Buffalo Nickel Value: Date, Mint Mark, Horn Detail, Grade and Condition
Evaluate old Buffalo nickel value by documenting date, mint mark, horn detail, strike, grade, surface, rim wear, photos, and condition.
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Upload photos for a free first look Start an appraisalQuick value checklist
- Read the date and check for a mint mark under the reverse design.
- Look at horn detail, wear level, rim condition, surfaces, and whether the coin has been cleaned.
- Separate single better-date coins from mixed nickel albums or bulk collections.
Key value drivers
Buffalo nickel value is shaped by date, mint mark, grade, horn detail, originality, scarcity, and demand. Some lower-grade better dates can outperform common high-mintage coins, while cleaned or damaged examples can trail expectations.
Condition and originality cautions
Do not clean, polish, chemically treat, or scratch a Buffalo nickel to reveal the date. Altered dates, harsh cleaning, corrosion, and rim damage can change the appraisal path.
Photo checklist
- Front, back, date area, mint mark area, edge, holder, and full collection view.
- Close-ups of horn detail, scratches, cleaning, corrosion, discoloration, and rim damage.
- Albums, envelopes, purchase receipts, grading labels, and inherited collection notes.
Related guides
Coins and currency guides is the parent hub. See value of old nickels, value of old coins, free old coin appraisal online, free rare coin appraisal, and how to identify old coins.
What similar items actually sold for
To help ground this guide in real market activity, here are recent example auction comps from Appraisily’s internal database. These are educational comparables (not a guarantee of price for your specific item).
Shown USD range: USD 650-USD 38,000. Median of these 6 USD examples: USD 14,500.
| Image | Description | Auction house | Date | Lot | Reported price realized |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1926-D Buffalo Nickel. MS-66 (PCGS). CAC. | Stack's Bowers Galleries | 2024-08-13 | 3041 | USD 10,000 |
 |
1927-D Buffalo Nickel. MS-66+ (PCGS). CMQ. | Stack's Bowers Galleries | 2024-11-19 | 3011 | USD 38,000 |
 |
1927-S Buffalo Nickel. MS-66 * (NGC). | Stack's Bowers Galleries | 2024-06-18 | 3031 | USD 16,000 |
 |
1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel | Mebane Antique Auction | 2022-11-19 | 281 | USD 650 |
 |
1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel. FS-101. AU-58 (NGC). | Stack's Bowers Galleries | 2024-06-18 | 3025 | USD 13,000 |
 |
1920-D Buffalo Nickel. MS-66 (PCGS). CMQ. | Stack's Bowers Galleries | 2024-03-26 | 4054 | USD 32,000 |
Disclosure: prices are shown as reported by auction houses and are provided for appraisal context. Learn more in our editorial policy.
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