Most Valuable Nickels
Top 25 nickels worth the most money
The most valuable nickels are coins that stand out for their rarity, historical significance, and collector demand. Low mintage figures, key date status, mint errors, and exceptional condition all contribute to higher values. Below are the top 25 nickels ranked by their highest recorded price across all grades.
Top 25 Most Valuable Nickels
| # | Coin | Year | Mint | Status | Mintage | Value Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel Overdate | 1918 | Denver | Key Date | Unknown | $1,000 - $350,000 |
| 2 | 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel | 1937 | Denver | Key Date | Unknown | $500 - $200,000 |
| 3 | 1913 Liberty Nickel - King of Coins | 1913 | Philadelphia | Key Date | 0 | $100 - $104,725 |
| 4 | 1883 Liberty Nickel (No Cents) | 1883 | Philadelphia | Key Date | 5,474,300 | $57 - $53,825 |
| 5 | 1926 S Buffalo Nickel | 1926 | S | Key Date | 970,000 | $46 - $39,925 |
| 6 | 1913 S-T2 Buffalo Nickel | 1913 | San Francisco | Key Date | 1,209,000 | $42 - $36,300 |
| 7 | 1921 S Buffalo Nickel | 1921 | S | Key Date | 1,557,000 | $43 - $35,375 |
| 8 | 1942-D Over Horizontal D Jefferson Nickel | 1942 | Denver | Semi-Key | Unknown | $50 - $8,000 |
| 9 | 1913 D-T2 Buffalo Nickel | 1913 | Denver | Semi-Key | 4,156,000 | $6 - $6,200 |
| 10 | 1924 S Buffalo Nickel | 1924 | S | Semi-Key | 1,437,000 | $5.5 - $6,175 |
| 11 | 1914 D Buffalo Nickel | 1914 | D | Semi-Key | 3,912,000 | $6 - $5,850 |
| 12 | 1919 D Buffalo Nickel | 1919 | D | Semi-Key | 8,006,000 | $5 - $5,350 |
| 13 | 1915 S Buffalo Nickel | 1915 | S | Semi-Key | 1,505,000 | $6 - $5,325 |
| 14 | 1921 Buffalo Nickel | 1921 | P | Semi-Key | 10,663,000 | $5 - $5,325 |
| 15 | 1866 Shield Nickel | 1866 | Philadelphia | 14,742,500 | $8.5 - $5,275 | |
| 16 | 1920 D Buffalo Nickel | 1920 | D | Semi-Key | 9,418,000 | $4.5 - $4,900 |
| 17 | 1931 S Buffalo Nickel | 1931 | S | Semi-Key | 1,200,000 | $5 - $4,875 |
| 18 | 1925 D Buffalo Nickel | 1925 | D | Semi-Key | 4,450,000 | $5 - $4,850 |
| 19 | 1925 S Buffalo Nickel | 1925 | S | Semi-Key | 6,256,000 | $5.5 - $4,225 |
| 20 | 1919 S Buffalo Nickel | 1919 | S | Semi-Key | 7,521,000 | $5.5 - $4,075 |
| 21 | 1920 S Buffalo Nickel | 1920 | S | Semi-Key | 9,689,000 | $4 - $4,075 |
| 22 | 1883 Liberty Nickel (With Cents) | 1883 | Philadelphia | 16,026,200 | $4 - $3,775 | |
| 23 | 1954 D Jefferson Nickel | 1954 | D | Key Date | 71,389,845 | $3.5 - $3,050 |
| 24 | 1942 Jefferson Nickel (First P Mint Mark) | 1942 | Philadelphia (First use of P) | Key Date | 49,789,120 | $3.5 - $3,025 |
| 25 | 1954 Jefferson Nickel | 1954 | P | Key Date | 213,530,493 | $3.5 - $3,025 |
Notable Coins
Background on some of the most sought-after nickels in this list.
#1 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel Overdate
Key DateOne of the rarest and most valuable Buffalo Nickel overdates. A Denver Mint die dated 1918 was punched over an unused 1917 die. The underlying 7 is visible beneath the final 8 in the date, requiring magnification in lower grades.
One of the most popular US error coins. A Denver Mint employee over-polished the reverse die to remove clash marks, inadvertently removing the buffalo's front right leg. The error was not caught before many coins entered circulation.
The 1913 Liberty nickel is one of the most famous and valuable coins in the world. Only 5 specimens are known to exist. Liberty nickels were never officially minted in 1913 - the ones that exist were likely struck illegally by mint employees.
#4 1883 Liberty Nickel (No Cents)
Key DateThe original 1883 Liberty nickels lacked denomination markings. Counterfeiters gold-plated the reverse and tried to pass them off as $5 gold pieces, causing the mint to add CENTS to the design.
A popular repunched mint mark variety. The D mint mark was initially punched into the die sideways (horizontally) and then corrected with a properly oriented punch. The underlying horizontal D is visible under magnification.
First year of the Shield nickel series, which replaced the three-cent piece.
The With Cents variety was introduced late in 1883 to prevent counterfeiting.
1942 marks the first use of the P mint mark (for Philadelphia) on a regular circulation coin. This was done during World War II to identify the additional mining capacity needed for the war effort.
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