1921 Buffalo Nickel Value
Today a 1921 Buffalo Nickel typically sells for $0.10 to $38.00, with condition doing most of the work. The figures below break the range down grade by grade.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1921 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.
Today's value of the 1921 Buffalo Nickel
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1921 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.
1921 Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1921
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 10,663,000
- 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
No mint mark is the mark here: the 1921 Buffalo Nickel comes from the main Philadelphia Mint, which left its coins unlettered in this era. The position where branch mints placed their letter (On the reverse, below FIVE CENTS at the bottom) is simply blank.
Why the 1921 Buffalo Nickel is worth money
At 10,663,000 struck, scarcity is not the story here. Condition is: well-preserved examples with original luster stand far above the worn majority.
Context adds the final layer to the 1921 Buffalo Nickel. The 1913 Type 1, with the bison on a raised mound, was modified within months to protect the denomination from wear. 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.
1921 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 1921 Buffalo Nickel specimens
2 physically measured 1921 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 Buffalo Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1921 Buffalo Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1921 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.