1916-D Buffalo Nickel Value
In the current market, a 1916-D Buffalo Nickel changes hands for roughly $0.10 at the low end and $38.00 at the top. Where your coin lands depends on wear, strike and surface quality.
1916-D 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.
Current 1916-D Buffalo Nickel value
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1916-D Buffalo Nickel starts around $0.10. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $38.00. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1916-D Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1916
- Mint mark
- D
- Mintage
- 13,333,000
- Composition
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 21.2 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Earle Fraser
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
Where is the mint mark on a 1916 Buffalo Nickel?
On a 1916-D Buffalo Nickel, the "D" mint mark of the Denver Mint sits on the reverse, below FIVE CENTS at the bottom. A loupe helps: on worn examples the letter can fade into the surrounding devices.
What makes the 1916-D Buffalo Nickel valuable
With 13,333,000 struck, the 1916-D Buffalo Nickel is one of the more available dates of its series. Its value rests on metal content and condition rather than absolute rarity, which makes it an ideal type coin.
Context adds the final layer to the 1916-D Buffalo Nickel. Well-struck, fully dated examples are the series' quiet condition rarities. 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.
Summary: the 1916-D 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.