1928 Buffalo Nickel Value
A 1928 Buffalo Nickel is worth roughly $0.10 to $38.00 depending on its condition. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
1928 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 1928 Buffalo Nickel worth today?
Figure roughly $0.10 as the realistic floor for a damage-free, well-worn 1928 Buffalo Nickel, rising steadily through the grades to about $38.00 for a certified gem. Cleaned or damaged coins trade below these figures.
1928 Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1928
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 23,411,000
- 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 this coin has no mint mark
The 1928 Buffalo Nickel was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which used no mint mark in this era. If you find no letter where branch-mint coins carry one (On the reverse, below FIVE CENTS at the bottom), you are holding a Philadelphia issue.
What collectors pay for in a 1928 Buffalo Nickel
With 23,411,000 struck, the 1928 Buffalo Nickel is one of the more available dates of its series. Its value rests on metal content and condition rather than absolute rarity, which makes it an ideal type coin.
Few series carry the following that supports the 1928 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. A coin that thousands of collectors are actively assembling into sets never lacks for a market.
1928 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 1928 Buffalo Nickel specimens
3 physically measured 1928 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 Buffalo Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1928 Buffalo Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
| 1928 Buffalo Nickel #3 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1928 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.