Buffalo Nickel Values

The Buffalo Nickel (also called the Indian Head Nickel) was produced from 1913 to 1938. It features a Native American chief on the obverse and an American bison on the reverse. The raised design caused the date to wear off quickly, which is why dateless Buffalo Nickels are so common. Even worn examples with readable dates are worth at least $1 to $3.

The most famous Buffalo Nickel variety. A die polishing error at the Denver Mint removed the bison's front right leg, creating a three-legged buffalo. The effect is dramatic and visible without magnification.

Circulated examples sell for $400 to $1,200. Uncirculated coins bring $2,000 to $10,000+. Counterfeits are common. On a genuine three-legged variety, look for a distinctive "moth-eaten" appearance on the bison's back and a visible line where the leg was removed. The back leg also shows unusual streaming marks.

Buffalo Nickels with no visible date are the most commonly found. The date sits on a raised area of the design and wears away quickly. Dateless buffaloes are worth about $0.10 to $0.25 each. Some dealers buy them in bulk for novelty or craft purposes.

There's a trick using ferric chloride (an acid) that can temporarily reveal the date on a dateless buffalo. This doesn't add collector value to the coin, but it does tell you if you're sitting on a key date. A coin shop or dealer can do this for you.

Two varieties exist for 1913 only. Type 1 has the buffalo standing on a raised mound. Type 2 has the buffalo on a flat plain with "FIVE CENTS" recessed below a line. The Type 2 design was used for the rest of the series. Both are collectible, with Type 1 generally bringing a small premium for Philadelphia issues.