/2 Leg FS-901 (Regular Strike) $120.00 – $2,250.00 –
1931-S Nickel DDR FS-801 (Regular Strike) $150.00 –
1914/(3) Nickel Overdate FS-101 (Regular Strike) $390.00 – $2,200.00 –
1913 Nickel Type 1 (Proof) – $900.00 – $100,000.00
1928 Nickel (Regular Strike) $1.00 – $50.00 –
1914 Nickel (Proof) – $775.00 – $38,500.00
1915-D/D Nickel RPM FS-501 (Regular Strike) $85.00 – $1,100.00 –
1917-D Nickel 3 1/2 Leg FS-901 (Regular Strike) $100.00 – $1,775.00 –
1919-S Nickel 2 Feathers FS-401 (Regular Strike) $75.00 – $475.00 –
1920-S Nickel 2 Feathers FS-401 (Regular Strike) $40.00 – $1,225.00 –
1927-D/D Nickel RPM FS-501 (Regular Strike) $35.00 – $800.00 –
1927-S Nickel 2 Feathers FS-401 (Regular Strike) $100.00 – $150.00 –
1929 Nickel DDO FS-101 (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $625.00 –
1930-S Nickel 2 Feathers FS-401 (Regular Strike) $50.00 – $665.00 –

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Chris McPherson is a lifelong collector turned shop owner who opened ChrisMcPherson's Souvenir Shop in 2005. With over 20 years as a professional antique dealer and appraiser, Chris expertly curates a selection of the most unique political, pop culture, and historic collectibles available. His passion is hunting one-of-a-kind artifacts and sharing the fascinating stories behind them. Chris graduated with a BA in American History, informing his specialty in political memorabilia. As a seasoned antique hunter, Chris utilizes his skills to deliver an ever-changing inventory of must-see relics and conversation pieces to his shop.

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