Table of Contents
The Buffalo Nickel, also known as the Indian Head Nickel was a U.S. coin minted from 1913 to 1938. It features the profile of a Native American on the obverse and a bison on the reverse, embodying the spirit and culture of the American West. Designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser, the coin is celebrated for its artistic design and is a cherished piece among collectors.
A Buffalo Nickel consisting of a worn with no date has an approximate worth of American cents, ranging from 20 to 50 cents. It depends on the condition of the concerned Buffalo Nickel. If it’s uncirculated less, then it’s more worthy.
See worth Table in 2024:
| Date | Good ($) | Fine ($) | Extremely fine ($) | Mint State ($) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 Type 1 | 8.56 | 11.44 | 19.76 | 30.16 | |
| 1913 D Type 1 | 11.44 | 16.64 | 28.08 | 53.04 | |
| 1913 S Type 1 | 31.20 | 41.60 | 55.12 | 104.00 | |
| 1913 Type 2 | 12.48 | 15.60 | 17.68 | 24.96 | |
| 1913 D Type 2 | 67.60 | 88.40 | 119.60 | 225.68 | |
| 1913 S Type 2 | 110.24 | 199.68 | 289.12 | 521.04 | |
| 1914 | 13.52 | 17.68 | 21.84 | 52.00 | |
| 1914 D | 48.88 | 67.60 | 136.24 | 310.96 | |
| 1914 S | 21.84 | 35.36 | 61.36 | 147.68 | |
| 1915 | 4.28 | 7.21 | 16.64 | 57.20 | |
| 1915 D | 15.60 | 30.16 | 66.56 | 141.44 | |
| 1915 S | 31.20 | 47.84 | 196.56 | 595.92 | |
| 1916 | 3.15 | 6.08 | 9.36 | 38.48 | |
| 1916 D | 15.60 | 22.88 | 57.20 | 109.20 | |
| 1916 S | 9.02 | 17.68 | 62.40 | 157.04 | |
| 1917 | 3.05 | 6.31 | 13.52 | 62.40 | |
| 1917 D | 15.60 | 40.56 | 94.64 | 344.24 | |
| 1917 S | 20.80 | 59.28 | 90.48 | 672.88 | |
| 1918 | 3.83 | 6.08 | 19.76 | 140.40 | |
| 1918/17 D | 510.64 | 1315.60 | #VALUE! | #VALUE! | |
| 1918 D | 17.68 | 47.84 | 139.36 | 342.16 | |
| 1918 S | 13.52 | 42.64 | 117.52 | 687.44 | |
| 1919 | 2.01 | 3.94 | 11.44 | 58.24 | |
| 1919 D | 16.64 | 54.08 | 166.40 | 695.76 | |
| 1919 S | 9.91 | 38.48 | 186.16 | 529.36 | |
| 1920 | 1.87 | 2.70 | 11.44 | 67.60 | |
| 1920 D | 9.46 | 30.16 | 128.96 | 513.76 | |
| 1920 S | 5.29 | 19.76 | 119.60 | 548.08 | |
| 1921 | 4.06 | 7.21 | 28.08 | 136.24 | |
| 1921 S | 47.84 | 86.32 | 534.56 | 1583.92 | |
| 1923 | 1.70 | 3.96 | 11.44 | 68.64 | |
| 1923 S | 5.77 | 21.84 | 124.80 | 484.64 | |
| 1924 | 1.22 | 3.12 | 15.60 | 74.88 | |
| 1924 D | 6.99 | 23.92 | 122.72 | 556.40 | |
| 1924 S | 17.68 | 61.36 | 475.28 | 1225.12 | |
| 1925 | 1.86 | 4.83 | 15.60 | 45.76 | |
| 1925 D | 10.40 | 29.12 | 110.24 | 329.68 | |
| 1925 S | 4.96 | 16.64 | 176.80 | 546.00 | |
| 1926 | 1.04 | 2.01 | 9.69 | 32.24 | |
| 1926 D | 8.34 | 19.76 | 108.16 | 287.04 | |
| 1926 S | 29.12 | 61.36 | 476.32 | 4480.32 | |
| 1927 | 0.93 | 1.42 | 9.69 | 40.56 | |
| 1927 D | 3.54 | 8.34 | 57.20 | 249.60 | |
| 1927 S | 2.20 | 6.08 | 74.88 | 950.56 | |
| 1928 | 0.83 | 2.93 | 10.40 | 38.48 | |
| 1928 D | 1.49 | 5.81 | 30.16 | 69.68 | |
| 1928 S | 1.33 | 3.49 | 18.72 | 313.04 | |
| 1929 | 0.88 | 2.12 | 9.69 | 35.36 | |
| 1929 D | 1.20 | 3.07 | 23.92 | 76.96 | |
| 1929 S | 1.15 | 2.34 | 9.24 | 46.80 | |
| 1930 | 0.88 | 2.07 | 8.79 | 21.84 | |
| 1930 S | 1.02 | 2.97 | 11.44 | 47.84 | |
| 1931 S | 10.40 | 12.48 | 27.04 | 57.20 | |
| 1934 | 0.84 | 1.62 | 8.56 | 34.32 | |
| 1934 D | 1.58 | 3.56 | 16.64 | 55.12 | |
| 1935 | 0.81 | 1.49 | 2.82 | 17.68 | |
| 1935 D | 1.10 | 1.80 | 15.60 | 48.88 | |
| 1935 S | 0.88 | 1.56 | 5.14 | 32.24 | |
| 1936 | 0.77 | 1.29 | 2.93 | 17.68 | |
| 1936 D | 0.70 | 1.49 | 4.50 | 30.16 | |
| 1936 S | 0.70 | 1.33 | 3.72 | 20.80 | |
| 1937 | 0.77 | 1.08 | 3.09 | 17.68 | |
| 1937 D | 0.70 | 1.35 | 3.15 | 19.76 | |
| 1937 D 3 Leg | 265.20 | 375.44 | 642.72 | 1732.64 | |
| 1937 S | 0.72 | 1.39 | 3.90 | 20.80 | |
| 1938 D | 1.60 | 1.91 | 4.37 | 20.80 |
