Buffalo Nickels & Liberty Head Nickels

Two Iconic Nickels

The Liberty Head ("V") nickel and Buffalo nickel are two of the most recognizable coins in American numismatics. Each has its own mysteries, key dates, and devoted following.

Liberty Head Nickels (1883–1912)

Designed by Charles Barber, the Liberty Head nickel features a classic Liberty portrait on the obverse and a large Roman numeral "V" (for five) on the reverse.

The "No CENTS" Variety of 1883

The original 1883 design omitted the word "CENTS" — just a large "V." Enterprising fraudsters gold-plated these nickels and passed them as $5 gold pieces. The Mint quickly added "CENTS" to the reverse, creating two 1883 varieties. The "No CENTS" variety was saved in huge quantities and is actually more common (and cheaper) than the "With CENTS" version.

The 1913 Liberty Head Nickel

One of the most famous coins in the world. Although the Buffalo nickel replaced the Liberty Head in 1913, five Liberty Head nickels dated 1913 are known to exist — apparently struck clandestinely by a Mint employee. These five coins have sold for $3–5 million each at auction. One was featured on a 1973 episode of Hawaii Five-O.

Key Dates

• 1885 — Low mintage (1.47M). $450+ in Good.
• 1886 — Even lower mintage (3.32M). $250+ in Good.
• 1912-S — Only San Francisco issue. $200+ in Good.

Buffalo Nickels (1913–1938)

Designed by James Earle Fraser, the Buffalo nickel is considered one of the most beautiful US coin designs. The obverse features a composite portrait of three Native American chiefs, and the reverse shows an American bison (often called "Black Diamond" after the bison at the Central Park Zoo).

Type 1 and Type 2

• Type 1 (1913 only) — The bison stands on a raised mound. The design wore poorly, so it was modified mid-year.
• Type 2 (1913–1938) — The mound was flattened to a straight line ("on a plain"), lowering the date and making room for "FIVE CENTS" in a recessed area.

The Dateless Buffalo Problem

The date on Buffalo nickels sits on a high, exposed area that wears quickly. Millions of "dateless" Buffalos exist — coins so worn the date is unreadable. While they have minimal collector value ($0.25–$1), the date can sometimes be restored using ferric chloride (nic-a-date), though this damages the surface and doesn't add significant value.

Key Dates

• 1913-S Type 2 — $250+ in Good. Low mintage first-year issue.
• 1914/3 Overdate — A 4 punched over a 3. $350+ in Good.
• 1916 Doubled Die Obverse — Doubling visible on the date and "LIBERTY." $5,000+ in Good.
• 1918/7-D Overdate — $1,500+ in Good. A famous overdate.
• 1921-S — $50+ in Good. Often weakly struck.
• 1926-S — $75+ in Good. Scarce in higher grades.
• 1937-D 3-Legged — A famous error where a die polishing removed the bison's front leg. $500+ in Good. One of the most popular US error coins.

Grading Challenges

• Buffalo nickels are notoriously difficult to grade because the design's high points wear quickly and unevenly. The horn on the bison and the hair detail above the Native American's braid are key focal points.
• Weak strikes are extremely common, especially for Denver and San Francisco issues. Don't confuse weak strike with wear.
• Full Horn designation means the bison's horn is completely separated from the head — a sign of a strong strike. Full Horn Buffalos carry significant premiums.

Collecting Strategies

• Complete date set — Achievable in lower grades for $1,500–$3,000 without the major overdates.
• Type set — One Type 1 and one Type 2. Under $50 for both.
• High-grade collecting — MS-65 and above Buffalos are scarce for most dates. Full Horn examples command strong premiums.
• Find key dates at coin shows — Buffalo nickel dealers are well-represented at most shows.

Up Next

Jefferson Nickels: Key Dates and Varieties.