1929-S Buffalo Nickel Value
A 1929-S Buffalo Nickel is worth roughly $0.10 to $38.00 depending on its condition. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
1929-S 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 1929-S Buffalo Nickel worth today?
Start with $0.10 for a heavily circulated 1929-S Buffalo Nickel and work upward. Lightly circulated 1929 examples occupy the middle of the range, while true gems approach $38.00. If your coin has no wear on the high points, it deserves a closer look or a professional opinion.
1929-S Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1929
- Mint mark
- S
- Mintage
- 7,754,000
- Composition
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 21.2 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Earle Fraser
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
Locating the mint mark on this coin
On a 1929-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.
The value drivers behind this coin
The series itself does some of the lifting for the 1929-S Buffalo Nickel: Keys include the 1913-S Type 2, 1921-S, 1924-S and the famous 1937-D three-legged bison, created when a mint worker polished a damaged die. Broad, multigenerational demand for the design gives every date, including this one, a deep and liquid market.
With 7,754,000 struck, the 1929-S 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.
Summary: the 1929-S 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.