1927-S Buffalo Nickel Value

Depending on how well it survived, a 1927-S Buffalo Nickel brings anywhere from $1.75 to $567. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.

19275 CENTS5 CENTS
Illustrative rendering. Photographs of this date are being added.

1927-S Buffalo Nickel value by grade

1927-S Buffalo Nickel value by grade
GradeEstimated value
Good (G-4)$1.75 to $2.95
Very Good (VG-8)$2.55 to $4.30
Fine (F-12)$4.40 to $7.45
Very Fine (VF-20)$8.00 to $13.50
Extremely Fine (XF-40)$14.50 to $24.50
About Uncirculated (AU-50)$28.00 to $47.50
Mint State (MS-60)$56.00 to $94.50
Choice Unc (MS-63)$112 to $189
Gem Unc (MS-65)$336 to $567

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 1927-S Buffalo Nickel worth today?

A 1927-S Buffalo Nickel that spent decades in circulation is worth about $1.75 today. One that never circulated at all can bring up to $567. The honest answer for most inherited or pocket-found examples sits in the lower half of the table.

1927-S Buffalo Nickel specifications

Series
Buffalo Nickel
Year
1927
Mint mark
S
Mintage
3,430,000
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 1927 Buffalo Nickel?

On a 1927-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 1927-S Buffalo Nickel valuable

The mintage of 3,430,000 puts the 1927-S Buffalo Nickel among the scarcer issues of its series. It is findable, but nice examples take patience, and the market prices that difficulty in.

There is history in a 1927 Buffalo Nickel as well. Well-struck, fully dated examples are the series' quiet condition rarities. That backdrop keeps the series among the most actively collected in American numismatics.

Summary: the 1927-S Buffalo Nickel is valued between $1.75 and $567 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.