1929 Buffalo Nickel Value
Today a 1929 Buffalo Nickel typically sells for $0.10 to $38.00, with condition doing most of the work. Where your coin lands depends on wear, strike and surface quality.
1929 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.
What is the 1929 Buffalo Nickel selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1929 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.
1929 Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1929
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 36,446,000
- 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
Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1929 Buffalo Nickel is a Philadelphia product, and the main mint did not sign its work at this time. On branch-mint examples the mark sits on the reverse, below FIVE CENTS at the bottom.
What makes the 1929 Buffalo Nickel valuable
The generous mintage of 36,446,000 keeps this date affordable. That availability is an asset for collectors: it is the textbook choice for owning the Buffalo Nickel design without a key-date price tag.
Context adds the final layer to the 1929 Buffalo Nickel. The 1913 Type 1, with the bison on a raised mound, was modified within months to protect the denomination from wear. 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.
1929 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 1929 Buffalo Nickel specimens
3 physically measured 1929 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 Buffalo Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1929 Buffalo Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
| 1929 Buffalo Nickel #3 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1929 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.