1925 Buffalo Nickel

Strike Type

Coin Details

Year

1925

Denomination

Nickel

Mint Mark

Strike Type

Regular Strike

Series

Buffalo Nickels 1913-1938

Designer

James Earle Fraser

Mintage

35,565,100

Composition

75% Copper, 25% Nickel

Weight

Diameter

21.2mm

Edge

Plain

Value Estimates

$3.62 - $154

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: $32,200
Sold: 16 August 2006
Grade: MS67
Auction house: Bowers & Merena

Description

Part of the Buffalo Nickels 1913-1938 series, the 1925 Buffalo Nickel is a nickel from the Philadelphia Mint. The U.S. Mint produced 35.6 million examples, making this the highest mintage among 3 variants, accounting for 77% 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. Coined at the Philadelphia facility, the nation's original mint that has operated continuously since its 1792 founding. Estimated market value ranges from $4 to $154 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 #3954.