1915 Buffalo Nickel

The Buffalo Nickel is an iconic piece of American coinage that was produced during the early parts of the 20^th century. Nowadays, these coins are particularly popular amongst collectors and are constantly sought after. Something interesting about the 1915 Buffalo Nickel is that it was produced in three different varieties, each with their own appeal and value.

For collectors, no matter what variety of 1915 Buffalo Nickel you acquire, it goes without saying that you desire a coin that is in excellent condition. Because these coins were produced about a century ago, not many have survived the years in great shape, which is why collectors are willing to pay top-dollar for a Nickel that has been well-preserved.

Grading the 1915 Buffalo Nickel

For coins like the 1915 Buffalo Nickel, the first thing collectors will take into consideration is the condition of the coin. Because no one wants to add a tarnished, blemished, beaten up coin to their collection, it is important that a collect acquire the coin that is in the best possible condition.

When you carefully assess the condition of a coin, what you are really doing is giving that coin a grade. Grading is something that is usually done by a professional coin grading company, but with the specifications below you can derive a good idea of what qualities a coin of a specific grade will possess.

Uncirculated: An Uncirculated Buffalo Nickel is one that will show absolutely no signs of wear and tear. These coins are in excellent condition and really do appear as though they were minted recently, not 100+ years ago. Even the coin’s original mint finish will be present, giving the faces a nice shine.

Extremely Fine: This is the grade given to coins that were circulated, but only for a short period of time. Due to their time in circulation, these coins will have acquired some wear on the surfaces. Scratching will be light, but will be visible under close inspection. At the end of the day, however, these coins are still in excellent condition.

Fine: Fine is a grade given to coins that have seen a good amount of time in circulation. They have acquired a lot of wear on their surfaces and will have lost their original luster. Still, the imagery and inscriptions on the coin are able to be made out without any trouble and the coin is in decent shape.

Good: Good is the grade given to coins that were in circulation for many decades. These coins will show heavy signs of wear including scratching, bending, and chipping. Due to years of exchanging hands, the surfaces of the coin will have been worn down such that they are no longer textured, but rather smooth. Naturally, these coins are the most inexpensive.

Pricing the 1915 Buffalo Nickel

In order to price a Buffalo Nickel, you must consider a few different factors. For one, you must take into consideration the type of Nickel it is. Because 1915 saw three different varieties of Nickels, the type you possess is important. After figuring out the type, condition then becomes paramount. As the condition of the coin improves, the price you are going to pay for it will increase, sometimes dramatically. The chart below will give you a good idea of what you will be asked to pay for 1915 Buffalo Nickels depending on type and grade.

1915 Buffalo Nickel

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1915	$6	$9	$25	$45
1915 D	$20	$38	$130	$160
1915 S	$50	$115	$400	$500
Source: Red Book