Top 60+ Most Valuable Buffalo Nickels Worth Money

The Buffalo Nickel series (1913–1938) produced some of the most valuable five-cent pieces in American numismatics. Wartime production errors, low mintages at branch mints, and the series’ persistent strike-quality problems have pushed top-grade examples into six-figure territory.

The 1918/7-D overdate leads the list at $350,750. The 1926-S key date has sold for $322,000. Even dates with moderate mintages command over $100,000 when a coin survives in Gem condition with a sharp strike—something the Buffalo nickel design made genuinely difficult to achieve.

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The Most Valuable Buffalo Nickels Worth Money

1. 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel

Record Price: $350,750 (PCGS MS65, Bowers & Merena 2006)

The most valuable Buffalo nickel. During the wartime production rush of World War I, employees at the Denver Mint accidentally struck the 1918 die over a previously prepared 1917 die, leaving a clearly visible “7” beneath the “8” in the date. High demand for small-denomination coins had the mint working overtime, and the error occurred during hurried die preparation.

The overdate went unrecognized until the early 1930s. By then, most examples had circulated heavily. PCGS estimates fewer than 2,000 coins survive across all grades. In Gem condition (MS65 and above), the population drops to single digits.

This MS65 specimen set the auction record for a Buffalo nickel at $350,750 in 2006.

 

2. 1926-S Buffalo Nickel

Record Price: $322,000 (PCGS MS66, Bowers & Merena 2008)

The key date of the series. San Francisco produced only 970,000 pieces in 1926, compared to Philadelphia’s 44.693 million. Nearly all entered circulation immediately, and only a few dozen MS65-grade coins are currently known. MS66 is rarer still.

There may be some issues with strike quality on this date, but the bigger problem is simply that so few Gem-grade examples exist. At this level, each grade improvement can multiply the value by ten times or more over common Buffalo nickels.

The $322,000 at the 2008 Bowers & Merena auction established the record for this issue.

Check 1926 Buffalo Nickel History, Variety Price Chart & Errors List

 

3. 1916 DDO Buffalo Nickel

Record Price: $281,750 (PCGS MS64, Bowers & Merena 2004)

The most significant doubled die variety in the Buffalo nickel series. The hub shifted or rotated between impressions during die production, duplicating the design. The doubling is very dramatic, mostly going south east of the date and also on the Indian Chief’s lips and chin. It can easily be seen with the naked eye.

Fewer than 15 mint state examples are known, with the highest being three coins in MS64 condition. The coin becomes extremely tough going up the grading scale to About Uncirculated and is all but elusive in uncirculated grades.

The variety took 46 years to be discovered—it wasn’t identified until 1962, when California collector Herbert S. Perlin submitted photographs to Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine. That late discovery is itself an indication of the coin’s extreme scarcity.

 

4. 1913-D Type 2 Buffalo Nickel

Record Price: $143,750 (NGC MS68, Bowers & Merena 2008)

The Type 2 designation refers to a mid-year design change in 1913. The reverse design of the 1913 Type I Buffalo nickel caused the denomination “FIVE CENTS” to wear off quickly. So the mint rightfully changed the design mid-year and placed the “FIVE CENTS” in a recess below the Buffalo, thus creating the 1913 Type II Buffalo nickel.

Denver struck 4,156,000 Type 2 coins—a moderate mintage, but the 1913-D Type 2 has proven challenging to locate in higher circulated grades. At MS68, this coin sits in premium condition territory. Most examples of this issue are decently struck. The luster for mint state coins, as is the case with most of the early Buffalos, is a satin grey.

The $143,750 at Bowers & Merena in 2008 reflects both the date’s scarcity and this specimen’s preservation.

Check 1913 Buffalo Nickel History, Variety Price Chart & Errors List

 

5. 1920-D Buffalo Nickel

Record Price: $138,000 (NGC MS67, Bowers & Merena 2008)

The 1920 “D” mint mark Buffalo nickel is considerably rarer than its Philadelphia counterpart, with a mintage of 9,418,000 pieces. It’s a challenging date in Gem condition. As you can see on the Buffalo’s horn, the strike on this issue ranges from fairly sharp to weak.

The MS67 grade on this particular coin places it at the top of the certified population. In 2008, it sold for $138,000 at Bowers & Merena. The 1920-D is one of the more accessible key dates in the series at lower grades, but well-preserved examples command substantial premiums.

