1915 Buffalo Nickel Value
A 1915 Buffalo Nickel is worth roughly $0.10 to $38.00 depending on its condition. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1915 Buffalo Nickel value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Good (G-4) | $0.10 to $0.15 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $0.10 to $0.20 |
| Fine (F-12) | $0.20 to $0.35 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $0.40 to $0.70 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $0.80 to $1.35 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $1.60 to $2.70 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $3.20 to $5.40 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $7.20 to $12.00 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $22.50 to $38.00 |
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.
How much is a 1915 Buffalo Nickel worth today?
Figure roughly $0.10 as the realistic floor for a damage-free, well-worn 1915 Buffalo Nickel, rising steadily through the grades to about $38.00 for a certified gem. Cleaned or damaged coins trade below these figures.
1915 Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1915
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 20,986,220
- Composition
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 21.2 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Earle Fraser
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
Why this coin has no mint mark
The 1915 Buffalo Nickel was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which used no mint mark in this era. If you find no letter where branch-mint coins carry one (On the reverse, below FIVE CENTS at the bottom), you are holding a Philadelphia issue.
Where this coin's value comes from
The design's artistry came at a practical cost: the date sat on a raised shoulder that wore away quickly, which is why countless 'dateless' Buffalos survive. For the 1915 Buffalo Nickel, the enduring popularity of the series translates directly into buyers in every grade and every market cycle.
The generous mintage of 20,986,220 keeps this date affordable. That availability is an asset for collectors: it is the textbook choice for owning the Buffalo Nickel design without a key-date price tag.
1915 Buffalo Nickel inscriptions & design
Obverse
LIBERTY / (date) / F [initial]
Native American bust right
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E/ PLURIBUS/ UNUM / FIVE CENTS / [mintmark]
American bison left
Measured 1915 Buffalo Nickel specimens
6 physically measured 1915 Buffalo Nickel examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 5 g, 21.2 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 Buffalo Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1915 Buffalo Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
| 1915 Buffalo Nickel #3 | - | - | - | - |
| 1915 Buffalo Nickel #4 | - | - | - | - |
| 1915 Buffalo Nickel #5 | - | - | - | - |
| 1915 Buffalo Nickel #6 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1915 Buffalo Nickel is valued between $0.10 and $38.00 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.