1927-S Buffalo Nickel Value: What Is It Worth in 2026?

Mintage: ~3.4 million struck
Estimated value · Source: USACoinBook price guide (updated Feb 2026)
1927 S Buffalo Nickel
Mint: San Francisco (S)
Worth selling

Worth selling individually: list it on eBay or offer it to a local coin dealer. Grading fees would eat the profit, so sell it as-is.

Value by condition

Good (G-4, heavily worn)$2.50
Very Good (VG-8)$3.62
Fine (F-12)$6.25
Very Fine (VF-20)$50
Extremely Fine (XF-40)$123
About Uncirculated (AU-50)$281
Mint State (MS-63, uncirculated)$2,769

A 1927 Buffalo Nickel struck at the San Francisco mint — a 1920s issue; common in worn grades, scarcer with a sharp horn.

See the full page for this coin (mintage, how to identify it, where to sell)

How to confirm it's genuine

  • The mint mark is on the reverse, below FIVE CENTS — a small D or S. No letter means Philadelphia. The date is on the obverse, on the Native American's left shoulder; it wears away first because it sits on the highest point of the design.
  • Never clean the coin: cleaning destroys the original surface and can cut the value in half.
  • For any coin worth more than $200, PCGS/NGC grading fees (~$20–50) are money well spent.

Where to sell this coin

  • eBay works best in the $1.00–$200 range. Take clear photos of both sides in natural light, and put the year, mint mark, and approximate grade in the title.
  • A local coin dealer is the fastest way to cash out, but expect 60–70% of guide prices. Best for selling common dates in bulk — dealers buy worn Buffalo nickels by the roll.
  • Graded high-value coins do best at auction houses like Heritage Auctions or Stack's Bowers, where realized prices are public.

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