Check 1920 Buffalo Nickel History, Variety Price Chart & Errors List

 

6. 1917-S Buffalo Nickel

Record Price: $138,000 (PCGS MS67, Heritage Auctions 2008)

The finest 1917-S certified by both major grading services at the time of sale. Mintage was 4,193,000—a moderately scarce issue that becomes genuinely difficult in high grades. Most 1917-S nickels suffer from weak strikes and pronounced die erosion around the margins.

This specimen shows unusually sharp design details despite evidence of advanced die state, including a die crack at 8 o’clock on the obverse. The sharpness indicates it was struck with increased die pressure to compensate for die wear—a production technique that successfully brought out the design elements. Smooth, satiny surfaces with subtle rose and lilac toning on both sides.

In Gem condition, S-mint Buffalo nickels are rarer than D-mints for every year from 1913 to 1919, which is part of what drives the premium on a coin like this.

 

7. 1918-S Buffalo Nickel

Record Price: $125,350 (PCGS MS66, Bowers & Merena 2008)

Mintage of 4,882,000 pieces. Strike quality is a consistent problem for the 1918-S—many Mint State survivors show softness of the hair braid and Buffalo’s horn and tail. Sharply struck examples remain uncommon.

Luster can be muted or somewhat frosty across surviving specimens. This MS66 displays the more desirable vibrant surfaces and well-defined details, which is what separates it from typical examples of the date.

The $125,350 at Bowers & Merena in 2008 reflects the combination of high grade and superior strike on an issue where both are hard to find together.

 

8. 1927-S Buffalo Nickel

Record Price: $125,350 (PCGS MS66*, Bowers & Merena 2008)

The 1927-S is semi-common in lower circulated grades, but quite scarce in grades VF20 and above. It is rare in mint state. In Gem MS65, only the 1920-S, 1925-S, and 1926-S are rarer among regular-strike San Francisco issues—placing this date in the top four.

The luster of this coin is similar to the 1927-D, more brilliant than frosty, though brilliant is quite the right word as the “glow” is pretty subdued on this issue. This particular specimen displays attractive rainbow toning on both sides.

The $125,350 at Bowers & Merena in 2008 reflects the MS66 grade plus the NGC Star (★) designation, which is awarded to coins with exceptional eye appeal and typically commands roughly 35% premiums over non-star examples.

Check 1927 Buffalo Nickel History, Variety Price Chart & Errors List

 

9. 1919-S Buffalo Nickel

Record Price: $109,250 (PCGS MS66, Heritage Auctions 2006)

Mintage of 7,521,000 pieces. The 1919-S is scarce in circulated grades, rare in Mint State, and a major rarity in Gem condition. Strike can often be a problem, as can a lack of decent luster—typical of San Francisco production in this era.

This MS66 stands in contrast to most surviving examples. The buffalo’s head and shoulder show strong definition, the horn is full and crisp, and the tail shows near-complete separation. The obverse is similarly sharp with only minor softness above the braid knot. Translucent patina featuring lilac, ice-blue, sunset-gold, and jade-green tones allows strong underlying luster to remain visible.

The $109,250 at Heritage in 2006 priced the coin as a top-condition example of a date where top condition almost never occurs.

 

10. 1924-S Buffalo Nickel

Record Price: $105,750 (PCGS MS66+, Stack’s Bowers 2016)

One of the lowest mintages in the series at 1,437,000 pieces. The 1924-S is rare in circulated grades, one of the rarest of all Buffalo nickels across the entire grade spectrum. Most examples entered circulation immediately and saw extensive use before collectors recognized the date’s significance.

Strike can be an issue with the 1924-S, but usually not as much of a problem as with dates such as the 1918-S, 1920-S, 1923-S, and 1925-S. This specimen displays uncommonly sharp details throughout. Golden-apricot peripheral toning frames lighter pinkish-silver centers, with full, vibrant luster. Luster is usually a little subdued and somewhat satiny looking on typical specimens, making this coin’s stronger luster another distinguishing feature.

In any grade, the 1924-S is one of the key dates in the Buffalo nickel series. At MS66+, the price reflects that status.

 

Summary

The top 10 Buffalo nickels by auction record range from $105,750 to $350,750. The common factors are low mintages (especially from San Francisco in the 1920s), the series’ persistent strike-quality problems that make sharp details scarce at any grade, and the extreme rarity of Gem-condition survivors. The 1918/7-D overdate and 1916 DDO are the two major error varieties; the remaining eight are regular issues where condition rarity drives the value.