1919 Buffalo Nickel Value and Worth

The 1919 Buffalo Nickel is a highly sought-after coin among collectors, and its value can vary depending on its condition and rarity.

The 1919 Buffalo Nickel was minted in large quantities, with a total of 52,500,000 coins produced, making it a relatively common coin.

However, the 1919 Buffalo Nickel can still be valuable, especially if it's in good condition and has a high grade.

A circulated 1919 Buffalo Nickel can be worth around $1 to $5, while a well-preserved coin in high grade can be worth significantly more, up to $100 or more.

The Buffalo nickel was a five-cent coin struck by the United States Mint from 1913 to 1938.

It was designed by renowned sculptor James Earle Fraser as part of the U.S. Mint's drive to spruce up American coins.

The Buffalo nickel features a Native American Indian on the obverse and a bison or buffalo on the reverse.

It was struck at San Francisco, Denver, and Philadelphia, and the first Buffalo nickels were released into circulation on March 4, 1913.

The Buffalo nickel was highly prone to wear once in circulation, with the date and denomination, FIVE CENT, wearing out completely in no time.

This design flaw led to the Mint redesigning the coin, but ultimately, the Treasury and Mint were keen to discontinue it.

The mint mark on your 1919 Buffalo nickel can make a big difference in its value. The United States Mint produced Buffalo Nickels at three different facilities using three different mint marks: Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S).

A San Francisco minted Buffalo nickel is a rare find, with low mintage numbers making it a scarce issue for the year. In fact, many key and high-value nickels are San Francisco coins.

The mint mark on the reverse of the coin, just below the denomination of "FIVE CENTS", can be one of the three mentioned above. If your nickel has a "S" mintmark on the reverse, it was struck at the San Francisco Mint.

To determine the grade of your 1919 Buffalo nickel, you'll want to check for wear on the surface. A mint state coin has no wear, and the surface should be smooth and have a fine grain texture.

A mint state Buffalo nickel has a strong demand, and collectors are willing to pay a premium for one in top condition. To check for wear, look at the Indian's cheek, just under his eye. Any wear will cause a color change to the metal and a smoothing of texture.

If your nickel has a high luster on the buffalo's fur, particularly along the upper shoulder where the fur meets the back, it's likely to be in mint state condition. However, if the hip area shows any wear, it will cause a flattening of the profile and smoothness to the metal.

A 1919 buffalo nickel's value is heavily influenced by its condition, which is determined by its grade. The grade is a measure of how well-preserved the coin is, with higher grades indicating less wear and tear.

The condition of a buffalo nickel can range from Uncirculated to Good, with Extremely Fine, Fine, and Mint State grades in between. A coin in Uncirculated condition has never been used in circulation and retains its original surfaces with no signs of wear.

To determine the grade of a 1919 buffalo nickel, look for the following features: a bold date, fully raised, and a small area of flatness confined to just under the eye. The braid in the hair and the cheek of the Indian should be fully raised and free of flatness.

A coin in Extremely Fine condition has wear that begins to show as a distinct absence of the original luster. The braid in the hair and the cheek of the Indian have flattened with loss of detail. In Fine condition, the coin has a pleasing but worn appearance, with a full bold date and design details visible on both the Buffalo and Indian.

A Mint State coin has no wear to the surface, with a fine grain surface and luster imparted during minting. The surface of the cheek should match surrounding areas, and the hair along the parting line should remain without any smoothing.

The Buffalo nickel series was produced by three different mints: Denver, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. The Philadelphia mint did not place a mintmark on their production.

To start identifying and dating your Buffalo nickel, you need to find the date and mintmark combination. This will help you determine the value of your coin. Mintmarks on the Denver and San Francisco issues identify the mint.

Three different mints struck Buffalo nickels throughout the series, which spanned from 1913 to 1938.

Most years saw all three mints produce nickels, but the key is to identify both the date and mint of each coin.

Mintmarks on the Denver and San Francisco issues identify the mint, while Philadelphia did not place a mintmark on their production.

Collectors typically assemble sets of Buffalo nickels including each mint variety of each year.

Availability and scarcity of a year and mintmark combination drives values above minimum base value.

Buffalo nickels are a high relief design, with most elements sitting well above the field of the coin, including the date.

The "19" of the date often wears away first, leaving just faint impressions of the last two digits.

The values and pricing of a 1919 buffalo nickel can be a bit tricky to navigate. The rarity of the coin is a key factor in determining its worth, with the 1919 buffalo nickel being relatively rare due to a design flaw that caused many to be melted down.

In mint condition, a 1919 buffalo nickel can be worth upwards of $1,000. However, the condition of the coin greatly affects its value.

A well-preserved 1919 buffalo nickel with no signs of wear or damage can command a higher price at auction. The highest price paid for a 1919 buffalo nickel was $1,540.

To give you a better idea of the coin's value, here are some approximate price ranges for different conditions: circulated coins are worth around $50-$100, while coins in good condition can fetch $200-$500.