1924-S Buffalo Nickel Value
The 1924-S Buffalo Nickel carries a current retail range of about $44.00 to $7,425 across circulated and Mint State grades. See the grade table below for exactly where your coin falls.
1924-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.
What is the 1924-S Buffalo Nickel selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1924-S Buffalo Nickel starts around $44.00. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $7,425. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1924-S Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1924
- Mint mark
- S
- Mintage
- 1,437,000
- 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 1924 Buffalo Nickel?
On a 1924-S Buffalo Nickel, the "S" mint mark of the San Francisco Mint sits on the reverse, below FIVE CENTS at the bottom. A loupe helps: on worn examples the letter can fade into the surrounding devices.
What makes the 1924-S Buffalo Nickel valuable
Context adds the final layer to the 1924-S Buffalo Nickel. The obverse portrait is a composite of three Native American chiefs, Iron Tail, Two Moons, and Big Tree by most accounts, and the reverse bison is traditionally identified as Black Diamond of the Central Park Zoo. 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.
The San Francisco Mint struck a mere 1,437,000 examples. That tiny output put the 1924-S Buffalo Nickel on every want list in the hobby, and key-date pressure shows in its prices across the entire grade spectrum.
Summary: the 1924-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.