1916-S Buffalo Nickel Value
A 1916-S Buffalo Nickel is worth roughly $0.10 to $38.00 depending on its condition. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
1916-S 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 1916-S Buffalo Nickel worth today?
A 1916-S Buffalo Nickel that spent decades in circulation is worth about $0.10 today. One that never circulated at all can bring up to $38.00. The honest answer for most inherited or pocket-found examples sits in the lower half of the table.
1916-S Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1916
- Mint mark
- S
- Mintage
- 11,860,000
- 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
Identifying a 1916-S Buffalo Nickel hinges on one small letter: the "S" of San Francisco. On the reverse, below FIVE CENTS at the bottom Verify it before pricing the coin, because a 1916 from a different mint can be worth a very different amount.
What collectors pay for in a 1916-S Buffalo Nickel
The generous mintage of 11,860,000 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.
Context adds the final layer to the 1916-S Buffalo Nickel. 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. 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-S 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.