1926 Buffalo Nickel Value
In the current market, a 1926 Buffalo Nickel changes hands for roughly $0.10 at the low end and $38.00 at the top. Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
1926 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 1926 Buffalo Nickel worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1926 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.
1926 Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1926
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 44,693,000
- Composition
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 21.2 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Earle Fraser
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
Reading a coin with no mint mark
The 1926 Buffalo Nickel comes from Philadelphia, which struck coins without a mint mark. If the spot where branch-mint coins show a letter is empty on your 1926, that is exactly as it should be.
Why the 1926 Buffalo Nickel is worth money
A large mintage of 44,693,000 means this issue is common in circulated grades. The interesting money starts in Mint State, where quality, not quantity, sets the price.
Context adds the final layer to the 1926 Buffalo Nickel. The design's artistry came at a practical cost: the date sat on a raised shoulder that wore away quickly, which is why countless 'dateless' Buffalos survive. 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.
1926 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 1926 Buffalo Nickel specimens
4 physically measured 1926 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 Buffalo Nickel #1 | 4.867 g | 22 mm | - | - |
| 1926 Buffalo Nickel #2 | - | - | - | Breen.2625 |
| 1926 Buffalo Nickel #3 | - | - | - | - |
| 1926 Buffalo Nickel #4 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1926 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.