1930-S Buffalo Nickel Value
A 1930-S Buffalo Nickel is worth roughly $0.10 to $38.00 depending on its condition. Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
1930-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.
What is a 1930-S Buffalo Nickel worth right now?
At the entry level, well-worn examples bring about $0.10. The same coin in gem uncirculated condition is a $38.00 coin. Grade is everything: two examples of the 1930-S Buffalo Nickel can differ in price by an order of magnitude based purely on preservation.
1930-S Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1930
- Mint mark
- S
- Mintage
- 5,435,000
- 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 1930 Buffalo Nickel?
Flip your 1930 Buffalo Nickel over and locate the "S". On the reverse, below FIVE CENTS at the bottom That single letter separates the San Francisco issue from its siblings and can move the price substantially.
Where this coin's value comes from
With 5,435,000 struck, the 1930-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.
The series itself does some of the lifting for the 1930-S Buffalo Nickel: Well-struck, fully dated examples are the series' quiet condition rarities. Broad, multigenerational demand for the design gives every date, including this one, a deep and liquid market.
Summary: the 1930-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.