history of the Buffalo Nickel
James Earl Fraser designed both the obverse and the reverse of the Buffalo nickel. His designs were part of the Renaissance of American Coinage that began with President Theodore Roosevelt. The obverse features a bumpkinly design of a native american facing right. Contrary to several claims, the portrayal is a constitution of respective native american tribal chiefs.
The inverse features an american Buffalo that many people believed was modeled off of a specimen at the New York City Zoo named Black Diamond. Numismatic researchers have not been able to confirm nor refute this claim .
The first kind of the Buffalo nickel produced by The United States Mint featured the buffalo standing on a mound of scandal with the denomination FIVE CENTS rising above it. This plan defect caused the denomination to prematurely wear off of the nickel. approximately halfway through 1913, the design was changed to recess the denomination below the rim of the coin .
grocery store analysis
indian Head or Buffalo nickels have been reasonably static over the last few years. Some of the key dates and rarities have seen some decline since reaching their acme in 2008. Since these coins do not contain any silver or gold, they do not react to the grocery store fluctuations of these valued metals .
Although this series is not democratic among beginning coin collectors, intercede and advanced coin collectors take pride in assembling a specify of choice Buffalo nickels. This will ensure that quality coins will always have a feasible commercialize whether you are buying or selling your coins .
An intermediate collector should focus on assembling a nicely matched set that they can afford on the budget allocated for their Buffalo nickel collection. Advanced collectors will want to strive for an uncirculated laid that includes rare dates and varieties .
Key Dates, Rarities, and Varieties
The following Buffalo nickels in any condition, are deserving considerable more than common ones. As such, these coins are frequently forge or altered from common Buffalo nickels. therefore, before you start celebrating your early retirement with your fresh found fortune, have the mint authenticated by a reputable mint dealer or third party grading servicing .
- 1913-S Type 2
- 1916/16 (doubled die variety)
- 1918-D 8 over 7 (doubled die variety)
- 1921-S
- 1924-S
- 1926-S
- 1937-D Three legged Buffalo
Beginning mint collectors should learn about how to recognize the most valuable old world buffalo nickels with photos and detail explanations .
condition
If your coin is wear and looks like to the one illustrated below, it is considered a circulated coin .
Read more: Dahlonega Mint – Wikipedia
Buffalo Nickel Graded Fine (F12)
Teletrade Coin Auctions
If your mint looks similar to the one illustrated in the connect below and has no evidence of wear due to being in circulation, it is considered an uncirculated coin. here ‘s a high-resolution photograph of an uncirculated Buffalo Nickel .
Buffalo Nickel Graded Mint State 63 (MS63)
Teletrade Coin Auctions
A professional numismatist or coin dealer can help you determine the exact class of your Buffalo nickel .
mint Marks
The United States mint produced Buffalo Nickels at three different facilities in use three different mint marks : Philadelphia ( no mint stigmatize ), Denver ( D ) and San Francisco ( S ). The mint mark on the nickel is located on the reverse of the mint, just below the appellation of “ FIVE CENTS. ”
Mint Mark Location
James Bucki
indian Head or Buffalo Nickel Average Prices and Values
The follow table lists the buy price ( what you can expect to pay to a dealer to purchase the mint ) and sells value ( what you can expect a dealer to pay to you if you sell the mint ). The first gear column lists the date and mint cross off ( see the photograph above ) followed by the buy price and the sell rate for an average circulated Buffalo nickel. All circulated prices and values assume that the date is clear and not completely worn off the side of the coin. The next two column list the bribe price and the deal value for an average uncirculated. These are approximate retail prices and wholesale values. The actual offer you receive from a particular coin dealer will vary depending on the actual rate of the mint and some other factors that determine its worth .
