Buffalo Nickel Values – How Much Are They Worth?
At a Glance:
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- Buffalo nickels range in value from as little as $.50 to as much as $100,000 or more.
- Buffalo nickel values depend on a combination of factors, including rarity, errors, and condition.
- On this page, we will explore what makes a Buffalo nickel valuable and the rarest Buffalo nickels.
Buffalo Nickel Value | How Much Is a Buffalo Nickel Worth?
The Buffalo nickel is an undeniable American treasure. While the Buffalo nickel was discontinued in 1938, collectors around the world continue to collect the coins. Because of how many Buffalo nickels were minted from 1913 to 1938, it is still possible to find these unique coins in circulation.
Here’s what you might not know: your Buffalo nickel could be worth thousands of dollars. You heard that right. Most Buffalo nickels trade for 50 cents or less, but a few rare specimens have fetched hundreds of dollars at auction. Is your Buffalo nickel valuable? Keep reading to find out!
On this page, we’re discussing Buffalo nickel values. We’ll cover how to determine a Buffalo Nickel’s value, as well as some of the most valuable Buffalo nickels in the world.
Are Buffalo Nickels Worth Anything?
The vast majority of Buffalo nickels are not worth very much money. Buffalo nickels range in value from $.50 to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on several factors. Expensive Buffalo nickels feature rare dates, uncommon errors, and excellent condition.
Like all rare coins, Buffalo nickels are valued based on both their rarity and condition. Graded rare Buffalo nickels in near-perfect condition can be worth considerably more than worn-down and weathered coins from the same year and mint. While most Buffalo nickels are worth very little, certain rare Buffalo nickels can be worth quite a bit of money.
Exploring What Makes a Buffalo Nickel Valuable
What makes a Buffalo nickel valuable? Buffalo nickel values are determined by three main factors:
- Rarity and Date
- Errors (If Applicable)
- Condition
Together, these three factors help investors figure out how much a Buffalo nickel is worth. Below, we’re taking a closer look at each of these value-defining elements of the average Buffalo nickel.
Rarity and Key Dates
Rare Buffalo nickels are considered numismatic coins, which means that rarity and key dates play a significant role in their value. Buffalo nickel values vary from $.50 to $1,000 or more, depending on their rarity, date, and mint marks.
Online coin value guides can help investors determine whether their Buffalo nickel is worth anything. If you have a rare Buffalo nickel, make sure to research the mintage numbers for your coin. Both the date and mint mark of your Buffalo nickel can play a role in determining its total value.
During certain years, a given U.S. Mint may have minted hundreds of millions of Buffalo nickels. Other years or mint marks may be far rarer; uncommon date Buffalo nickels can be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on a coin’s condition. Even in great condition, Buffalo nickels with common dates are not worth very much unless they also feature an uncommon error.
Which years are valuable for Buffalo nickels? 1913, 1918, 1921, and 1935 are four of the most coveted dates for Buffalo nickels. These dates feature low mintages, meaning that coins from these years are often still valuable today. The most valuable Buffalo nickels feature uncommon errors, including doubled die errors and the famous 3-legged Buffalo error.
Buffalo Nickel Errors
Errors play a massive role in determining the value of Buffalo nickels. Most Buffalo nickels are not very valuable, but nickels with uncommon errors can sometimes be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What are some of the most valuable Buffalo nickel errors? Two of the most valuable errors found on some Buffalo nickels include the “8-over-7” error and the “three-legged Buffalo” error.
The 8-over-7 error is the most valuable error investors can find on a Buffalo nickel. During the minting process, a very small number of Buffalo nickels were stamped with the number ‘7’ under the number ‘8’ on the date. These errors can be tough to spot, so you’ll need to look at a Buffalo nickel very closely to figure out if you’re holding a 7-over-8 coin. Buffalo nickels with the 8-over-7 error can be worth anywhere between $50 to $300,000, depending on their condition.
Some Buffalo nickels also feature a unique error that numismatists call the three-legged Buffalo. This name is pretty self explanatory. On a three-legged Buffalo nickel, the fourth leg of the buffalo on the reverse side is missing. A three-legged Buffalo nickel is worth anywhere from $250 to $100,000, depending on its condition.
Rare error Buffalo nickel values vary based on one important factor: condition.
Condition
The condition of a Buffalo nickel also impacts its value. The price difference between a rare Buffalo nickel in excellent condition and one in poor condition is significant. Buffalo nickels are numismatic coins, which means that they are generally graded using the Sheldon grading scale. On the Sheldon scale, coins are given a numerical rating from 1-70, depending on their overall condition.
Attribution
The better condition a Buffalo nickel is kept in, the more it should be worth. Buffalo nickel values skyrocket when a coin is graded higher than 65, since a grade that high means that the coin is nearly perfect.
Take the 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo Nickel as an example. According to PCGS, this coin is worth around $351 when sold at a grade of 4. A 3-Legged 1937-D Buffalo Nickel graded 67 is worth nearly $100,000. That’s quite the difference! Like all numismatic coins, Buffalo nickel values are primarily determined by a combination of their rarity and condition.
Buffalo Nickel Values Explained
Because Buffalo nickel values can range from 50 cents to hundreds of thousands of dollars, it is important for new investors to understand how rare Buffalo nickels get their value. As we explained above, Buffalo nickels are valued based on three main factors: rarity, errors, and condition.
