Buffalo Nickel Value: From 50 Cents (No Date) to $12,000 (Three Legs)
The Buffalo Nickel (1913–1938) has a built-in problem: the date was the highest point of the design, so it wore off first. That single fact drives the whole market — a dateless buffalo is a novelty coin, a dated one is collectible, and one famous Denver variety with a missing leg is worth $550 even worn flat.
Buffalo nickel value by condition
| Condition | Typical value (common dates) |
|---|---|
| No readable date | $0.25–$0.50 |
| Good (date readable, heavy wear) | $1–$2 |
| Fine–Very Fine | $3–$6 |
| Extremely Fine | $15 |
| About Uncirculated | $30 |
| MS63 Uncirculated | $55 |
| MS65 Gem | $130 |
Common dates from the 1920s–30s. Better dates and D/S mint marks from 1913–1927 run higher — always check the mint mark on the reverse, under FIVE CENTS.
The varieties that pay real money
| Coin | Worn (Good) | Uncirculated (MS63) | What to look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937-D 3-Legged | $550 | $3,500 | Bison's front leg missing (over-polished die); MS65 reaches $12,000 |
| 1913 Type 1 | $10 | $70 | First year — bison stands on a raised mound, one-year design |
The 3-legged buffalo is one of the most altered coins in America — fakers shave the leg off normal 1937-D nickels. The genuine variety has a distinctive moth-eaten look on the leg area and a lowered hoof stream. Authenticate before paying variety money.
Why so many buffalos have no date
James Earle Fraser's design put the date on a raised area of the Indian head portrait that hit pocket wear first. Within 20 years of circulation the date was gone on millions of coins. Collectors sometimes restore dates with acid (Nic-A-Date) — it reveals the digits but etches the coin, so acid-dated buffalos trade at a steep discount and grading services won't number them.
Checking a handful of buffalos fast
Date (front, bottom left) → mint mark (back, under FIVE CENTS) → leg count on 1937-D. The Note ID app reads the date and mint mark from a photo and flags better dates and the 3-legged variety for free — the eBay sold-price lookup for your exact coin is in the paid tier, full disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
What is a buffalo nickel with no date worth?
About 25–50 cents as a novelty. Jewelry makers and hobbyists buy them in bulk. With an acid-restored date they're worth a bit more only if the date turns out to be a key one — but far less than a naturally dated example.
What years of buffalo nickels are valuable?
Early San Francisco and Denver issues (1913-S Type 2, 1914-D, 1921-S, 1924-S, 1926-S) carry strong premiums, and the 1937-D 3-legged variety is valuable in any grade. Common late-1930s Philadelphia dates are the $1–$6 coins.
How do I know if my 1937-D is the 3-legged variety?
Look at the bison's front near leg — on the variety it's missing from the knee down, the hoof floats, and the area under the belly shows a ragged 'stream' from the die polishing. Normal 1937-D nickels are common, so verify before celebrating.
Should I clean or acid-date my buffalo nickel?
Don't clean any coin you think has value. Acid-dating destroys collector value permanently — only consider it on a slick coin you'd otherwise treat as 50 cents.
Are buffalo nickels silver?
No — 75% copper, 25% nickel. Their value is entirely collector demand, not metal. (The silver 'war nickels' are Jefferson nickels from 1942–45.)
Not sure what you have?
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Values on this page are estimates for typical examples and are not an appraisal. Real-world prices depend on condition, third-party grading, and current demand — always check recent eBay sold listings (the Note ID app does this for you) before buying or selling.