Buffalo Nickel Value: Which 1913 to 1938 Nickels Are Worth Money
Common Buffalo nickels from the 1920s and 1930s are worth about $1.50 to $3 in Good condition. Key dates are worth far more: the 1937-D three legged buffalo is about $559 in Good and $2,258 uncirculated, and the 1918/7-D overdate starts near $1,000. The date wears off easily, and dateless coins are worth much less.
- Years
- 1913 to 1938. Indian head on the front, American bison on the back.
- Metal
- 75% copper, 25% nickel. No silver.
- Mint mark
- Back of the coin, below FIVE CENTS. No mark means Philadelphia.
Value by grade
| Coin | G4 | VF20 | EF40 | MS60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common 1930s dates (1936, 1937) | $1.56 | $2.50 | $3.62 | $30 |
| 1913-S Type 2 | $289 | $556 | $612 | $998 |
| 1918/7-D overdate | $998 | $4,248 | $10,607 | $42,851 |
| 1921-S | $92 | $468 | $1,187 | $2,172 |
| 1926-S | $38 | $281 | $998 | $5,624 |
| 1936-D 3 and a half legs | $527 | $1,879 | $3,634 | $15,254 |
| 1937-D 3 legs | $559 | $721 | $895 | $2,258 |
Retail values from USA Coin Book. Values checked Oct 8, 2026.
What to look for
- Find the date on the Indian's shoulder. If it is worn flat, the coin is a dateless Buffalo.
- Check the mint mark under FIVE CENTS on the back. D and S coins from the 1910s and 1920s are often the better ones.
- On a 1937-D, look at the bison's front legs. The three legged variety is missing the front right leg, with only a faint hoof left.
Fakes and lookalikes
- Altered 1937-D coins with a leg tooled off are common. A real three legged coin has a rough, pitted rear leg, a line of small raised dots under the belly, and no tool marks where the missing leg would be.
- Date restoration chemicals can bring out a faint date, but they leave a burn mark and collectors pay much less for treated coins.
- Buy key dates certified by PCGS or NGC.
Find the keepers in your coin jar
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FAQ
How much is a Buffalo nickel worth?
Common dates run about $1.50 to $3 in Good. Key dates and varieties are worth hundreds or more.
Is a Buffalo nickel with no date worth anything?
A little. Dateless coins sell for far less than dated ones because the date and mint cannot be confirmed.
What is the most valuable Buffalo nickel?
Among coins you might find, the 1918/7-D overdate, the 1916 doubled die and the 1936-D and 1937-D leg varieties.
Related coins
Sources
- USA Coin Book, Buffalo nickel values
- PCGS CoinFacts, 1937-D 5C 3 Legs
- PCGS, 1937-D three legged Buffalo nickel
Values are retail estimates or recorded sale prices from the sources above, checked Oct 8, 2026. What a dealer pays you is usually less than retail.
Also available as Markdown.