1938 Buffalo Nickel Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1938 Buffalo Nickel brings anywhere from $0.10 to $38.00. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
1938 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 1938 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 1938 Buffalo Nickel can differ in price by an order of magnitude based purely on preservation.
1938 Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1938
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 21.2 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Earle Fraser
Why this coin has no mint mark
Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1938 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 1938 Buffalo Nickel valuable
For the 1938 Buffalo Nickel, surviving examples tell the story that mint records do not. Museum-documented specimens define the issue for collectors.
Context adds the final layer to the 1938 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. 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.
1938 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 1938 Buffalo Nickel specimens
3 physically measured 1938 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 Buffalo Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1938 Buffalo Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
| 1938 Buffalo Nickel #3 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1938 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.