1917 Buffalo Nickel
Strike Type
Coin Details
Value Estimates
Values as of May 2026, from published price guides and, in some cases, recorded auction sales. For most coins the range runs from a well-worn example (around G-4) to an uncirculated one, but individual coins can sell for more or less depending on grade, eye appeal and demand. Compare recent sales of similar coins for a closer estimate.
Auction Record
- Price realized
- $20,700
- Sold
- Grade
- GEM Specimen or PR
- Auction house
- Superior Galleries
Description
A nickel from the Philadelphia Mint, the 1917 Buffalo Nickel belongs to the Buffalo Nickels 1913-1938 series. The U.S. Mint produced 51.4 million examples, making this the highest mintage among 3 variants, accounting for 78% of the year's production. The obverse features a Native American portrait that James Earle Fraser described as a composite of several chiefs, including Iron Tail (Lakota) and Two Moons (Cheyenne), and the reverse displays an American bison, traditionally identified as Black Diamond of New York's Central Park menagerie, standing on flat ground. Minted during and after World War I, as America emerged as a global power and experienced the prosperity of the Roaring Twenties. The Philadelphia Mint, America's oldest coin-making facility, has struck coins continuously since 1792. Estimated market value ranges from $10 to $186 depending on grade and condition. Struck in 75% copper, 25% nickel, weighing 5 grams, 21.2 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Cataloged as PCGS #3934.
External References
Error Varieties(5)
1917 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001
1917 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001
1917 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001 / DDR-001
1917 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002 / DDR-002
1917 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-003
Other Strike Types in This Series
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