What is the value of a 1914 buffalo nickel?

Answer 1

AnswerLook on the back of the coin to see if there's a small mint mark letter below the words FIVE CENTS. It may be blank or there may be a D or S. (The F on the front of the coin is the designer's monogram and not a mint mark.) Also check the date because there is a rare overdate.

Numismedia lists the following approximate retail values as of 04/2010:

No mint mark (Philadelphia):

Very worn condition - $15

Moderately worn - $20

Slightly worn - $23

Almost no wear - $37

Uncirculated - $48 to $5,820 depending on quality

No mint mark (Philadelphia), '13' underneath '14':

Moderately worn - $480

Slightly worn - $660

Almost no wear - $1,710

Uncirculated - $3,030 to $69,550

"D" mint mark (Denver):

Very worn condition - $78

Moderately worn - $144

Slightly worn - $198

Almost no wear - $331

Uncirculated - $420 to $14,950

"S" mint mark (San Francisco):

Very worn condition - $23

Moderately worn - $43

Slightly worn - $56

Almost no wear - $140

Uncirculated - $186 to $16,250

This, and other questions about the value of a particular coin, are all best answered in one of three ways:

1. Find and use a reputable coin catalogue, eg Krause's Coins of the World.
2. Check the prices that coin dealers advertise them for in their shops or on websites.
3. Check the prices that people actually get for them, by searching online auction sites like eBay or OZtionfor sold items matching your description.

For example, if I want to find the value of a 1914 buffalo-head nickel, I just search eBay for sold items with "1914 buffalo nickel" in the title or description. Remember that not everyone is a spelling whiz, so this might find more matches: "1914 buffalo buffalo-headnickel nickle" - experiment a little.

Methods 2 and 3 will only work if -

• people are actually selling any; and
• you know how to do the online search - but that's not too hard, and anyway, there are courses you can do if you're stuck.

Method 1 always works - unless you have discovered something so rare that it's not in any catalogue. That still happens from time to time, but not often. Find yourself a good, recent catalogue - maybe in the local library - and spend some time getting familiar with the specialist terms - how they describe and list coins. You need to understand a bit about coin condition grading, and develop a passing familiarity with the kinds of inscription to expect on the coins that interest you - maybe even learn to read a little Arabic or Chinese!