The rare 1914/3 Overdate Buffalo Nickel sold for $84,375 at GreatCollections in 2021 — and even a common Philadelphia example in gem condition fetched $30,550 at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in December 2022. Use the free calculator below to find out exactly what your coin is worth.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Trusted by 1,437 collectors — based on PCGS & Heritage auction data
Check My 1914 Nickel Value →
Select your coin's mint mark, condition, and any error varieties to get an instant value estimate based on current auction data.
If you're not sure of your coin's mint mark, condition, or errors yet, there's a 1914 Nickel Coin Value Checker tool that lets you upload photos and get an AI-assisted identification before using this calculator.
Type a description of your 1914 nickel below and get a tailored assessment — useful if the calculator didn't quite fit your situation.
Go back and plug in your mint mark, grade, and errors for an instant dollar estimate of your 1914 Buffalo Nickel.
The 1914/3 Overdate is the single most valuable regular-issue 1914 Buffalo Nickel variety, with top examples crossing $84,000 at auction. Use the checklist below to assess whether your coin might be the overdate.
For a complete step-by-step breakdown of every 1914 Buffalo Nickel variety and how to identify them from your own collection, see this detailed 1914 nickel identification and value walkthrough. The table below summarizes current market values across all four major mint issues and key error varieties.
| Variety | Worn (G–VG) | Circulated (F–XF) | Uncirculated (AU–MS63) | Gem MS (MS64–MS67+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 Philadelphia (No MM) | $15 – $30 | $35 – $110 | $135 – $475 | $275 – $32,500 |
| 1914-D Denver | $47 – $100 | $200 – $570 | $1,000 – $5,000 | $5,000 – $32,775+ |
| 1914-S San Francisco | $15 – $86 | $98 – $400 | $800 – $4,000 | $4,000 – $46,000+ |
| 🏆 1914/3 Overdate FS-101 (P) | $195 – $900 | $1,200 – $4,500 | $6,000 – $15,000 | $15,000 – $84,375+ |
| 🔴 1914 Proof (Philadelphia) | Not applicable (Proof) | $2,000 – $6,000 (PR60–PR64) | $10,000 – $49,450+ (PR65–PR68) | |
🏆 Gold row = Signature Variety (1914/3 Overdate). 🔴 Red row = Rarest issue (1914 Proof). Values reflect current realized auction prices and PCGS Price Guide data; individual coins may vary. Coins with original color, strong strike, and no cleaning command the highest prices within each range.
📱 CoinKnow lets you snap a photo of your 1914 nickel and instantly estimate its value — cross-check the table above with a quick scan — a coin identifier and value app.
Jump directly to any section:
Five major varieties and errors stand out on 1914 Buffalo Nickels. The crown jewel is the 1914/3 Overdate FS-101 — a true Red Book variety listed in every serious numismatic reference. Below each variety card covers what it is, how to find it, and what drives its collector premium.
The 1914/3 Overdate is one of only two Guide Book-listed Buffalo Nickel overdate varieties. Its origin traces to a 1913 working hub that was repurposed for 1914 die production without fully obliterating the previous year's numeral. The variety was discovered in 1996 by collector R.A. Medina and subsequently classified by researchers Wexler, Pope, and Flynn, who identified three or possibly four distinct dies in their 1999 reference Treasure Hunting Buffalo Nickels.
The diagnostic feature shared by all die marriages is the bulbous rounded shape of the top of the underlying "3" protruding through the field underneath the upper portion of the "4." Under a 5× or 10× loupe, a curved arc — the top of the "3" — is unmistakably visible inside the "4." The overdate occurs only on Philadelphia-mint coins (no mint mark).
Collector demand is intense and sustained because this variety appears in every major U.S. coin reference. The auction record stands at $84,375 for a PCGS MS66 CAC example sold at GreatCollections in February 2021. That gem grade is exceedingly rare — only three PCGS MS66 examples were certified as of late 2024. Most auction offerings grade MS64 or below, where prices range from approximately $4,000 to $12,000.
With a mintage of just 3,912,000 — roughly one-fifth of the Philadelphia issue — the 1914-D is a recognized semi-key date in the Buffalo Nickel series. Denver-mint coins from this era were struck with dies under higher stress and often show softness on the bison's horn and shoulder, making sharply struck examples disproportionately scarce at the gem Mint State level.
