- Buffalo Nickels
Buffalo nickels are relatively small but are made out of 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel. Nickel is a tough, hard metal that does not easily produce a nicely struck coin. Therefore, the highest points of the coin are usually flat and lacking detail due to an incomplete strike. Mint believes that the Native American figure depicted on the Buffalo Indian Head nickel is a composite image of Chief Iron Tail of the Lakota Sioux, Chief Two Moons of the Cheyenne and another unnamed American Indian. The coins were designed by James Earle Fraser. Mint produced Buffalo Indian Head nickels from 1913 to 1938. The Buffalo or Indian Head Nickel coins were minted from 1913 to 1938 and in good quantity. The Buffalo nickel would enjoy a good run, but would eventually be replaced by the United States current nickel, the Jefferson Nickel. These coins like the other nickels are 75% copper and contain 25% nickel. None were issued with any other intrinsic value based off silver or gold.
The buffalo is smooth on small portions of the head, front shoulder and hip. On the Indian, the hair just above the braid shows little detail. Good: Heavy wear depicts the appearance of this 1936 nickel. What This Coin Looks Like (Obverse, Reverse, Mint Mark Location, Special Features, etc.): USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1936 Buffalo Nickel is Worth $1.63 in Average Condition and can be Worth $23 to $43 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition. Proof Coins can be Worth $1,207 or more. Click here to Learn How to use Coin Price Charts.
Buffalo nickel values reflect the huge demand for this highly popular coin. Minted from 1913 through 1938, the Buffalo nickel has a particularly romantic lore attached to it, largely due to the fact that the coin has a rugged, all-American design, which was created by James Earle Fraser. The obverse of the Buffalo nickel, values of which range from $1 to thousands of dollars, features an image of a Native American that is considered to be the composition of several individuals, including Two Moons, Iron Tail, and Big Tree, according to accounts from Fraser.
On the reverse is the coin’s famous bison – commonly referred to as a buffalo. The model for the beastly figure on the reverse of the coin was Black Diamond, an American bison that resided at the Central Park Zoo. Some numismatic scholars theorize that the bison model may have actually been a herd leader at the Bronx Zoo named, appropriately, Bronx.
Indian Head Nickels
No matter who the models were for the Buffalo nickel, what is known is this – these coins are highly popular among collectors. Buffalo nickel values are usually $1 to $3 for common, worn specimens. However some Buffalo nickels, such as the 1913-D Type II, 1913-S Type II, 1914-D, 1915-D, 1921-S, 1926-S, and 1937-D 3-legged variety are quite rare. Values for these key-date Buffalo nickels reach into the thousands of dollars.
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Indian Head Nickel - Line Type
Buffalo Head Nickel 1935
What This Coin Looks Like (Obverse, Reverse, Mint Mark Location, Special Features, etc.):
| Good (G-4) | Very Good (VG-8) | Fine (F-12) | Very Fine (VF-20) | Extremely Fine (EF-40) | About Uncirculated (AU-50) | Uncirculated (MS-60) | Uncirculated (MS-63) | Proof (PR-63) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1.36 | $1.90 | $2.67 | $4.30 | $13 | $23 | $37 | $87 | - |
USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1927 Buffalo Nickel is Worth $1.90 in Average Condition and can be Worth $37 to $87 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition. Click here to Learn How to use Coin Price Charts. Also, click here to Learn About Grading Coins. The Melt Value shown below is how Valuable the Coin's Metal is Worth (bare minimum value of coin). Click here to see the Melt Value of every US Coin.
MELT VALUE: $0.0524
76 items found
Buffalo Head Nickels
- Seller: jameson11
Condition: VG - Seller: VintageGuitarist
- Seller: OldCoinsNeedNewHome
Condition: VF - Seller: VintageGuitarist
- Seller: tecoins
Condition: VF30 - Seller: VintageGuitarist
- Seller: VintageGuitarist
- Seller: parroro1628
Certification Agency: US Mint
Certification Number: Uncertified
Condition: Good - The coin in the picture is the coin you will receive. See PicturesSeller: kyoung0
Condition: See Pictures - The coin in the picture is the coin you will receive. See PicturesSeller: kyoung0
Condition: See Pictures - $3.00
- Seller: schmt1
- Seller: AMCoinshop
Condition: FINE - I have never and will never clean my coins. Every coin is as I received it.Seller: Wizardman
Condition: VG - I have never and will never clean my coins. Every coin is as I received it.Seller: Wizardman
Condition: VG - I have never and will never clean my coins. Every coin is as I received it.Seller: Wizardman
Condition: VG - I have never and will never clean my coins. Every coin is as I received it.Seller: Wizardman
Condition: VG - I have never and will never clean my coins. Every coin is as I received it.Seller: Wizardman
Condition: VG - I have never and will never clean my coins. Every coin is as I received it.Seller: Wizardman
Condition: VG - I have never and will never clean my coins. Every coin is as I received it.Seller: Wizardman
Condition: VG - I have never and will never clean my coins. Every coin is as I received it.Seller: Wizardman
Condition: VG - I have never and will never clean my coins. Every coin is as I received it.Seller: Wizardman
Condition: VG - I have never and will never clean my coins. Every coin is as I received it.Seller: Wizardman
Condition: G - I have never and will never clean my coins. Every coin is as I received it.Seller: Wizardman
Condition: G - I have never and will never clean my coins. Every coin is as I received it.Seller: Wizardman
Condition: G