Buffalo Nickels

Buffalo nickels with dates have a bit of a premium, 2-3 times face

When I was first starting to collect, I bought a Buffalo nickle for 8 dollars. Talk about being suckered in.

I mean, they aren't being circulated anymore,and haven't been minted in over 70 years, shouldn't they hold a premium? I was told that a common date buffalo is worth as much as a common date indian, both being around 2-3 dollars apiece. But that information is probably unreliable since it came from someone else and not any documented source I read or anything.

2-4 times face value for Buffalos would be for dateless coins. Partial dates go for 5-6x face value. Full date commons run 60 cents to $2 or more depending on grade.

Personally, I don't understand why they are this cheap, given their age and a lot of collector interest. Main reason must be they minted too many Philly coins.

In mixed lots I buy, all mint marked coins from the teens and 20s are very hard to come by- most have been picked out of the lots already. I can definitely see their beiong upward potential for all mint marked Buffalo nickels from the teens and 20s- mintages for all tend to be rather low. Except for 31S and maybe 38D, the 30s are all considered commons, but some of the mint marked 30s are low mintage, too.

26S and 31S are sleepers. Way underpriced in my opinion. 26S had less than 1 million and is rarely found in any large lots I buy. And I have never gotten a 31S in any large lot yet.

As to your question. Sort of depends on your age. If you are rather on the young side, then I would suggest hoarding any common date ones now. If you can get them for $1 or less, then note that in a little while the common ones in the 30's will be in the hundred year old area. They should, maybe, start to jump in price. As I said if your young enough, another 20 years is kind of close.

Just Carl......And if I am not on the young side?
Like more on the retired side? (: