Buffalo Nickel Values & Mintages
James Earle Fraser's Buffalo nickel is widely considered one of the most beautiful American coins: a composite Native American portrait on the obverse and an American bison on the reverse.
- Years
- 1913–1938
- Issues listed
- 66
- Lowest mintage
- 970K
- Diameter
- 21.2 mm
Original illustration. Tap to flip.
The bison originally stood on a mound (Type 1); within months the ground was flattened to protect the denomination (Type 2). The high, exposed date wore off quickly, so dateless Buffalo nickels are common. Famous varieties include the 1918/7-D overdate and the 1937-D "three-legged" buffalo.
Designer: James Earle Fraser.
Key dates: lowest mintages
See all 66 →Every Buffalo Nickel by year and mint
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| Owned✓ | Coin | Year | Mint | Mintage | Type | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 Buffalo Nickel | 1913 | None | 30,993,520 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1913 Buffalo Nickel (Type 2, flat on reverse) | 1913 | None | 29,858,700 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1913-D Buffalo Nickel | 1913 | D | 5,337,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1913-D Buffalo Nickel (Type 2, flat on reverse) | 1913 | D | 4,156,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1913-S Buffalo Nickel | 1913 | S | 2,105,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1913-S Buffalo Nickel (Type 2, flat on reverse, Key date) | 1913 | S | 1,209,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1914 Buffalo Nickel | 1914 | None | 20,665,738 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1914-D Buffalo Nickel | 1914 | D | 3,912,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1914-S Buffalo Nickel | 1914 | S | 3,470,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1915 Buffalo Nickel | 1915 | None | 20,987,270 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1915-D Buffalo Nickel | 1915 | D | 7,569,500 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1915-S Buffalo Nickel | 1915 | S | 1,505,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1916 Buffalo Nickel | 1916 | None | 63,498,066 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1916-D Buffalo Nickel | 1916 | D | 13,333,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1916-S Buffalo Nickel | 1916 | S | 11,860,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1917 Buffalo Nickel | 1917 | None | 51,424,029 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1917-D Buffalo Nickel | 1917 | D | 9,910,800 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1917-S Buffalo Nickel | 1917 | S | 4,193,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1918 Buffalo Nickel | 1918 | None | 32,086,314 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1918-D Buffalo Nickel | 1918 | D | 8,362,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1918-S Buffalo Nickel | 1918 | S | 4,882,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1919 Buffalo Nickel | 1919 | None | 60,868,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1919-D Buffalo Nickel | 1919 | D | 8,006,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1919-S Buffalo Nickel | 1919 | S | 7,521,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1920 Buffalo Nickel | 1920 | None | 63,093,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1920-D Buffalo Nickel | 1920 | D | 9,418,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1920-S Buffalo Nickel | 1920 | S | 9,689,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1921 Buffalo Nickel | 1921 | None | 10,663,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1921-S Buffalo Nickel | 1921 | S | 1,557,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1923 Buffalo Nickel | 1923 | None | 35,715,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1923-S Buffalo Nickel | 1923 | S | 6,142,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1924 Buffalo Nickel | 1924 | None | 21,620,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1924-D Buffalo Nickel | 1924 | D | 5,258,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1924-S Buffalo Nickel | 1924 | S | 1,437,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1925 Buffalo Nickel | 1925 | None | 35,565,100 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1925-D Buffalo Nickel | 1925 | D | 4,450,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1925-S Buffalo Nickel | 1925 | S | 6,256,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1926 Buffalo Nickel | 1926 | None | 44,693,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1926-D Buffalo Nickel | 1926 | D | 5,638,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1926-S Buffalo Nickel | 1926 | S | 970,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1927 Buffalo Nickel | 1927 | None | 37,981,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1927-D Buffalo Nickel | 1927 | D | 5,730,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1927-S Buffalo Nickel | 1927 | S | 3,430,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1928 Buffalo Nickel | 1928 | None | 23,411,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1928-D Buffalo Nickel | 1928 | D | 6,436,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1928-S Buffalo Nickel | 1928 | S | 6,936,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1929 Buffalo Nickel | 1929 | None | 36,446,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1929-D Buffalo Nickel | 1929 | D | 8,370,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1929-S Buffalo Nickel | 1929 | S | 7,754,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1930 Buffalo Nickel | 1930 | None | 22,849,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1930-S Buffalo Nickel | 1930 | S | 5,435,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1931-S Buffalo Nickel | 1931 | S | 1,200,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1934 Buffalo Nickel | 1934 | None | 20,213,003 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1934-D Buffalo Nickel | 1934 | D | 7,480,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1935 Buffalo Nickel | 1935 | None | 58,264,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1935-D Buffalo Nickel | 1935 | D | 12,092,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1935-S Buffalo Nickel | 1935 | S | 10,300,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1936 Buffalo Nickel | 1936 | None | 118,997,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1936 Buffalo Nickel Proof | 1936 | None | 4,420 | Proof | – | |
| 1936-D Buffalo Nickel | 1936 | D | 24,814,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1936-S Buffalo Nickel | 1936 | S | 14,930,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1937 Buffalo Nickel | 1937 | None | 79,480,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1937 Buffalo Nickel Proof | 1937 | None | 5,769 | Proof | – | |
| 1937-D Buffalo Nickel | 1937 | D | 17,826,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1937-S Buffalo Nickel | 1937 | S | 5,635,000 | Circulation strike | – | |
| 1938-D Buffalo Nickel | 1938 | D | 7,020,000 | Circulation strike | – |
Composition by year
| Years | Metal | Weight | Silver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1913–1938 | 75% copper, 25% nickel | 5 g | – |
Mint mark location
1913–1938: On the reverse, below the words FIVE CENTS. Philadelphia nickels have no mint mark.
Grading tips
The tip of the bison's horn and the date are the key points. A "Full Horn" adds premium and a full, clear date is essential for Fine and above.
The models behind Fraser's design
James Earle Fraser said the Native American portrait was a composite of several men who posed for him, naming Iron Tail of the Lakota and Two Moons of the Cheyenne among them. The bison is traditionally identified as Black Diamond, an animal at the Central Park Menagerie in New York. Fraser's initial F sits below the date on the obverse.
Release was delayed in early 1913 after the Hobbs Manufacturing Company, a maker of coin-operated machines, complained that the new design would not work in its slot mechanisms. The Mint made small adjustments and the coins entered circulation in March 1913.
Hobo nickels and other curiosities
The Buffalo nickel's large, soft portrait made it a favorite canvas for carvers during the Depression. Itinerant artists engraved the Native American head into portraits of hoboes, bearded men and characters, then traded or sold them. These hobo nickels are now a collecting field of their own. The 1916 doubled die obverse, with strong doubling on the date, is the series' most important doubled die.
Frequently asked questions
What is the rarest Buffalo Nickel?
By mintage, the scarcest regular circulation issue is the 1926-S Buffalo Nickel with 970,000 struck, followed by the 1931-S Buffalo Nickel (1,200,000). Survival rates and condition also matter: some higher-mintage dates are scarce in top grades.
Are Buffalo Nickels silver?
1913–1938: 75% copper, 25% nickel.
Where is the mint mark on a Buffalo Nickel?
1913–1938: On the reverse, below the words FIVE CENTS. Philadelphia nickels have no mint mark.
How many Buffalo Nickels were made?
About 1,212,906,040 for circulation across 64 date and mint combinations, from 118,997,000 for the 1936 Buffalo Nickel down to 970,000 for the 1926-S Buffalo Nickel.
Who designed the Buffalo Nickel?
James Earle Fraser.
Who posed for the Buffalo nickel?
Fraser named Iron Tail and Two Moons among the models for the composite portrait. The bison is usually said to be Black Diamond of the Central Park Menagerie.
What is a hobo nickel?
A hobo nickel is a coin, usually a Buffalo nickel, hand-carved into a new portrait. Many were made by itinerant carvers during the Depression.
Other nickels
Mintages from Wikipedia's US Mint-sourced tables (CC BY-SA 4.0). Specifications from US Mint records. All sources.