Identify the 1914-D by the "D" mint mark on the reverse below the denomination FIVE CENTS. Genuine examples should have a sharp date with no signs of alteration — the 1914-D has historically been a target for fraudulent mint mark additions to common Philadelphia coins, so professional authentication is strongly advised for any high-grade specimen.
In circulated grades the 1914-D commands a significant premium over the Philadelphia coin, ranging from roughly $47 in heavily worn Good condition to several hundred dollars at AU. In true Mint State the price accelerates sharply. The auction record stands at approximately $32,775 for a PCGS MS67 example sold at Bowers & Merena in January 2005 — a result that has held for two decades, reflecting how rarely a 1914-D surfaces in true gem grade.
Despite a mintage of 3,470,000 — only slightly fewer than the Denver issue — the 1914-S has become one of the series' stealth rarities at the gem Mint State level. CoinWeek's comprehensive analysis noted that the 1914-S is only slightly scarcer than the 1914 Philadelphia in circulated grades, given population loss over time, but in gem condition it becomes genuinely formidable to find in sharply struck, original-surface state.
The "S" mint mark appears on the reverse below FIVE CENTS. San Francisco-mint Buffalo Nickels of this era vary considerably in strike quality — look for coins where the bison's horn is sharp and the Indian's braid tie shows the incuse depression, as weakly struck examples grade lower than their surface preservation might otherwise suggest.
At the very top of the population, the 1914-S surpasses even the 1914-D in auction performance. The auction record for the 1914-S is $46,000, a PCGS MS67 sold at Heritage Auctions in July 2008. GreatCollections has sold 330 examples over 15 years ranging from $11 to $34,650. Natural toning — ice blue or golden — enhances eye appeal and value significantly on coins in this grade range.
Off-center strikes occur when the planchet is not properly centered under the dies at the moment of striking, leaving a crescent-shaped area of blank, undesigned metal visible along one edge. On Buffalo Nickels, the degree of misalignment directly determines both visual drama and collector value — minor misalignments of 5–10% are relatively common and add only modest premiums.
The key diagnostic threshold is 20% or more off-center with a fully readable date. Because the date on Buffalo Nickels is positioned low on the obverse near the bust truncation, it is among the first design elements to fall outside the strike zone — making a dated, heavily off-center Buffalo Nickel rarer and more desirable than comparably shifted coins of other series. Any off-center example where the date is missing or illegible loses most of its collector premium regardless of shift percentage.
Strong off-center examples with 20–50% misalignment and a bold readable date command premiums ranging from roughly $75 to well over $400 depending on the severity of the shift, the grade of the struck portion, and whether the coin retains original surfaces. The most dramatic examples — 50% or more off-center with date intact — can approach or exceed $500 in circulated grades.
Two manufacturing-related surface errors appear on a subset of 1914 Buffalo Nickels. Die clash errors occur when the obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet between them, transferring a ghost impression of each die's design onto the opposite die. On documented 1914 Philadelphia examples, clash marks manifest as faint incuse lettering — typically fragments of E PLURIBUS UNUM from the reverse — visible in the obverse field near the Indian's portrait under magnification.
Lamination errors are a separate planchet-quality issue. They arise when impurities or gas pockets trapped in the metal during planchet production cause layers of the coin's surface to separate, peel, or flake away after striking. Lamination flaws can appear on either the obverse or reverse and range from hairline cracks barely visible to dramatic peeling sections that expose the coin's interior alloy layers — the most visually striking examples are the ones that command meaningful premiums.
Die clash marks on high-grade 1914 Philadelphia examples add modest premiums where the clash impression is bold and undisturbed by wear. Minor laminations add $10–$30 in circulated grades; dramatic, large-area laminations can reach $50–$150. Die cuds — where a piece of a die actually broke away, leaving a raised blank lump on the coin — represent the most severe die failure and can bring $75–$200 or more depending on size and location on the design.
