Where to Sell Buffalo Nickel | Buffalo Nickel Worth – Las Vegas, NV

The United States Government Minted the Buffalo Nickel from 1913 to 1938. It is a five-cent coin that some people call the Indian Nead nickel. The coin received this nickname due to the portrait of a Native American depicted on its obverse side. Learn where to sell Buffalo nickel and how much your Buffalo nickel is worth.

Where to Sell Buffalo Nickel

If you plan on selling your Buffalo nickel coins, Nevada Coin Mart is the best place to sell them! Nevada Coin Mart is the largest buyer of Buffalo nickels in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV. We are home to coin experts who know and understand your coins’ true value, so you are sure to get a good deal here. Visit us at Nevada Coin Mart® 4065 S. Jones Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89103, or call us at 702-998-4000 if you want to talk to one of our experts today. We are open 365 times a year, from 9 am to 6 pm.

Buffalo Nickel Worth

The series of the Buffalo nickel started to be released for circulation in 1938. Several dates had been marked on the coin to indicate its release date. The coin’s value is determined by its condition or grade and historical significance in today’s market.

The 1913 Buffalo nickels are identified in two variations, Type 1 and Type 2. Both coins have worn off dates already due to heavy usage during the “Great Depression” from 1929 to 1939. On the Type 1 Buffalo nickel, the inscription date placed on a raised background of the coin’s obverse is likely to experience wear along with the denomination. On the other hand, Type 2’s denomination “FIVE CENTS” is recessed below the coin’s rim to wear more slowly and strike better.

Today’s Buffalo nickels are dateless and do not carry much premium value. They are only worth about 50 cents. This is typically half of the value of a common circulated Buffalo coin with a date. But these coins make a great gift, especially to those who collect coins for their numismatic value. So when you want to sell your Buffalo nickel, make sure you get it thoroughly evaluated for its value.

Brief History

Like what happened to many coins, the Buffalo Nickel also had no chance of missing controversies before going into major productions. Problems of production companies and the Treasury Secretary were on the Buffalos Nickels’ inconsistent design regarding nickel’s shape, size, and weight. The US Mint struck the first Buffalo Nickles and unofficially introduced it into limited circulation on February 22, 1913. It had its official introduction for circulation on March 4, 1913.

However, people had issues regarding the dyes of the Buffalo Nickel, which were quickly wearing out and were breaking three times faster than the Liberty Head Nickel. Luckily, the Denver Mint solved this problem by redesigning the coin by removing clash marks- these are those scratches when the dyes are in contact with each other while in storage. But the Mint worked overly in removing the clash marks, which removed one of the buffalo’s legs.

They only realized this mistake after creating and circulating thousands of this three-legged nickel. The US Government then required the Administration to produce Buffalo Nickels within 25 years. In 1938, the US Mint held a competition wherein contestants had to design the Buffalo Nickel’s successor. After 25 years, the lifespan of a buffalo nickel came to an end, and the Government replaced it with the Jefferson nickel. Keep these historical facts in mind when you try to sell buffalo nickels. That way, you can give your buyers the impression that you are knowledgeable about coins. 

Design of Buffalo Nickel

The coin’s obverse features the Native American warrior facing to the right with his braided hair and two feathers. Below the warrior’s clothing, you will see the initial “F,” which signifies the designer’s name, James Earle Fraser. On the right-hand side, following the outer edge of the coin’s rim, is the word “LIBERTY.”

On the other hand, the coin’s reverse highlights a male bison’s full-bodied nature, an extinct bovine mammal, particularly a buffalo. The bison or buffalo stands on a grassy mound with “FIVE CENTS.” Below is the name of the particular mint mark of the coin. Above the bison, specifically at the top curve of the coin, you will see “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” Then, in between the tail end of the bison is the “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

During the release of the Buffalo nickel, many coin collectors and US citizens wondered about the man the coin features on its obverse. His identity or historical significance became a surprising interest among the people. That is why the designer, Fraser, revealed the names of the two possible subjects of the coin. Also, Fraser had three models for the coin.  One model was Two Moons, a member of the Cheyenne Tribe, while the other one was Iron Tail from the Sioux Tribe. His wife, Laura Gardin, revealed that the third model was a Kiowa man named Big Tree. These details in design can help you sell your Buffalo nickel, so make sure to talk about it when you find a potential buyer. 

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