The Buffalo Nickel (or more correctly the Five-Cent Indian Head) was minted by the United States government from 1913-1938. No Buffalo nickels were made in 1922, 1932, or 1933. The coin series has a number of varieties sought after by collectors, most notably: the1916/1916 doubled die obverse; the 1918/7-D doubled die obverse over-date; the 1935 doubled die reverse; and the 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo. Collectors should note that many of these coins suffer from poor strike. Even uncirculated coins may show poor detail. Well struck coins command a significant premium.
| Date and Mint | G | VG | F | VF | XF | UNC | BU | MS-65 |
| 1913 type 1 | $9.50 | $14.30 | $15.20 | $16.20 | $19.00 | $23.75 | $33.25 | $165 |
| 1913D type 1 | $14.30 | $20.90 | $23.75 | $28.50 | $33.25 | $57 | $71 | $380 |
| 1913S type 1 | $38.00 | $48.00 | $57 | $67 | $76 | $86 | $125 | $665 |
| 1913 type 2 | $9.50 | $11.40 | $12.40 | $14.30 | $19.00 | $23.75 | $36.00 | $380 |
| 1913D type 2 | $95 | $145 | $165 | $190 | $215 | $240 | $310 | $1190 |
| 1913S type 2 | $335 | $380 | $475 | $525 | $570 | $715 | $810 | $4750 |
| 1914 | $17.10 | $19.00 | $23.75 | $28.50 | $33.25 | $38.00 | $57 | $475 |
| 1914D | $95 | $145 | $165 | $215 | $285 | $335 | $405 | $1425 |
| 1914S | $28.50 | $38.00 | $48.00 | $57 | $95 | $135 | $165 | $2140 |
| 1915 | $6.65 | $8.55 | $9.50 | $11.40 | $19.00 | $33.25 | $48.00 | $355 |
| 1915D | $19.00 | $28.50 | $48.00 | $71 | $120 | $145 | $215 | $1900 |
| 1915S | $48.00 | $71 | $120 | $165 | $310 | $475 | $665 | $2850 |
| 1916 | $5.70 | $7.60 | $8.55 | $9.50 | $13.30 | $19.00 | $48.00 | $335 |
| 1916 Doubled Die | $4275 | $7125 | $9500 | $16150 | $19000 | $33250 | $95000 | $380000 |
| 1916D | $14.30 | $26.50 | $28.50 | $38.00 | $76 | $105 | $145 | $2140 |
| 1916S | $9.50 | $13.30 | $19.00 | $28.50 | $71 | $115 | $165 | $1900 |
| 1917 | $6.65 | $7.60 | $8.55 | $9.50 | $15.20 | $38.00 | $57 | $570 |
| 1917D | $19.00 | $28.50 | $57 | $76 | $165 | $260 | $355 | $2850 |
| 1917S | $20.90 | $38.00 | $76 | $120 | $190 | $285 | $430 | $4750 |
| 1918 | $5.70 | $6.65 | $8.55 | $15.20 | $30.50 | $52 | $120 | $1235 |
| 1918D 18/17 | $1140 | $1900 | $3325 | $5700 | $9500 | $14250 | $28500 | $285000 |
| 1918D | $19.00 | $38.00 | $71 | $120 | $215 | $310 | $570 | $3325 |
| 1918S | $14.30 | $28.50 | $48.00 | $95 | $165 | $285 | $760 | $21850 |
| 1919 | $2.85 | $3.80 | $4.75 | $7.60 | $14.30 | $28.50 | $57 | $570 |
| 1919D | $16.20 | $33.25 | $67 | $120 | $240 | $335 | $715 | $3325 |
| 1919S | $8.55 | $19.00 | $52 | $95 | $230 | $355 | $570 | $14250 |
| Date and Mint | G | VG | F | VF | XF | UNC | BU | MS-65 |
| 1920 | $1.45 | $2.40 | $2.85 | $7.60 | $14.30 | $28.50 | $57 | $855 |
| 1920D | $6.65 | $19.00 | $33.25 | $120 | $260 | $310 | $545 | $5700 |
| 1920S | $3.80 | $11.40 | $28.50 | $95 | $190 | $285 | $500 | $23750 |
| 1921 | $3.80 | $6.65 | $8.55 | $23.75 | $52 | $71 | $120 | $855 |
| 1921S | $67 | $120 | $190 | $475 | $950 | $1190 | $1520 | $8360 |
| 1923 | $1.65 | $2.85 | $3.80 | $6.65 | $13.30 | $38.00 | $71 | $760 |
| 1923S | $7.60 | $9.50 | $23.75 | $120 | $260 | $335 | $570 | $8550 |
| 1924 | $0.95 | $1.90 | $3.80 | $9.50 | $19.00 | $42.75 | $81 | $760 |
| 1924D | $7.60 | $11.40 | $28.50 | $81 | $215 | $285 | $380 | $4275 |
| 1924S | $14.30 | $33.25 | $95 | $430 | $1140 | $1900 | $2660 | $11400 |
| 1925 | $1.90 | $2.85 | $3.80 | $7.60 | $17.10 | $28.50 | $48.00 | $475 |
| 1925D | $9.50 | $19.00 | $33.25 | $71 | $160 | $240 | $450 | $4750 |
