This coin’s value is due to its rarity, particularly in uncirculated condition. About a third of nickels minted in 1915 were produced at the Denver mint. These are identified by a small D at the bottom of the reverse side of the coin.
The Type 2 or Line Type Buffalo nickels produced in 1913 were an improvement over the Type 1, which featured the buffalo standing on a raised mound. In this second design, the buffalo is standing on a flat plane or “line.”
Less than 4 million nickels were produced in 1914, and as was typical, the fewest number were made in San Francisco (denoted by a small S on the bottom of the reverse side of the coin).
The 1926 Buffalo nickels overall tend to be weakly struck, and those of high quality are hard to find. Even those in lower conditions are valuable. A 1926 D nickel in good condition sells for around $10 to $15.
Unlike the previous year, 1914 saw only one design type. With fewer coins minted in 1914 than in 1913, the 1914 Buffalo in any condition, from any mint, is a scarce coin.
In sharp contrast to a decade earlier, about 37 million Buffalo nickels were produced in 1928. Almost 7 million of these were from San Francisco. Most of these are at the low end of the quality scale and worth just a few dollars.
This coin is especially hard to find in mint condition, making the difference in value between “good” and “mint” condition coins considerable.
More than 60 million Buffalo nickels were minted in 1917, but most have extensive wear. Well-struck versions of the 1917 D Buffalo Nickel are rare, but rarer still are those in uncirculated condition.
SWIPE UP FOR MORE AMAZING STORIES