1921-S Buffalo Nickel Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1921-S Buffalo Nickel brings anywhere from $44.00 to $7,425. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
1921-S Buffalo Nickel value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Good (G-4) | $44.00 to $74.50 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $64.00 to $108 |
| Fine (F-12) | $96.00 to $162 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $160 to $270 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $272 to $459 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $448 to $756 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $720 to $1,215 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $1,360 to $2,295 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $4,400 to $7,425 |
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 1921-S Buffalo Nickel worth today?
A 1921-S Buffalo Nickel that spent decades in circulation is worth about $44.00 today. One that never circulated at all can bring up to $7,425. The honest answer for most inherited or pocket-found examples sits in the lower half of the table.
1921-S Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1921
- Mint mark
- S
- Mintage
- 1,557,000
- 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 1921 Buffalo Nickel?
To confirm your 1921 coin is the San Francisco issue, find the small "S". On the reverse, below FIVE CENTS at the bottom The mark is small, so tilt the coin under a light if it is not obvious.
Where this coin's value comes from
With a mintage of just 1,557,000, the 1921-S Buffalo Nickel is one of the celebrated key dates of the Buffalo Nickel series. Survivors are scarce in every grade, and demand from series collectors keeps prices firm year after year.
There is history in a 1921 Buffalo Nickel as well. James Earle Fraser's Buffalo nickel is widely judged the most distinctly American coin design ever struck. That backdrop keeps the series among the most actively collected in American numismatics.
Summary: the 1921-S Buffalo Nickel is valued between $44.00 and $7,425 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.