| 1925S | $4.75 | $8.55 | $17.10 | $71 | $165 | $260 | $485 | $31350 |
| 1926 | $0.70 | $1.90 | $2.85 | $5.70 | $9.50 | $19.00 | $33.25 | $240 |
| 1926D | $9.50 | $15.20 | $28.50 | $95 | $165 | $260 | $355 | $4750 |
| 1926S | $20.90 | $38.00 | $120 | $430 | $1140 | $2850 | $4750 | $95000 |
| 1927 | $0.70 | $1.90 | $2.85 | $4.75 | $11.40 | $19.00 | $33.25 | $285 |
| 1927D | $1.90 | $5.70 | $7.60 | $28.50 | $76 | $120 | $190 | $6650 |
| 1927S | $1.90 | $2.85 | $4.75 | $38.00 | $81 | $165 | $570 | $16625 |
| 1928 | $0.70 | $1.90 | $3.80 | $5.70 | $14.30 | $23.75 | $38.00 | $335 |
| 1928D | $1.90 | $2.85 | $4.75 | $14.30 | $38.00 | $48.00 | $71 | $665 |
| 1928S | $1.90 | $2.85 | $4.75 | $11.40 | $28.50 | $95 | $190 | $3800 |
| 1929 | $0.70 | $1.90 | $3.80 | $5.70 | $14.30 | $23.75 | $52 | $335 |
| 1929D | $1.90 | $2.85 | $3.80 | $8.55 | $38.00 | $48.00 | $67 | $1190 |
| 1929S | $1.90 | $2.85 | $3.80 | $4.75 | $23.75 | $28.50 | $48.00 | $475 |
| Date and Mint | G | VG | F | VF | XF | UNC | BU | MS-65 |
| 1930 | $0.70 | $1.45 | $2.40 | $3.80 | $11.40 | $19.00 | $33.25 | $260 |
| 1930S | $0.70 | $1.45 | $2.85 | $3.80 | $14.30 | $33.25 | $76 | $475 |
| 1931S | $14.30 | $17.10 | $19.00 | $23.75 | $28.50 | $48.00 | $71 | $335 |
| 1934 | $0.70 | $1.45 | $2.85 | $4.75 | $11.40 | $19.00 | $48.00 | $380 |
| 1934D | $1.45 | $2.85 | $4.75 | $11.40 | $23.75 | $48.00 | $76 | $570 |
| 1935 | $0.70 | $1.45 | $1.90 | $2.85 | $3.80 | $9.50 | $23.75 | $120 |
| 1935D | $1.45 | $2.40 | $3.80 | $9.50 | $23.75 | $48.00 | $67 | $475 |
| 1935S | $0.95 | $1.90 | $2.85 | $3.80 | $4.75 | $17.10 | $48.00 | $240 |
| 1936 | $0.70 | $1.45 | $1.90 | $2.85 | $3.80 | $8.55 | $19.00 | $71 |
| 1936D | $0.70 | $1.45 | $1.90 | $2.85 | $4.75 | $14.30 | $42.75 | $120 |
| 1936S | $0.95 | $1.45 | $1.90 | $2.85 | $4.75 | $11.40 | $38.00 | $145 |
| 1937 | $0.70 | $1.45 | $1.90 | $2.85 | $4.75 | $8.55 | $19.00 | $71 |
| 1937D | $0.70 | $1.45 | $1.90 | $2.85 | $4.75 | $9.50 | $33.25 | $95 |
| 1937D 3 leg error | $620 | $715 | $855 | $950 | $1140 | $1330 | $2375 | $38000 |
| 1937S | $0.95 | $1.45 | $1.90 | $2.85 | $4.75 | $9.50 | $28.50 | $95 |
| 1938D | $2.85 | $4.75 | $5.70 | $6.65 | $7.60 | $9.50 | $20.90 | $71 |
| 1938D D/S | $5.70 | $7.60 | $11.40 | $14.30 | $19.00 | $33.25 | $48.00 | $190 |
These prices for Buffalo Nickels are provided as a service to Hobbizine readers. They are derived from numerous sources such as dealer price lists, advertisements in numismatic publications, and public auction results. Use these values as a guideline for evaluating the reasonableness of dealer prices, setting up trades with other collectors, and estimating the worth of your collection.
Some notes about grading:
- G - Good: Major design elements are outlined but details are gone; the date may not be sharp (but should be readable) and the rim may not be complete.
- VG - Very Good: Major design elements, letters and numerals are worn but clear.
- F - Fine: Major elements are still clear but details are worn away.
- VF - Very fine: Light even wear on high points, all lettering and design details are sharp.
- XF - Extremely Fine: All design details are sharp; some mint luster remains.
- UNC - Uncirculated: No wear at all; there may be some contact marks and there may be some dulling of the luster.
- BU - Brilliant Uncirculated: a perfect coin with bright consistent luster and no scratches or contact marks.
- MS-65 - Mint State: These are prices for coins that have been certified a "65" by a third party grading company.
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