Buffalo Nickel Key Dates & Varieties
Minted 1913-1938. James Earle Fraser designed it. The series has half a dozen famous key dates, two iconic die varieties (Three-Legged Buffalo, Two-Feathers), and one of the most beloved aesthetics in US coinage.
The Design: Composite portrait of three Native American chiefs (Iron Tail, Two Moons, John Big Tree) on the obverse. The reverse buffalo was modeled after "Black Diamond" from the Central Park Zoo. Type I (1913 only) shows the buffalo on a raised mound; Type II (1913-1938) shows him on a flat plain.
The Six Key Dates
| Date | Mintage | MS-65 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1913-S Type 2 | 1.2M | Verify current records | Type II first year, low San Francisco mintage |
| 1914-D | 3.9M | Verify current records | Denver semi-key |
| 1918/7-D (overdate) | Verify specialist references | Verify current records | Famous overdate |
| 1921-S | 1.6M | Verify current records | Low-mintage semi-key |
| 1924-S | 1.4M | Verify current records | Low-mintage San Francisco issue |
| 1937-D Three-Legged | Verify specialist references | Verify current records | Famous die variety |
The Three-Legged Story
In 1937, a Denver mint employee over-polished a working die, removing the buffalo's front leg entirely while leaving the hoof. The error coin was struck for an estimated 10,000 examples before discovery. It became one of the most famous error coins in US numismatics.
Counterfeit versions exist, including some that started as real Buffalos with the leg ground off. Authentication relies on a specific gap pattern between the missing leg and the body, plus die markers on the reverse. PCGS-certified examples are the only safe purchase.
Date-and-Mint Wear Note
Buffalo Nickels often lose date detail through circulation. Dateless examples cannot be evaluated like attributable key dates; compare them only with similarly worn examples and current records.
For collectors building a set, prioritize dates that are crisp + legible. PCGS-graded examples with strong dates are worth the premium over raw "cherrypick" offerings.
Common Variety: Two-Feathers
An over-polished die variety removed a feather on the headdress of the Native American figure. Verify the attribution against a specialist reference and compare current grade-specific records.
Build Your Buffalo Set
Use the catalog for key-date context, then verify varieties, certification records, and current market evidence at the source.
Browse Coins →Storage & handling
Buffalo dates and varieties reward a close look, a 10x loupe or USB microscope confirms a Three-Legged or 1918/7-D before you pay. Store the coins in Air-Tite capsules or PVC-free Saflips. See our collector gear guide →
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