Why are Buffalo nickels so valuable?

The most famous buffalo nickel of all is the 1937-D "three legged" buffalo nickel. This is a scarce coin variety struck at the Denver Mint. It gets its name because the right front leg of the buffalo was polished off the die before the coin was struck. In circulated grades, this variety is worth hundreds of dollars.


Are Buffalo nickels worth any money?

Numerous collectors look for these coins with a Native American on one and a buffalo on the other side, particularly appreciating rare pieces and errors. Most specimens come in a price of $10 to $350, but the most valuable Buffalo nickels can be worth tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars.

What is the most sought after Buffalo nickel?

Most Valuable Buffalo Nickels
  • 1926 S Buffalo Nickel – $322,000.
  • 1916 Buffalo Nickel – $282,000.
  • 1913 D Buffalo Nickel – $143,500.
  • 1917 S Buffalo Nickel – $138,000.
  • 1920 D Buffalo Nickel – $138,000.
  • 1927 S Buffalo Nickel – $125,500.
  • 1867 Shield Nickel – $132,000.


Why is a 2005 Buffalo nickel rare?

What makes a 2005 Buffalo nickel rare? This coin type from the Westward Journey series is a commemorative piece with a new obverse design, but its reverse is particularly interesting. It was the first time of seeing the buffalo between the American coinage after 1938 when Buffalo nickels were abolished.

How do I know if I have a rare Buffalo nickel?

Minted 1913 to 1938; buffalo nickel value is found by determining date | mintmark | condition. A heavily worn coin with a readable date is worth well above face value. A very popular series with collectors, each coin is evaluated closely to identify its full potential.


10 Rare Buffalo Nickels | How Much are Buffalo Nickels Worth?



What nickels should I keep?

Here are the top 10 most valuable nickels:
  • 1913 Liberty Nickel - The Olsen Specimen: $3,737,500.
  • 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel - Doubled Die Obverse: $350,750.
  • 1926-S Buffalo Nickel: $322,000.
  • 1916 Buffalo Nickel - Doubled Die Obverse: $281,750.
  • 1913-D Buffalo Nickel - Type 2: $143,750.
  • 1917-S Buffalo Nickel: $138,000.


Why should I hoard nickels?

On Reddit, some Americans have discussed the value of hoarding nickels as a potential investment and a hedge against inflation. Nickel has value outside of coin production, it is used in car batteries, among other products.

How much is a 3 legged Buffalo nickel worth today?

1937 D 3 LEGS Buffalo Nickel Value

According to the NGC Price Guide, as of January 2023, a Buffalo Nickel from 1937 D in circulated condition is worth between $350 and $1950. However, on the open market 1937 D 3 LEGS Nickels in pristine, uncirculated condition sell for as much as $110000.


How many 3 legged Buffalo nickels are there?

While there are no known mintage figures for the 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo nickel, numismatic experts believe approximately 10,000 survive, with the vast majority of these extant in circulated grades.

What Buffalo nickels are key dates?

Buffalo nickels were struck from 1913 through 1938. They are among the most popular 20th-century United States coins around.

Why did they stop making Buffalo nickels?

In 1938, after the expiration of the minimum 25-year period during which the design could not be replaced without congressional authorization, it was replaced by the Jefferson nickel, designed by Felix Schlag.


When did they stop making Buffalo nickels?

The U.S. "Buffalo" Nickel was minted between 1913 and 1938. The date was placed on a raised area beneath the image of a native American; the date was usually the first thing to disappear as a Buffalo nickel wore down in people's pockets, purses and being handled in transactions.

Are Indian head nickels worth anything?

Buffalo nickel values range from just a few cents for common dates in well-circulated grades to thousands of dollars for key dates in pristine uncirculated condition.

Is there a gold buffalo nickel?

Gold Buffalo Coins are limited edition proof coins and among the most coveted and sought after products produced by the U.S. Mint. Based on the highly popular Type I Buffalo nickel, these coins were reintroduced as the first 24-karat gold proof coin ever struck by the U.S.


What year of nickels should you save?

Jefferson Nickels made between 1942 in 1945 are also called War Nickels and consisted of 35% silver. This means they are worth more than face value, and most have been removed from circulation. An easy way to identify these more valuable coins is to look at the reverse.

Which coins are worth saving?

9 of the most valuable coins in the world
  • The 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar. picture alliance/Getty Images. ...
  • The 1787 Brasher Doubloon. ...
  • The 1787 Fugio cent. ...
  • The 723 Umayyad Gold Dinar. ...
  • The 1343 Edward III Florin. ...
  • The 1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny. ...
  • The 2007 $1 Million Canadian Gold Maple Leaf. ...
  • 1913 Liberty Head V Nickel.


Is it illegal to melt nickels?

Many online debates have popped up over the legality of melting down U.S. coins. It is not illegal to melt, destroy, or modify any U.S. coins in the United States.


What nickels are collectors looking for?

These are the most valuable nickels:
  • 1937-D Buffalo Nickel–Three Legs.
  • 1935 Buffalo Nickel–Doubled Die Reverse.
  • 1924-S Buffalo Nickel.
  • 1919-S Buffalo Nickel.
  • 1880 Shield Nickel.
  • 1927-S Buffalo Nickel.
  • 1918-S Buffalo Nickel.
  • 1867 Shield Nickel–Proof With Rays.


Are wheat pennies worth anything?

“There are millions and millions of wheat pennies and most commonly they trade for three-to-five cents a piece. If you're looking for a particular date, it can be much, much more than that. The rarest is the 1909 VDB. Those can be worth anywhere from $700 to $1,500 depending on the coin's grade.

What year nickels are pure silver?

What years were nickels made of silver? The US Nickels made of silver are those minted between 1942 and 1945. The usual composition of other nickels is 75% copper and 25% nickel, but during the war, they were made of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese.


How rare is a three legged Buffalo nickel?

After all, it was a frequent topic of conversation at coin shows and at coin clubs. Fortunately for those who demanded it or now demand it, the 1937-D '3-Legged' variety is not rare; more than ten thousand are around. This is a fairly represented variety.

Why is there a 3 legged Buffalo nickel?

Young accidentally removed the details of the bison's front right leg from the reverse die. Therefore, any coins struck from this die will be missing one of the bison's legs on the reverse design – this is how the 3-Legged Buffalo nickel came into existence.

What is the lowest mintage Buffalo nickel?

The lowest-mintage Buffalo nickel, the 1926-S at 970,000, is not that tough in circulated grades. This is most likely because it was pulled from circulation in greater numbers more quickly. The line type 1913-S and 1913-D, however, are tougher and more expensive than their mintages would indicate.