Raised Mound
The bison stands on a raised mound, with FIVE CENTS in relief. The exposed denomination wore quickly in circulation.
Indian Head Five-Cent Coins • 1913–1938 • Buying & Selling
Buffalo Nickels
The Buffalo nickel is one of America’s most recognizable coins—and one of the most challenging to find with a full date and strong details. Learn the two 1913 types, important keys and varieties, grading points, and how to handle dated, partial-date, and dateless groups.
1913–1938Years issued
James Earle FraserDesigner
75% Copper • 25% NickelComposition
Philadelphia • Denver • San FranciscoIssuing mints
Collector Guide
What is a Buffalo nickel?
The Buffalo nickel—officially the Indian Head five-cent coin—was designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser and introduced in 1913. A composite Native American portrait appears on the obverse; an American bison dominates the reverse.
The design replaced the Liberty Head nickel and was itself replaced by the Jefferson nickel in 1938. Its bold sculptural relief was artistically successful but difficult to manufacture. The date and denomination were especially vulnerable to wear, leaving many surviving coins dateless or only partially dated.
The series contains affordable common dates, difficult branch-mint issues, celebrated varieties, and real condition rarities. A readable date is important, but originality, strike, horn detail, and surface quality also drive value.
The Two 1913 Reverses
Type 1 and Type 2 Buffalo nickels
The reverse was revised during the first year, creating a two-coin type set for every mint.
Recessed Ground
The ground was flattened and the denomination placed in a recessed area for better protection. This reverse continued through 1938.
1913-S Type 2
The San Francisco Type 2 is a principal key. Confirm both the revised ground and the S mintmark below FIVE CENTS.
Coins to Check Carefully
Key Dates, Better Dates & Varieties
Branch-mint dates dominate the difficult portion of the set. Valuable candidates should be compared with established diagnostics and authenticated when appropriate.
Dates to pull first
- 1913-S Type 2
- 1921-S
- 1924-S
- 1926-S
Set these aside
- 1914-D and 1915-S
- 1920-S and 1923-S
- 1925-S and 1926-D
- Other early D and S issues
1918/7-D
A 7 is visible beneath the final 8 in the date. Because the date area is frequently worn or altered, authentication is critical.
1937-D Three-Legged
Overpolishing of a reverse die removed most of the bison’s front right leg. Genuine coins show additional diagnostics; altered normal coins exist.
Worth a closer look
- 1916 doubled-die obverse
- 1935 doubled-die reverse
- 1936-D Three-and-a-Half-Legged
1931-S
The 1931-S has the lowest regular mintage of the series, but contemporary saving makes circulated examples more available than the number alone suggests.
A Practical Process
How to sort Buffalo nickels
Treat full-date, partial-date, dateless, and chemically restored coins as different products from the beginning.
Separate by date quality
Create groups for full dates, partial dates, dateless coins, and visibly acid-restored dates. Do not mix them together.
Sort by date and mint
Check below FIVE CENTS for D or S. Pull every early branch-mint coin and every 1913 for type identification.
Pull keys and varieties
Check the major key dates, 1918/7-D, 1937-D Three-Legged, and other recognized varieties using trusted diagnostics.
Pull quality coins
Set aside strong dates, detailed hair and feathers, bold horn and tail, original color, clean fields, and strong strikes.
Do not use acid to reveal a date on a potentially valuable coin. Nic-A-Date and similar treatments permanently alter the surface. Acid-restored coins have a separate, lower-value market and must be disclosed as damaged.
Understanding Value
What makes a Buffalo nickel valuable?
The series is highly sensitive to date visibility, strike, and surface quality.
Date & Mintmark
The key dates are concentrated among Denver and San Francisco issues. No mintmark indicates Philadelphia.
Date Visibility
A naturally readable date is worth more than an acid-restored date. Full dates and strong four-digit dates are marketed differently from partial dates.
Grade
Key wear points include the hair above the braid, cheek, feathers, bison’s shoulder, hip, head, and horn.
Strike
Some dates are routinely weak. A sharp horn, tail, head, and central detail can create meaningful premiums.
Original Surfaces
Cleaning, acid treatment, corrosion, scratches, discoloration, and other damage reduce desirability and liquidity.
Authentication
Added mintmarks, altered dates, fabricated missing-leg coins, and counterfeit keys exist. Certification can protect major purchases.
NumisMaverick
Buying & Selling Buffalo Nickels
NumisMaverick buys and sells Buffalo nickels across the market: dateless and partial-date groups, common full-date coins, better branch mints, key dates, varieties, albums, dealer quantities, and certified examples.
Keep full-date, partial-date, dateless, and acid-restored coins separated. Clear photographs of both sides are especially useful for early D and S issues or suspected varieties.
Dateless and partial-date groups
Common full-date Buffalo nickels
Key and better dates
Albums and partial sets
Certified Buffalo nickels
Dealer quantities
Common Questions
Buffalo Nickel FAQ
Why are so many Buffalo nickels dateless?
The date was placed on a raised area that wore quickly in circulation, especially on heavily used coins.
Where is the mintmark?
The D or S appears on the reverse below FIVE CENTS. No mintmark means Philadelphia.
What does “full horn” mean?
It describes a circulated coin with the bison’s horn fully outlined. It is useful shorthand, but the entire coin still determines grade.
Are acid-date nickels collectible?
Yes, as inexpensive fillers or clearly disclosed bulk coins, but chemical restoration permanently damages the surface and lowers value.
How do I identify a Three-Legged nickel?
A genuine 1937-D Three-Legged coin shows the missing front leg plus other die-polishing diagnostics. A missing leg alone is not enough.
Does NumisMaverick buy dateless nickels?
Yes. We consider dateless, partial-date, and full-date groups, as well as keys, varieties, albums, certified coins, and dealer quantities.
Buying • Selling • Appraisals
Talk with NumisMaverick
Looking for a Buffalo nickel, selling a group, or trying to identify a key date or variety? Contact NumisMaverick. Appointments are scheduled in advance.
Please contact NumisMaverick before visiting.Text is the easiest way to request an appointment.