1914-S Buffalo Nickel Value

A 1914-S Buffalo Nickel is worth roughly $0.40 to $149 depending on its condition. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.

19145 CENTS5 CENTS
Illustrative rendering. Photographs of this date are being added.

1914-S Buffalo Nickel value by grade

1914-S Buffalo Nickel value by grade
GradeEstimated value
Good (G-4)$0.40 to $0.70
Very Good (VG-8)$0.60 to $1.00
Fine (F-12)$0.95 to $1.60
Very Fine (VF-20)$1.75 to $2.95
Extremely Fine (XF-40)$3.60 to $6.10
About Uncirculated (AU-50)$7.20 to $12.00
Mint State (MS-60)$14.50 to $24.50
Choice Unc (MS-63)$30.50 to $51.50
Gem Unc (MS-65)$88.00 to $149

Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.

What is a 1914-S Buffalo Nickel worth right now?

At the entry level, well-worn examples bring about $0.40. The same coin in gem uncirculated condition is a $149 coin. Grade is everything: two examples of the 1914-S Buffalo Nickel can differ in price by an order of magnitude based purely on preservation.

1914-S Buffalo Nickel specifications

Series
Buffalo Nickel
Year
1914
Mint mark
S
Mintage
3,470,000
Composition
75% copper, 25% nickel
Weight
5 g
Diameter
21.2 mm
Edge
Plain
Designer
James Earle Fraser

Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).

How to find the S mint mark

To confirm your 1914 coin is the San Francisco issue, find the small "S". On the reverse, below FIVE CENTS at the bottom The mark is small, so tilt the coin under a light if it is not obvious.

What collectors pay for in a 1914-S Buffalo Nickel

Context adds the final layer to the 1914-S Buffalo Nickel. Branch-mint issues of the 1920s, struck from overused dies, are notorious for weak strikes. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.

A mintage of 3,470,000 makes the 1914-S Buffalo Nickel moderately available, though it is noticeably tougher than the bulk dates of the series, particularly in higher grades.

Summary: the 1914-S Buffalo Nickel is valued between $0.40 and $149 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.