1928 Buffalo Nickel Value, Mint Types, Errors

SHOP THE 1928 BUFFALO NICKEL ON EBAY

The 1928 Buffalo Nickel is a stunning coin with many versions to look out for. It’s not prohibitively expensive, but the best versions are worth a decent amount as the coin heads toward its centenary year.

1928 Buffalo Nickel vs. 1929 Buffalo Nickel: In terms of value, both 1928 and 1929 are about equal in Mint Condition.

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Here’s everything you need to know about the 1928 Buffalo Nickel, from identifying the different types to specific values and a buyer’s guide. 

Quick 1928 Buffalo Nickel Investment Summary

• Investment Rating: A+ Strong Buy (5 out of 5)
• Ownership Disclosure: None
• Best 1928 Buffalo Nickel: 1928 S Buffalo Nickel (SHOP EBAY)

The three different versions are due to the locations where the coins were minted back in 1928. Three cities were tasked with production, so we’ll discuss each in detail below.

1928 Buffalo Nickel

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As with many US coins, the majority were produced in Philadelphia. 23,411,000 were made in total in 1928, so this unminted coin is by far the most plentiful.

The two mints below placed their mintmark on the reverse below the buffalo. This means that you’ll be able to tell the difference by looking out for lack of a mintmark. Over 23m is a large amount, and that has led to an abundance of 1928 Buffalo nickels in the present day.

1928 D Buffalo Nickel

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With 6,436,000 in total, the 1928 D tally makes up just over 25% of the coins produced in Philadelphia. These were made in Denver, which is how they came to have the D designation. 

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You’ll find a small D mintmark inscribed on the reverse below the buffalo. Given the smaller numbers produced, they’re considerably rarer than the unminted coin found above.

1928 S Buffalo Nickel

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Last but by no means least, there’s the 1928 S Buffalo Nickel. Six million nine hundred thirty-six thousand were produced in San Francisco, a similar amount to Denver.

In a running theme, you’ll see a small S mintmark inscribed on the reverse below the image of a buffalo. Over 500,000 more coins were made compared to Denver, but that hasn’t significantly impacted the overall values. In fact, the S is worth up to four times as much, making it the most expensive of the trio.

1928 Buffalo Nickel Error

Although not many, you will find some 1928 Buffalo Nickel Error’s for sale on eBay at any given time (at the time of writing this update, we found 12 for sale).

If you have a 1928 Buffalo Nickel Error and want an estimated value, please email us at value@coinvalueinvestor.com.

What is the 1928 Buffalo Nickel Value?

On the whole, 1936 Buffalo nickels aren’t worth much unless you’re looking at uncirculated copies.

For example, the D nickel is worth roughly $100 if it’s still as shiny as the day it was produced, while the San Fran version has a selling price of $370.

The radiating silver-white luster is easy to identify.

Despite being produced in high numbers, the majority have been lost or destroyed over time.

As a soft metal coin, they weren’t the most durable, to begin with, so it’ll be slightly more valuable if it still has a legible mint mark.

More valuable versions of the Buffalo nickel include;

1913-S Type 2 

1916/16 (doubled die variety) 

1918-D 8 over 7 (doubled die variety) 

1921-S 

1924-S 

1926-S 

1937-D Three-legged Buffalo

As you can see, there are more popular options from the 1920s, and most come from San Francisco.

Given the values, there are many counterfeits on the market at any given time, so we’d advise sticking with graded versions whenever possible.

1928 Buffalo Nickel Mint Mark Location Summary

Only three mints produced the 1928 Buffalo Nickel; Denver, San Fransico, and Denver. More about the locations are listed below.

• Denver 1928 Buffalo Nickel Mint Location: placed their mintmark “D” on the reverse below the buffalo
• San Fransico 1928 Buffalo Nickel Mint Location: placed their mintmark “S” on the reverse below the buffalo
• Philadelphia 1928 Buffalo Nickel Mint Location: did not place a mintmark

If you purchase a 1928 Buffalo Nickel and it fails to display a Mintmark, it is from Philadelphia.

1928 Buffalo Nickel Markings Photo (below)

Critical Information 

The 1928 Buffalo nickel is also known as the ‘Indian Head Nickel’, for obvious reasons. It shows a Native American on the front of the coin, next to a small inscription of the word ‘liberty. It was designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser, with a mix of 75% copper and 25% nickel.

You can tell he knew what he was doing, creating a timeless coin seen as an iconic piece of American history. Indian Head or Buffalo Nickels were produced between 1913-1938, so this is a great release midway through the run.

How much is the 1928 Buffalo Nickel in Poor Condition Worth? Between $4 to $8

There are no known common errors for the 1928 Buffalo nickel, so if a coin looks strange, it’s probably been worn away or wasn’t appropriately minted in the first place.

Investment Outlook

The 1928 Buffalo nickel is a great entry-level piece with three coins that are an excellent Kickstarter for any collection.

• Investment Rating: A+ Strong Buy (5 out of 5) ]
• Ownership Disclosure: None
• Best 1928 Buffalo Nickel: 1928 S Buffalo Nickel (SHOP EBAY)

The best versions must be seen to be believed and look like they could have been minted yesterday.  Given the age, it’s clear that this coin is hard to find in excellent condition, and the S version rules the roost.

We’d advise you to pick up the best versions possible if you’re buying the coins purely for investment purposes. The S is already beginning to pull away from the Denver coin regarding overall values, as it’s undoubtedly the pick of the bunch.

Overall, the ‘28 Buffalo nickel has a robust design and is one of the more popular sets for coin collectors and hobbyists. It’s hard to find many flaws besides production numbers being slightly higher than others from the decade.