1920 Buffalo Nickel Value
A 1920 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.
1920 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 1920 Buffalo Nickel worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1920 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.
1920 Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1920
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 63,093,000
- 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 this coin has no mint mark
Philadelphia struck the 1920 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.
The value drivers behind this coin
With 63,093,000 struck, the 1920 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.
Few series carry the following that supports the 1920 Buffalo Nickel. Keys include the 1913-S Type 2, 1921-S, 1924-S and the famous 1937-D three-legged bison, created when a mint worker polished a damaged die. A coin that thousands of collectors are actively assembling into sets never lacks for a market.
1920 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 1920 Buffalo Nickel specimens
4 physically measured 1920 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 Buffalo Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1920 Buffalo Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
| 1920 Buffalo Nickel #3 | - | - | - | - |
| 1920 Buffalo Nickel #4 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1920 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.