1934 Buffalo Nickel Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1934 Buffalo Nickel brings anywhere from $0.10 to $38.00. Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
1934 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 1934 Buffalo Nickel worth right now?
Start with $0.10 for a heavily circulated 1934 Buffalo Nickel and work upward. Lightly circulated 1934 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.
1934 Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1934
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 20,213,003
- 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 1934 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.
Where this coin's value comes from
There is history in a 1934 Buffalo Nickel as well. James Earle Fraser's Buffalo nickel is widely judged the most distinctly American coin design ever struck. That backdrop keeps the series among the most actively collected in American numismatics.
The generous mintage of 20,213,003 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.
1934 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 1934 Buffalo Nickel specimens
2 physically measured 1934 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 Buffalo Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1934 Buffalo Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1934 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.