1938-D Buffalo Nickel Value: What Is It Worth in 2026?
Mintage: ~7.0 million struck
Estimated value · Source: USACoinBook price guide (updated Feb 2026)
1938 D Buffalo Nickel
Mint: Denver (D)
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) | $4.26 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $4.96 |
| Fine (F-12) | $5.63 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $5.95 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $6.25 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $10 |
| Mint State (MS-63, uncirculated) | $43 |
The final year of the series, struck only in Denver. Saved in huge numbers as people knew the design was ending — common and affordable, a perfect first Buffalo nickel.
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.