What is a No Date Buffalo Nickel – And How Much is it Worth?

 

What is a No Date Buffalo Nickel – And is it Valuable? 

Coin collectors and coin roll hunters may occasionally spot Buffalo nickels without dates when looking through their coins. These “no date” Buffalo nickels can seem like mint-made error coins to the untrained eye, but they’re actually not error coins at all. It is relatively common to find no date buffalo nickels – so common, in fact, that dealers often distinguish between “no date” and “full date” Buffalo nickels when selling single coins, rolls, or bags. The dates on Buffalo nickels were unusually raised compared to other coins from the same time period, so many Buffalo nickels’ dates rub off over the course of years in circulation. 

Buffalo nickels with no date are usually not worth very much money. On the secondary market, you can expect to receive less than a $1 for your no date Buffalo nickels; most sale prices range from $.06-$.20 per no date Buffalo nickel. These coins can sometimes command a higher premium, especially if they’re in excellent condition or feature rare and valuable errors. Since no date Buffalo nickels feature no dates (obviously), you won’t be able to find key date Buffalo nickels by buying no date coins unless you find one where the date is partially visible. 

On this page, learn everything you need to know about Buffalo nickels with no date. 

Why Do Some Buffalo Nickels Have No Date? 

Unlike most coins, Buffalo nickels were minted with the date on the raised portion of the coin, on top of the left shoulder of the Native American leader featured on the obverse. Because of the raised date, it was especially easy for Buffalo nickel dates to be rubbed off over time. The “no date” error on a Buffalo nickel isn’t actually an error at all. Mint-made errors are the result of a mistake made during the minting process, but Buffalo nickels lose their dates over time because of regular circulation. 

This is a problem that most American coins don’t have. Typically, the U.S. Mint places the dates of modern coins on the field, the background part of a coin that isn’t raised. The raised part of a coin is usually the first part to become weathered or worn down through the course of circulation, so no date Buffalos lose their dates naturally over time as the coin becomes worn down. The raised date is a feature on all Buffalo nickels, which means it’s not uncommon to find a Buffalo nickel with no date – no date Buffalos are usually not worth very much money. 

Restoring the Date on a No Date Buffalo Nickel

Can you restore the date on a Buffalo nickel? It is sometimes possible to restore the date on a Buffalo nickel, depending on the coin’s age, circulation, and damage. Some coin collectors use “Nic-A-Date,” a chemical that reportedly uses highly toxic acid to recover the date on no date Buffalo nickels. 

Should you use chemicals to reveal the date on your dateless Buffalo nickel? It depends. Using chemicals on a coin often considerably reduces the value of your collectible, so we cannot recommend any type of chemical treatment or cleaning for valuable coins or coins kept in excellent condition. However, most dateless Buffalo nickels are not considered rare or valuable, so collectors who are keeping their coin for personal use may consider using a chemical treatment to bring out its date. 

If you suspect that your no date Buffalo nickel may be rare or valuable, some professional coin restoration companies may be able to restore its date. This service will cost more money than most Buffalo nickels are worth, so it may not be a financially sound decision. Still, collectors who are curious about the process may consider paying a bit of money to see their Buffalo nickel in its fully dated glory. 

No Date Buffalo Nickel Rarity

Dateless Buffalo nickels are very common, since all coins in the series were made with raised dates susceptible to being rubbed off after years – or decades – of circulation. These no date Buffalos are so common that coin dealers will divide their Buffalo nickels into categories: dateless and full date. If you search a large pile of Buffalo nickels, you’ll probably find several with partial or no dates. These coins aren’t particularly hard to find, so you don’t have a rarity on your hands if you’ve collected a no date Buffalo nickel. 

Just because no date Buffalo nickels are common doesn’t mean they aren’t collectible. Buying dateless Buffalos can be an affordable way to start collecting coins, since these nickels generally sell for less cash than their full date counterparts. 

How Much Are No Date Buffalo Nickels Worth?

Buffalo nickels with no date are usually not worth very much money and generally sell for anywhere from $.06-$.20, depending on their condition and if they feature any rare errors. Partial date Buffalo nickels are also relatively common but can sometimes sell for a higher premium, since these coins can occasionally be from key dates that are worth more money. 

Although dateless Buffalo nickels aren’t worth very much money, they can be a great way to build your coin collection. Dateless Buffalos are a good choice if you’d like to start collecting Buffalo nickels but don’t want to pay a large premium for popular full date versions of the coin. 

No Date vs. Full Date vs. Partial Date Buffalo Nickels

Coin dealers generally describe Buffalo nickels using one of three labels: 

• No date. Buffalo nickels where the date has been completely rubbed off over years of circulation are called “no date” or “dateless” Buffalos. 
• Partial date. The date on a Buffalo nickel can sometimes be rubbed only partially off. On these coins, only part of the date remains. Partial date Buffalo nickels can occasionally sell for a premium, since these coins are sometimes key dates. Remember – Buffalo nickels were only minted during the 20th century, so the second two digits on the date can give collectors confirmation of which date it came from. 
• Full date. Although no date Buffalos are also common, it’s not hard to find Buffalo nickels with their full dates still visible. These full date nickels usually sell for more than dateless Buffalo nickels. 

The value of a Buffalo nickel always depends on a variety of factors, including the coin’s condition, date, and any rare errors it may include. Expect to pay a different price for a no date Buffalo than you would for a full date or partial date Buffalo. 

Buying and Collecting No Date Buffalo Nickels

Although they’re worth less than full date variants, some coin collectors actually prefer to buy no date Buffalo nickels. These coins are unique; very few other U.S. coins feature the raised date that causes many Buffalo nickels to become “no date” coins over a long period of circulation. In this sense, the coins remind investors of one of the rare largescale errors committed by the United States Mint. 

Like we mentioned earlier, no date Buffalos are also popular because they’re a cheap way to invest in Buffalo nickels. If you plan on giving out Buffalo nickels as gifts to friends, family, or the young numismatist in your life, stocking up on no date Buffalos can be a great way to save some money while making someone’s day. 

Final Thoughts: What Are No Date Buffalo Nickels? 

Because the dates on Buffalo nickels were raised, they wear off easily after decades of circulation. Today, there are millions of “no date” Buffalo nickels in circulation. Dateless Buffalo nickels generally are worth less than $1 each, with the vast majority selling for $.20 or less. These coins can still be a great way to build your collection, though, since they’re typically more affordable than full or partial date versions of the popular coin. 

Long story short, don’t expect a big payday for your dateless Buffalo nickel!

You might also be interested in: 

• Buffalo Nickel Values – How Much Are They Worth?
• Anatomy of a Coin | An Illustrated Guide to the Parts of a Coin
• Numismatics Explained: What Gives Coins Value?