For the most part, only rare Buffalo nickels or specimens with notably rare errors are worth a lot of money. Most common date, non-error Buffalo nickels are worth $1 or less.
Most Valuable Buffalo Nickels
Do you have a valuable Buffalo nickel sitting in your coin cabinet? If you find one of these coins in your stash, you may be sitting on a goldmine. Several of the coins below have sold for over $100,000 at auction, making them some of the most valuable Buffalo nickels in the world. Below, we’re discussing some of the rarest and most expensive Buffalo nickels ever found.
1918-D 8 Over 7 Buffalo Nickel Value
The 1918-D 8 Over 7 Buffalo Nickel is one of the most valuable Buffalo nickels on the planet. This coin features an extremely uncommon error. To find the error on an 8-over-7 Buffalo nickel, you’ll need to look closely at the coin’s date.
The vast majority of 1918-D Buffalo nickels are not very valuable. While minting one batch of these coins, the Denver Mint made a mistake. They accidentally stamped the number ‘7’ under ‘8’ on the date. This error can be difficult to spot. Numismatists look closely at a magnified 1918 Buffalo nickel to determine if it has this valuable error.
One tell-tale giveaway of the 8 over 7 error is the top of the number 8 on the date. Regular, non-error 1918 Buffalo nickels feature a rounded top to the 8. On the 8 over 7 variant of the 1918 Buffalo nickel, the top of the 8 should appear almost flat because it was stamped over a number 7.
Experts estimate that the 1918-D 8 Over 7 Buffalo Nickel in MS66 condition is worth around $650,000. At one auction, a PCGS-graded MS65 8 over 7 Buffalo nickel sold for a whopping $350,750.
1916 Doubled Die Buffalo Nickel Value
Doubled die errors are some of the most popular errors found on American coins. This error occurs when the die that presses designs onto a coin malfunctions, stamping a given coin twice instead of just once. Doubled die coins feature at least one image or symbol that has been ‘doubled.’ Doubled die coins can be difficult to spot, which is why most coin collectors use a magnifying glass to carefully inspect their coins for valuable errors.
The 1916 Doubled Die Buffalo Nickel is one of the rarest – and most valuable – Buffalo nickels on the market. On this coin, the doubled die is typically easy to identify and occurs on the date. You can confirm that a 1916 Buffalo nickel includes the doubled die error if the date appears to have been duplicated. Because the doubled die is so dramatic on these coins, the duplication should be easy to spot with the naked eye.
Only around 200 1916 Doubled Die Buffalo Nickels exist, making these coins valuable in any condition. Coin value guides find that these coins are worth around $2,500 in the poorest possible condition.
The most valuable 1916 Doubled Die Buffalo Nickel was graded 64 and sold for a jaw-dropping $281,750 at auction.
1935 Doubled Die Buffalo Nickel Value
Compared to the 1916 variant, the doubled die effect on the 1935 Buffalo Nickel is far subtler. This coin is the only Buffalo nickel in the series to feature a potential doubled die on the reverse rather than the obverse. Experts estimate that there are 300 or more 1935 Doubled Die Buffalo Nickels in circulation, although most of them are in poor condition.
When heavily circulated, 1935 Doubled Die Buffalo Nickel values are not very high. PCGS estimates that these coins are worth around $75 when graded as a 6 out of 70.
While very rare, 1935 Doubled Die Buffalo Nickels are extremely valuable. These coins can be worth up to $105,000, according to auction records. Since so few specimens of this coin are known to have survived in excellent condition, MS64+ 1935 Doubled Die Buffalo Nickels are far more valuable than their battle-worn counterparts.
1935 3-Legged Buffalo Nickel Value
While it may not be the most valuable Buffalo nickel, the 1935 3-Legged Buffalo Nickel is a personal favorite for many collectors. Compared to the other rare error Buffalo nickels on our list, this is also among the most common.
Like the name suggests, 3-Legged Buffalo Nickels are relatively easy to spot. On the reverse side of this coin, the Buffalo has only 3 legs instead of 4. Strangely enough, the hoof of the Buffalo’s fourth leg is still visible. Aside from the missing leg, this coin usually appears otherwise error-free.
Thousands of these coins are currently in circulation, but their popularity among collectors makes even low-grade 3-Legged Buffalo Nickels valuable. At a grade of 3, PCGS estimates that this error Buffalo nickel is worth around $475. This makes low-grade coins in this error series considerably more valuable than the other coins on our list, despite its high mintage figures.
Very few 1935 3-Legged Buffalo Nickels have been kept in excellent condition, making the high-grade specimens quite valuable. The PCGS value guide finds that an MS67 Buffalo Nickel with this date and error is worth approximately $150,000!
Is Your Buffalo a Hidden Gem?
For decades, the Buffalo nickel has been one of the most iconic American coins. Although these coins do not contain any precious metals, they can be very valuable. How much is a Buffalo nickel worth? Buffalo nickels range in value from just $.50 to $100,000 or more, depending on their rarity, errors, and condition.
Do you have a hidden gem tucked away in your coin drawer? If you think that your Buffalo nickel may feature one of the rare errors we’ve covered, be sure to get it professionally graded.
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About The Author
Michael Roets
Michael Roets is a writer and journalist for Hero Bullion. His work explores precious metals news, guides, and commentary.