Run the value calculator to get an instant estimate — select your mint mark, condition, and check the matching error box.
| Mint | Mint Mark | Mintage | Survival Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | None | 20,665,738 | Includes 1914/3 overdate coins and 1,275 Proof specimens. Sharp strikes typical. Well-struck gem examples scarcer than numbers suggest. |
| Denver | D | 3,912,000 | Semi-key date. Frequently seen with soft bison horn from die-quality issues. Mint mark alteration a known hazard — buy certified. |
| San Francisco | S | 3,470,000 | Slightly lower mintage than Denver; strikes vary. Gem-quality examples outperform 1914-D at auction. Only slightly scarcer than Philadelphia in lower circulated grades. |
| Philadelphia (Proof) | None | 1,275 | Mirror-like fields, frosted devices. Extremely rare above PR65. Auction record $49,450 for PR68 (Bowers & Merena, 2005). |
| Total 1914 Issues | 28,047,738 | Combined circulation + proof production across all three mints. | |
Buffalo Nickel grading is notoriously tricky because many coins were weakly struck from new, leaving high points like the bison's horn and shoulder soft even on uncirculated examples. The 1914 Philadelphia issue is known for generally sharp strikes — an advantage over many Denver and San Francisco dates.
Heavy circulation has flattened the bison's horn completely — it merges with the head. The Indian's facial features are visible in outline only. Date, LIBERTY, and FIVE CENTS remain legible. Typical value $15–$100 depending on mint mark.
Moderate to light wear. Fine (F12): major design elements clear but horn is flat. Very Fine (VF): partial horn visible. Extremely Fine (XF): horn shows most of its length with minor tip wear. Strike quality becomes visible at this grade. Values $35–$570 by mint.
About Uncirculated (AU): only the faintest wear on the Indian's cheek and bison's hip flank; at least half of original luster remains. MS63: no wear, luster complete but with noticeable bag marks and contact marks. Values $135–$5,000 by mint.
Luster fully intact and undisturbed. MS64: few marks, above-average eye appeal. MS65 (Gem): sharp strike, satiny luster, minimal marks. MS67+: virtually perfect surfaces, exceptional toning. Only 5 PCGS MS67+ examples known for the Philadelphia date. Values $275–$32,500+ for Philadelphia; higher for Denver and S-mint.
Buffalo Nickels composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel naturally develop golden, apricot, or ice-blue toning over time. Coins with original, even toning — rather than cleaned or artificially toned surfaces — command the strongest market premiums. At MS65+, PCGS and NGC may award a "+" designation for exceptional strike and surface quality. CAC-approved examples with original toning regularly sell 20–50% above standard population coins in the same grade.
🔍 CoinKnow helps you match your coin's surface details against certified graded examples to pinpoint your grade range before visiting a dealer — a coin identifier and value app.
The right venue depends on what you have. A heavily worn circulated Philadelphia example belongs in a different channel than a certified 1914/3 Overdate or a 1914-S in gem Mint State.
Best for: 1914/3 Overdates, 1914 Proof specimens, and any coin in AU or Mint State. Heritage and GreatCollections reach the widest pool of serious Buffalo Nickel specialists. GreatCollections has sold over 330 certified 1914 examples. Expect 15–20% buyer's premium.
Best for: circulated examples in the $20–$300 range. Check recently sold prices for 1914 Buffalo Nickels on completed eBay listings to set a competitive ask. Filter for PCGS or NGC certified coins when buying to avoid alterations, especially on 1914-D examples where mint mark fraud is documented.
Best for: lower-grade circulated coins you want to sell quickly. Dealers typically offer 40–60% of retail for common dates — expect $8–$50 for a worn Philadelphia coin. For semi-key dates like 1914-D, a reputable dealer who specializes in early 20th-century U.S. coins will offer more competitive prices than a general shop.
Best for: mid-range certified examples where you want to avoid auction fees. The Buffalo Nickel collector community is active and engaged. Post clear macro photos of the coin's date, mint mark, and both sides. Include the PCGS or NGC certification number and slab photo for instant credibility and faster sales.
Any 1914 nickel in XF or better condition — and any suspected 1914/3 Overdate — is worth submitting to PCGS or NGC before selling. A certified MS65 1914 Philadelphia coin is worth roughly $475–$900; uncertified, the same coin might sell for $150–$200 in a private sale because buyers can't verify grade or authenticity. For the 1914-D and 1914-S semi-keys, certification also protects against the common problem of altered mint marks. The certification cost pays for itself many times over on mid- and high-grade examples.
The calculator takes under 60 seconds — just pick your mint mark, condition, and any errors.
Check My Coin's Value Now →