Date & Mint | Circ. Buy | Circ. Sell | Unc. Buy | Unc. Sell | |
1913 Type 1 | $11.00 | $5.50 | $45.00 | $31.00 | |
1913-D Type 1 | $14.00 | $7.00 | $80.00 | $60.00 | |
1913-S Type 1 | $42.00 | $21.00 | $150.00 | $110.00 | |
1913 Type 2 | $11.00 | $6.00 | $55.00 | $40.00 | |
1913-D Type 2 | $90.00 | $55.00 | $300.00 | $250.00 | |
1913-S Type 2 * | $280.00 | $150.00 | $900.00 | $700.005 | |
1914 | $17.00 | $9.00 | $69.00 | $47.00 | |
1914 4 over 3 | $420.00 | $200.00 | $4,400.00 | $3,500.00 | |
1914-D | $90.00 | $50.00 | $500.00 | $330.00 | |
1914-S | $31.00 | $15.00 | $290.00 | $210.00 | |
1915 | $6.00 | $3.00 | $71.00 | $52.00 | |
1915-D | $26.00 | $13.00 | $290.00 | $200.00 | |
1915-S | $59.00 | $31.00 | $800.00 | $600.00 | |
1916 | $5.00 | $2.50 | $67.00 | $49.00 | |
1916 16 over 16 * | $6,500.00 | $4,000.00 | $125,000.00 | $90,000.00 | |
1916-D | $18.00 | $9.00 | $220.00 | $160.00 | |
1916-S | $14.90 | $7.30 | $230.00 | $170.00 | |
1917 | $5.90 | $2.90 | $100.00 | $70.00 | |
1917-D | $29.00 | $14.00 | $580.00 | $420.00 | |
1917-S | $43.00 | $21.00 | $900.00 | $600.00 | |
1918 | $6.90 | $3.60 | $250.00 | $170.00 | |
1918-D 8 over 7 * | $1,800.00 | $1,200.00 | $43,000.00 | $36,000.00 | |
1918-D | $31.00 | $16.00 | $710.00 | $520.00 | |
1918-S | $27.00 | $14.00 | $1,500.00 | $1,100.00 | |
1919 | $3.00 | $1.50 | $90.00 | $60.00 | |
1919-D | $29.00 | $15.00 | $1,200.00 | $800.00 | |
1919-S | $24.00 | $12.00 | $1,100.00 | $800.00 | |
1920 | $3.70 | $1.90 | $100.00 | $70.00 | |
1920-D | $19.00 | $10.00 | $1,100.00 | $700.00 | |
1920-S | $13.00 | $6.20 | $1,100.00 | $800.00 | |
1921 | $6.00 | $3.00 | $220.00 | $150.00 | |
1921-S * | $90.00 | $50.00 | $1,900.00 | $1,200.00 | |
Date & Mint | Circ. Buy | Circ. Sell | Unc. Buy | Unc. Sell | |
1923 | $3.60 | $1.70 | $110.00 | $70.00 | |
1923-S | $12.90 | $6.10 | $680.00 | $470.00 | |
1924 | $2.80 | $1.40 | $120.00 | $80.00 | |
1924-D | $15.00 | $7.00 | $620.00 | $420.00 | |
1924-S * | $48.00 | $24.00 | $2,700.00 | $1,800.00 | |
1925 | $2.00 | $1.50 | $69.00 | $54.00 | |
1925-D | $19.00 | $10.00 | $630.00 | $470.00 | |
1925-S | $10.20 | $4.90 | $1,100.00 | $800.00 | |
1926 | $2.00 | $1.00 | $54.00 | $39.00 | |
1926-D | $15.00 | $8.00 | $390.00 | $290.00 | |
1926-S * | $44.00 | $21.00 | $6,400.00 | $4,900.00 | |
1927 | $1.20 | $0.60 | $62.00 | $45.00 | |
1927-D | $4.70 | $2.40 | $280.00 | $210.00 | |
1927-S | $2.70 | $1.40 | $1,500.00 | $1,100.00 | |
1928 | $1.60 | $0.80 | $52.00 | $38.00 | |
1928-D | $2.60 | $1.30 | $90.00 | $60.00 | |
1928-S | $1.80 | $0.90 | $370.00 | $260.00 | |
1929 | $1.70 | $0.80 | $55.00 | $38.00 | |
1929-D | $1.70 | $0.90 | $100.00 | $70.00 | |
1929-S | $1.30 | $0.70 | $69.00 | $49.00 | |
1930 | $1.60 | $0.80 | $50.00 | $35.00 | |
1930-S | $2.00 | $1.00 | $73.00 | $50.00 | |
1931-S | $14.40 | $7.10 | $80.00 | $60.00 | |
1934 | $1.30 | $0.60 | $49.00 | $33.00 | |
1934-D | $2.50 | $1.20 | $100.00 | $70.00 | |
1935 | $1.00 | $0.50 | $31.00 | $22.00 | |
1935-D | $2.00 | $0.90 | $80.00 | $50.00 | |
1935-S | $1.00 | $0.50 | $54.00 | $38.00 | |
1936 | $1.00 | $0.50 | $27.00 | $19.00 | |
1936-D | $1.20 | $0.60 | $35.00 | $24.00 | |
1936-S | $1.00 | $0.50 | $37.00 | $25.00 | |
1937 | $1.00 | $0.50 | $21.00 | $15.00 | |
1937-D | $1.00 | $0.50 | $28.00 | $19.00 | |
1937-D 3 Leg * | $560.00 | $280.00 | $3,300.00 | $2,400.00 | |
1937-S | $1.00 | $0.50 | $28.00 | $19.00 | |
1938-D | $2.80 | $1.40 | $24.00 | $17.00 | |
1938-D D over S | $6.30 | $3.00 | $64.00 | $45.00 | |
Complete Date-Mint Set Total Coins: 61 | $900.00 | $450.00 | $33,000.00 | $23,000.00 | |
Complete Date Set Total Coins: 23 | $100.00 | $50.00 | $1,800.00 | $1,300.00 |
* = See “ Buffalo Nickel Key Dates, Rarities and Varieties “ for more information on these coins .
Read more: What Coins Are Coin Collectors Looking For?
Leave a Comment