The US Mint produced Buffalo Nickels from 1913 until 1938. According to the manufacturer, Fraser, Chief John Big Tree inspired the face on the nickels. Buffalo Nickels, also called Indian Head Nickels or Hobo Nickels, had dates and locations during their production. Still, as time passed, including decades after decades, these Buffalo Nickels wore out their dates and locations inscribed on them.
As a result, these dateless past nickels do not hold much worth in terms of money. Still, they sure are valuable for collectors and non-collectors alike. If you plan to sell a Buffalo Nickel, it would cost you no more than 50 cents. To compare and contrast the value of Buffalo nickels from present to past, you would see that Buffalo Nickels’ worth has increased with time. In the past, some decades ago, these dateless Buffalo Nickels were sold for no more or less than 20 cents, or even less. But looking at the present, these Buffalo Nickels can be sold for almost 40 or 50 cents. That is, of course, not valuable.
On the other hand, if you look past their worth in terms of gain or money, Buffalo Nickels is quite a piece of the past; considering they were the nickels used during the United States of America’s period of Great Depression, Buffalo Nickels looks attractive when placed in artifacts shops or collectors shops. Suppose you are trying to assess the worth of Buffalo Nickels by looking at its history or beauty in general.
In that case, you are in for luck as these nickels are extremely valuable when placed for displays in old shops, whether they be shops for artifacts, collectors, antiques, or even history museums. You must be wondering why these Buffalo Nickels have no dates on them. It is to add to your knowledge that these nickels once had dates, just like the usual nickels or coins. However, the difference is that their production by the US Mint was different, which is why these nickel dates were worn off by the passage of time and their circulation throughout the state.
How to Reveal the Date on a Buffalo Nickel?
Its worn-out date can be revealed by simply and carefully applying ferric chloride acid to the nickel’s surface.
If you happen to possess a Buffalo Nickel from the period of the Great Depression and want to sell it for a reasonable cost after making its date appear or are generally curious about its inscribed date, then you would be searching for ways to make the nickel’s date appear magically again.
If that is the case, revealing a dateless Buffalo Nickel’s date has its uncertainties. To reveal a Buffalo Nickel’s date, you must carefully pour some acid on its surface, suggestively an acid known as ferric chloride. It is easily accessible as a Nic-a-Date restorer in the market. It is to be borne in mind that while doing so, you have to be extremely careful, as one slip of this ferric chloride acid on your exposed skin can lead to many burns or skin diseases. If you are known for being clumsy or not careful, do not perform it; instead, stay away from it.
If handled with excellent care and proportion, the ferric chloride acid would reveal the worn-out date from your Buffalo Nickel after rubbing it with care on its surface. Before applying, you must know the consequences that can ruin the picture of your historic nickel. The acid mentioned here can also damage the surface of your nickel, any coin in general, and your skin. And if it resulted as stated, then your Buffalo Nickel is nothing but a loss. Its value, which it somewhat had before, would be decreased by almost 20% low or even face value. Overall, if you plan to reveal the date of your Buffalo Nickel, apply the ferric chloride acid while considering the good and the bad outcomes.
