1917-S Buffalo Nickel Value What It’s Worth and Why Collectors Love This Coin
The 1917-S Buffalo Nickel is worth anywhere from $15 in heavily worn condition to well over $2,000 or more in higher mint state grades — making it one of the more valuable Buffalo Nickel issues from the San Francisco Mint that everyday collectors love to track down.
If you stumbled across an old nickel with a buffalo on the back and the date 1917, you might be sitting on something pretty interesting. Before you toss it in a jar or spend it at a garage sale, it’s worth knowing exactly what you have. Using a free coin identifier app is a great first step — you can snap a photo of your coin and get an instant read on its type, mint mark, and rough value right from your phone.
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What Makes the 1917-S Buffalo Nickel Special
The 1917-S Buffalo Nickel was struck at the San Francisco Mint, which is indicated by the small “S” mint mark found on the reverse side of the coin, just below the words “FIVE CENTS.” In 1917, three mints produced Buffalo Nickels: Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S). The San Francisco issue had a mintage of 4,193,000 coins — not the rarest in the series, but low enough that finding a well-preserved example today is genuinely exciting.
The Buffalo Nickel design, created by sculptor James Earle Fraser, features a bold profile of a Native American on the obverse and a powerful American bison on the reverse. It’s considered one of the most artistic coins ever produced by the U.S. Mint. Because these coins circulated heavily in everyday commerce during the early 20th century, most surviving examples show significant wear. Finding one with clear details on the buffalo’s horn and the Native American’s cheekbone is increasingly rare — and valuable.
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1917-S Buffalo Nickel Value by Grade
Coin value is almost entirely driven by condition, or “grade.” Here’s a breakdown of what the 1917-S is worth at different grades:
| Grade | Description | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| Good (G-4) | Heavy wear, date visible | $15 – $20 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | Major details visible | $25 – $35 |
| Fine (F-12) | Moderate wear, horn shows | $40 – $60 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | Light wear on high points | $75 – $120 |
| Extremely Fine (EF-40) | Slight wear, sharp details | $200 – $300 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-55) | Trace wear only | $400 – $600 |
| Mint State (MS-63) | No wear, some contact marks | $1,000 – $1,800 |
| Gem Mint State (MS-65) | Exceptional luster and strike | $2,500+ |
For the most current auction results and detailed 1917-S Buffalo Nickel price data across all mint state grades, checking a dedicated coin price database is always a smart move.
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How to Grade Your 1917-S Buffalo Nickel at Home
Grading coins at home doesn’t require a magnifying glass and a decade of experience — though both help. The key areas to examine on a Buffalo Nickel are the buffalo’s horn (it flattens first with wear), the bison’s front shoulder, and the Native American’s cheekbone and hair braid on the obverse.
If the horn tip is completely flat and blends into the back of the buffalo, you’re likely looking at a Good or Very Good coin. If you can see a clear, rounded horn tip with some detail, you’re in Fine to Very Fine territory. A coin with almost no wear, sharp facial features, and visible luster in protected areas could grade About Uncirculated or even Mint State.
CoinKnow is an excellent tool for this process — just photograph your coin under good lighting, upload it to the app, and it will help identify the grade range and current market value instantly. It’s particularly handy if you’re new to coins and don’t know where to start.
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What Collectors Look For in a 1917-S Nickel
Beyond basic grade, collectors pay close attention to strike quality and eye appeal. San Francisco-struck Buffalo Nickels from this era are sometimes found with soft or mushy strikes — meaning the design details weren’t pressed into the coin as sharply as they should have been. A 1917-S with a bold, crisp strike and original skin (the term collectors use for original surface luster) commands a significant premium over a technically higher-graded but weakly struck example.
Color also matters. A coin that looks cleaned, polished, or artificially brightened loses collector interest fast — and significant value. Original, natural toning in shades of gray or gold is preferred. If your coin has been sitting untouched in an old collection or tobacco tin, that’s actually a good sign.
You can explore a full breakdown of the 1917 Buffalo Nickel’s value across all three mint marks to compare how the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco versions stack up against each other in today’s market. CoinKnow also provides side-by-side comparisons for all three mint marks if you want to evaluate your specific coin against recent sales.
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FAQ
Q: How do I know if my Buffalo Nickel is the 1917-S variety?
A: Look on the reverse of the coin, just below “FIVE CENTS.” If you see a small letter “S,” it was struck at the San Francisco Mint. No letter means Philadelphia; a “D” means Denver.
Q: Is my worn 1917-S Buffalo Nickel worth selling?
A: Even a heavily worn 1917-S is worth $15 to $20 to a coin dealer or on eBay. It’s not a fortune, but it’s definitely worth more than five cents. If you’re unsure, try CoinKnow for a quick valuation before selling.
Q: Should I clean my 1917-S Buffalo Nickel to make it look better?
A: Never clean a coin if you want to preserve its collector value. Cleaning removes the original surface and almost always reduces value significantly. Leave it exactly as you found it.
