1919 Buffalo Nickel Value
Expect a 1919 Buffalo Nickel to trade between about $0.10 and $38.00, driven almost entirely by grade. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1919 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.
What is the 1919 Buffalo Nickel selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1919 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.
1919 Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1919
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 60,868,000
- Composition
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 21.2 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Earle Fraser
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
Why there is no letter on this coin
Philadelphia struck the 1919 Buffalo Nickel, and Philadelphia coins of this period carry no mint mark at all. An empty space at the usual mint mark position (On the reverse, below FIVE CENTS at the bottom) confirms a Philadelphia strike, not a flaw.
Why the 1919 Buffalo Nickel is worth money
Context adds the final layer to the 1919 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.
60,868,000 pieces left the presses, so survivors remain plentiful. Pricing tracks bullion and grade, with gems carrying the only substantial premiums.
1919 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 1919 Buffalo Nickel specimens
3 physically measured 1919 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 Buffalo Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1919 Buffalo Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
| 1919 Buffalo Nickel #3 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1919 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.