6-8'Ed. note: This article is periodically updated to reflect the current price of most valuable coins.
1937 Buffalo Nickel Value Chart
Coleccionistasdemonedas.com Estimated Value of 1937 Buffalo nickel is:
| Mint | MS60 | MS61 | MS62 | MS63 | MS64 | MS65 | MS66 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Nickel 1937 Philadelfia | $18 | $20 | $22-25 | $30-32 | $35-40 | $50-55 | $70-120 | $275-875 |
| Buffalo Nickel 1937 Denver (D) | $19 | $21 | $23-30 | $34-41 | $45-50 | $60-65 | $90-160 | $600-3000 |
| Buffalo Nickel 1937 San Francisco (S) | $18 | $20 | $22-25 | $42-50 | $42-50 | $65-75 | $100-125 | $800-8500 |
1937 nickels may have great differences in value attending to the mints and, most of all, to their grade.
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Do you have a 1937 five-cent coin? Want to know how much it might be worth?
Just keep reading…
How to know the value of 1937 Buffalo nickels?
Depending on certain factors, this coins have greater or lesser value, since in general they do not usually have high prices for such common coins.
Conservation, a key factor
The first factor regarding 1937 buffalo nickel value is to know the state of conservation of the coin, that is to say, the grade that is attributed to it according to its conservation over time. The higher the grade, the higher the price increases, exponentially. In a poor condition it can be worth less than a dollar, however, in the highest grades it can exceed thousands of dollars.
To know the state of conservation of the coin we own or want to buy, we need to have an expert eye that is acquired with time and experience. That is why it is not a bad idea to resort to TPG (Third Party Grading Service). These are companies dedicated to evaluation and give a score to our coins according to their condition. In addition, they certify the authenticity and encapsulate the coin for security purposes, both for its preservation and to facilitate its sale.
Knowing the mint that minted the coin
The second factor would be where the nickel was minted, that is, where it was manufactured. On the 1937 five-cent coins there are three possible mints (factories):
- Philadelphia: No mint mark, with a mintage of 119,001,420 coins.
- Denver: With mintmark D, with a mintage of 24,814,000 coins.
- San Francisco: With mintmark S, with a mintage of 14,930,000 coins.
Where can we find the mintmark?
Quite easy: on the reverse of the coin, under the buffalo, we find the word “FIVE CENTS“; below, there may or may not be a letter indicating the mint. If there is no letter, this is Philadelphia, otherwise, it may be a D or an S as we have seen previously.
What makes the 1937 buffalo nickel rare?
We could consider rarity as the third factor. That is, that they contain some error or variant that, together with the quality, increases the price due to their scarcity.
This year’s most quoted 1937 Buffalo nickel errors are:
1937 D Buffalo Nickel 3 Legs
This error occurs only in the Denver mint (D) coins, and can be seen on the reverse, specifically on the front legs of the Buffalo. Due to a minting error the right leg is hardly visible. This is why the error is called 3 legs.
If you are owner of a Buffalo nickel 1937 D, you are a lucky!
1937 Buffalo proof
Although it is not a mistake, 1937 is the last year to have these special mintages, as in 1938 the minting of new designs began. They are quite abundant, but they are also in great demand, hence their high value.
The PROOF coins have a special contrast that differentiates them from the normal uncirculated coins as can be seen in the photo.
These errors, despite seeming unremarkable, cause a furor among collectors due to their scarcity, and it is for this reason that thousands of dollars are paid depending also on their conservation factor. In the following table we can see how muchthese two cases are worth.
| 1937 Buffalo Nickel Errors | MS60 | MS61 | MS62 | MS63 | MS64 | MS65 |
| 1937-D 3 Legs | $2,100 | $2,250 | $2,750-$3,250 | $5,000-5,400 | $6,250-8,000 | $24,000-35,000 |
| 1937 Proof | $725 | $800 | $925 | $1,100 | $1,230 | $1,300 |
How do you know if a 1937 Buffalo nickel is valuable?
We can assess whether our currency will have a high price by looking at the above factors:
- Reverse: This is where you will see the mint mark and if it has any of the previously mentioned errors. Specifically on the exergue of the coin, at the bottom.
- General quality: In this case it is more difficult, we can see if it is to a greater or lesser extent worn, but to be sure only an expert or TPG will remove any doubt.
References and sources
- Heritage Auctions
- NGC
- The Official Red book 2023: A Guide Book of United States Coins.
Numismatic collector with special interest in the history of Spain.
Graduated in Labor Relations and Human Resources. I have been trained in numismatics by the University of Murcia. I am a specialist in Spanish currency (from the Catholic Kings to today), euros and large silver modules.