How Much is a Buffalo Nickel Worth with No Date

The Buffalo nickel is often referred to as a popular coin. A popular coin may sound like a bad thing, but that’s not necessarily true. While the buffalo nickel isn’t exactly the most valuable coin, it has its place in numismatics and history. This article will look at the value of buffalo nickels with no date.

When a coin has no date, it is very hard to determine the value of the coin, regardless, a couple of Buffalo Nickels without dates have sold for high amounts in auctions, after reading this guide it should help you determine “how much is a Buffalo Nickel Worth With No Date.”

The Buffalo Nickel No Date

The first thing you need to get off your head is the myth that Buffalo Nickels with no dates are in existence due to an error from the United States Mint. All Buffalo Nickels coins ever made have a date attached to the obverse of the coin.

If you find any Buffalo Coin without a date, it is most definitely a circulated coin that has had its fair share of the cons of being in circulation one of which is a wiped off date on the front side of the coin.

Coins like these would most likely belong to the Good, or Very Good Category, which gives them a worth of about $1.13 to $2000 or more. The value is usually dependent on the actual year of the coin. If you’re able to determine what year it was minted, you might have an idea of how to value the coin.

Although the wear that caused a coin to miss the date was immediate, the problem began with a flaw in the mint’s design. More accurately, it was a flaw in U.S. Mint Chief Engraver Charles Barber’s less-than-enthusiastic execution of sculptor James Earle Fraser’s design. Barber was known to be bitter that his own nickel design in use since 1892 was being replaced by Fraser’s more elaborate design for cents.

The placement of the date on the coin also contributed to its durability. The numerals of the date were some of the first features to wear away through their lifetime of use, because they were placed near one of the higher relief portions of the design.

Buffalo Nickel – History

The Buffalo nickels, also known as an Indian Head nickel, is a copper-nickel five-cent piece struck by the United States Mint from 1913 to 1938. Designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser, it featured a Native American figure on one side and an image of a bison on the other.

In 1883, the Liberty Head nickel was issued, featuring designs by Mint Engraver Charles E. Barber. The coin was modified later that year to add “CENTS” to the reverse because its similarity in size with half eagles enabled criminals to gild nickels and pass them off as five dollar coins.

The Coinage Act of 1890 required that coin designs not be changed until they had been in use for at least 25 years, unless Congress authorized the change.

The act made the current five-cent piece and silver dollar exceptions to the twenty-five year rule, and it allowed them to be redesigned immediately. However, the Mint continued to strike Liberty Head nickels through much of the 20th century.

After the resignation of the Mint’s director, Andrew, George Roberts was named in his place. Initially favoring a design featuring assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, Fraser soon developed a design featuring a Native American on one side and a bison on the other.

The first Buffalo Nickels were released in 1913, and about 60% of those coins released, if not more, have their dates completely worn. The coin was originally called the “Buffalo nickel”, a reference to its likeness to the American bison.

How To Reveal The Date On Buffalo Nickels

Buffalo Nickels are considered a popular collectible coin, but how do you know the value if the date isn’t noted? Many people have a Buffalo Nickel with no date on it and wonder if they could reveal the year.

Without the year from the coin, it is more than challenging to determine how much your coin may be worth. We are going to share some tips with you that will help you reveal the date on your Buffalo Nickels.

Note: You should not try this on coins that you want to sell in the future, the acid spot will leave a mark on the coins and make them less attractive or valuable to buyers.

Steps;

1. Add a drop of ferric chloride popularly known as “Nic-a-date” on the spot just below the head on the obverse of the buffalo nickel.
2. Allow to sit for a while then rinse or wipe off.

Remember, Numismatists will not trust a date on a coin that has been restored with ferric chloride.

Buffalo Nickel Value Chart

In some cases, you might not have to use an acid to reveal the date on your Buffalo nickel. Using a magnifying glass might help you see the date on your Buffalo Nickel, if you are lucky enough to see a date, below is a table to determine the value of your partial date buffalo nickels.

Buffalo Nickel Key Dates (Chart)

In the past, Buffalo Nickels without dates have sold at auctions across the world, especially ones with planchet errors. Here are some examples of coins that have been sold;

• No Date 5C Buffalo Nickel Type Two Struck 30% Off Center — AU55 Sold on Feb 1, 2015 for $493.50
• No Date Buffalo Nickel — Struck on a Cent Planchet — AG3 Sold on Feb 17, 2017 for $1,762.50
• No Date 5C Buffalo Nickel–Struck 20% Off-Center–AU58 Sold on Oct 25, 2008 for $402.50

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is a buffalo nickel with no date?

The exact age can’t be determined if the coin’s date isn’t visible, however, keep in mind that buffalo nickels were minted from 1913 to 1938. Your coin with a wiped off date would most-likely be from an earlier year.

How do I know if my Buffalo Nickel is valuable?

Today, the value of Buffalo nickels is determined by their mintmark, the minting date and grade, and condition. Since these coins are relatively rare, even a heavily worn coin with readable dates can be worth more than face value if it has a readable mintmark.

How do I know if my Buffalo nickel is worth anything?

Have a look at the mintmark and the date, you can use the price chart given in this article to determine the average value of your rare Buffalo Nickel.

Final Words

It is usually hard to know the value of dateless buffalo nickels. A key to understanding the approximate value of a buffalo nickel is recognizing that it is worth more than just the five cents that it was originally made to be worth. So, how much would a Buffalo nickel be worth with no date? Well, based on the example sold at auction, it could be worth as much as $1,762 or less depending on its condition.