How Do I Know if My Buffalo Nickel is Valuable?
To check the value of buffalo nickel, locate its US minting date or quickly look at its condition. If a minting date is present even in the slightest, then you are in luck.
If your Buffalo Nickel is dateless, then it’s not much worth, as previously mentioned, costing you at least 50 cents in American currency. Suppose the Buffalo Nickel in your possession appears to have. However, if a date is inscribed on it, even the lightest, its value surely does increase.
Upon looking and studying in detail, if your Buffalo Nickel happens to have the US Mint trademark, it would escalate the nickel’s value to great deals. Besides the US Mint mark, you can also search for a minting date or production date. If a minting date is present even in the slightest, then you are in luck. The other way to know the value of your Buffalo Nickel is simply by studying its condition. Note if its surface is not ragged or is not circulated too much. In these ways, you can know the worth of your Indian Head Nickel. Since these nickels are rare, finding and locating these mint marks or dates can be challenging. Overall, the chances of seeing these specialties are pretty scarce because Buffalo Nickels are very thin on the ground. In brief, your Buffalo Nickel should be readable. That would escalate its value more than the dateless, worn ones.
What is the Rarest Buffalo Nickel?
The rarest Buffalo Nickel is the Liberty Head V-neck nickel to the present day, with its worth estimated to be more than 3 million seven hundred US Dollars.
All the Buffalo Nickels are rare and unique to this day, but of course, the rarest of them exist. The most scarce Buffalo Nickel is the Liberty Head V Neck, made in 1913. The Liberty Head V Neck nickel is an inscribed picture of America’s infamous Lady Liberty. This Buffalo Nickel is considered extremely rare because it was not supposed to be made. In 1913, when the US Mint was producing Buffalo Nickels, the concerned manufacturers had a low amount of Buffalo Nickels consisting of the Head of Lady Liberty instead of the Indian Head.
This is said to be a mere mistake caused by misconceptions from the workers of the US Mint. These Liberty Head V Neck Buffalo Nickels were not circulated and, to this day, are considered remarkably rare. If a nickel from the past was made few in numbers, its worth is very high. The Buffalo Nickels of 1913 Liberty Head V Neck is worth 3,737,500 US Dollars! This is highly worthy, as it would let you gain over 3 million American Dollars. The value of these Liberty Head V Neck Buffalo Nickels is reaching the clouds because of their rarity. These nickels were made very few; whoever possesses them is among the world’s luckiest people.
What are the Key Dates for Buffalo Nickels?
The most special key dates for Buffalo Nickels are 1913-S and 1926-S, along with other semi-key dates when the Buffalo Nickel’s worth was the highest.
Critical Dates of a coin besides a Buffalo Nickel refer to the dates during which the concerned coin was the most valuable or popular in terms of its worth and cost. As stated previously, the Buffalo Nickels were first released in 1913, so it was evident that 1913-S Variety 2, the ground level, is considered a critical date for a Buffalo Nickel. However, even though the nickel was worth it in 1913, its most important key date is 1926-S. This is because these Buffalo Nickels during the mentioned date were circulated significantly less, and their worth increased higher than some expected. Some other semi-key dates of Buffalo Nickel Dollar include 1924-S and 1931-S, before being out of date or fashion till 1938.
Which Buffalo Nickels Are Worth the Most Money?
The most worthy and valuable Buffalo Nickels include the 1913 Liberty Head V Neck, 1918 7-D Buffalo Nickel, and the 1926-S variety of Buffalo Nickel.
Since their release, Buffalo Nickels have become infamous as a collectible for coin fanatics. Some of these Buffalo Nickels are worth more than the other normal ones. The worthy Buffalo Nickels include the 1913 Liberty Head V Neck Nickel worth more than 3 million US Dollars as stated above, approximately 3,737,000 Dollars. The 1918 7-D Buffalo Nickel is next in line, considered one of the rarest, worth 350,700 US Dollars. After that, the Buffalo Nickel of 1926-S holds a value of about 322,000 US Dollars. The list goes on, but these three Buffalo Nickels are considered the top three worthiest Buffalo Nickels out there, rare to find and costly to sell.
In brief, to end this discussion, Buffalo Nickels of 1913 are very valuable if their dates are visible. If you have a dateless Buffalo Nickel, there is no need to worry about selling it, as it is also worthy of being a showpiece. Nonetheless, varieties of Buffalo Nickels exist, ranging from the worthiest Liberty Head V Nickel to a typical Indian head Buffalo.
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