Is Treasure Hiding In Your Piggy Bank? The Most Valuable Nickels

We all know money is valuable. It’s what lets us trade our work for the things we need — the food we eat, the house we live in, the life we build. Currency keeps the world running on almost every level.

Yet there are moments when money becomes worth far more than its face value. When five cents is only a fraction of the real-world price. Those are the moments that turn an everyday nickel into one of the world’s most expensive coins, potentially worth millions.

In this guide to rare nickels, we cover the valuable coins that serious collectors chase.

By the end, you’ll be able to hold your own with any numismatist. More to the point, you’ll know exactly what to look for the next time you sort through your change — because a small fortune could be hiding in plain sight.

The 21 most valuable nickels

1885 Liberty Head V Nickel: $4,163

When the Liberty Head nickel first appeared in 1883, the word “cents” was left off the design. The mint quickly corrected the omission so that fraudsters couldn’t gold-plate the coins and pass them off as five-dollar pieces.

Many collectors held onto those early 1883 and 1884 coins expecting them to soar in value. Ironically, it was the later 1885 — neglected at the time — that became the genuine rarity. Today, premium-condition examples are valued at around $4,163.

Country	United States
Year	1885
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$4,163

1936-D Buffalo Nickel Three and a Half Legs: $24,538

Thanks to one over-polished die, the Denver mint released a small run of 1936 Buffalo nickels showing the bison with just three and a half legs. Errors rarely slip out of a place built to make money look perfect, which is exactly why this one became a collector’s prize — and why the 1937 version is even more coveted.

A high-grade uncirculated example is valued at around $24,538, comfortably earning its place on this list.

Country	United States
Year	1936
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$24,538

1943/2-P Jefferson Nickel Overdate: $25,792

Here’s one worth checking your pocket change for. With nickel metal needed for the war effort, the five-cent piece was struck in a 35% silver alloy from 1942 to 1945 and given an oversized mint mark above Monticello. On a small batch of 1943 Philadelphia coins, a reused 1942 die left a faint 2 peeking out from beneath the 3 — the only overdate in the entire Jefferson series.

That distinction, paired with the wartime silver content, turns a simple slip of the die into a genuine prize. A flawless Full Steps example can fetch around $25,792.

Country	United States
Year	1943
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$25,792

1912-S Liberty Head V Nickel: $38,000

The Liberty Head, or “V,” nickel ran from 1883 to 1912, and the series saved its rarest regular issue for last. In that final year, the San Francisco mint struck just 238,000 of them — the only Liberty nickels ever to carry an S mint mark, and by far the lowest mintage of the entire run.

That mix of last-year status and tiny production makes the 1912-S a cornerstone of any serious Liberty nickel collection. Even well-worn examples command real money, and a pristine, high-grade specimen can reach around $38,000.

Country	United States
Year	1912
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$38,000

1964 Jefferson Nickel SMS: $43,379

The special-strike 1964 Jefferson nickels are among the most sought-after coins in the series. While one brockage has reached near-mythical status (more on that below), the standard special strikes change hands for serious sums in their own right.

A premium-condition example can command around $43,379.

Country	United States
Year	1964
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$43,379

1949-D Over S Jefferson Nickel: $46,281

Until 1989, mint workers punched each mint mark into the die by hand, and human error was inevitable. At the Denver mint, one 1949 die had already been stamped with an S for San Francisco before a D was punched over the top. The result is the 1949-D Over S, where the ghost of the original S still peeks out from beneath the D.

That tiny slip of the hand is exactly what collectors chase. The finest known example, graded MS67 with Full Steps, is valued at around $46,281 — making it the most valuable overmintmark in the Jefferson series.

Country	United States
Year	1949
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$46,281

1927-S Buffalo Nickel: $67,423

Buffalo nickels, also known as Indian Head nickels, were minted from 1913 to 1938, which already makes most of them scarce today. The 1927-S took it a step further: the coins suffered from striking issues, and very few survive as exceptional strikes.

Just how much are these rare nickels worth? A top example can command around $67,423.

Country	United States
Year	1927
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$67,423

1937-D Buffalo Nickel Three Legs: $117,759

If you have a soft spot for three-legged animals, this one’s a sight for sore eyes. The reverse die was polished a little too hard, and the iconic buffalo lost a leg in the process.

Watch out for counterfeits — but the real thing is a prize. A prime example of the 1937-D Buffalo Nickel Three Legs can fetch as much as $117,759.

Country	United States
Year	1937
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$117,759

1924-S Buffalo Nickel: $139,558

More than 1.4 million 1924-S Buffalo nickels were struck. So what makes some of them so valuable?

It comes down to condition. Relatively few survive uncirculated, and even fewer in Gem condition. A high-grade example can command around $139,558.

Country	United States
Year	1924
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$139,558

1935 Buffalo Nickel Doubled Die Reverse: $159,824

This nickel wouldn’t win any prizes for drawing within the lines — and that’s precisely what makes it special. The reverse die used for a small set of 1935 Buffalo nickels was slightly misaligned, doubling some of the design.

If the doubling doesn’t make you go cross-eyed, you might want one in your collection. An exceptionally well-preserved example can fetch around $159,824.

Country	United States
Year	1935
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$159,824

1919-S Buffalo Nickel: $171,654

Many of the 1919-S Buffalo nickels that came out of the San Francisco mint were struck poorly, leaving them looking soft and sloppy.

That’s exactly why an exceptionally well-struck survivor is so prized. One with a near-perfect strike can command around $171,654.

Country	United States
Year	1919
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$171,654

1918-S Buffalo Nickel: $184,786

The 1918-S Buffalo nickel was produced in fairly low numbers, but its real scarcity comes from quality — most examples simply aren’t well struck.

Get your hands on a sharp one and you’ll want your wallet ready. A well-struck example can fetch around $184,786.

Country	United States
Year	1918
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$184,786

1917-S Buffalo Nickel: $202,983

Struck in the early stages of World War I, the 1917-S Buffalo nickels yielded very few high-quality examples from the San Francisco mint. Perhaps the dies had eroded and weren’t replaced, or perhaps they were set too far apart.

Either way, a crisp survivor commands top dollar. A high-grade example can reach around $202,983.

Country	United States
Year	1917
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$202,983

1913-D Buffalo Nickel Type 2: $211,418

For nickel collectors, 1913 is a landmark year. Not only did the design switch from the Liberty Head V to the Buffalo, but two different Buffalo designs were used. The first carried “Five Cents” on a raised mound; that detail was later recessed — creating the Type 2 — out of concern it would wear away too quickly.

Very few Type 2 coins survive in top-collector quality. A standout example can fetch around $211,418.

Country	United States
Year	1913
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$211,418

1867 Shield Nickel With Rays: $221,714

Shield nickels were minted from 1866 to 1883, replacing the fractional currency notes that came before. Most years offer plenty of circulated and proof examples — but 1867 is the exception.

This was the year the rays were removed from the reverse design, yet a handful slipped through with the rays intact. Fewer than ten are thought to exist today, and a fine example can command around $221,714.

Country	United States
Year	1867
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$221,714

1880 Shield Nickel: $227,958

Combine 19th-century history with a tiny production run and you get the 1880 Shield nickel, one of the most coveted coins on this list. Only 16,000 were struck for circulation.

One specimen ranks among the most expensive nickels ever sold on eBay at $175,000, and a top auction example can command around $227,958.

Country	United States
Year	1880
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$227,958

1916 Buffalo Nickel Doubled Die Obverse: $472,349

With only around 200 known and fewer than 15 in mint condition, this is a true rarity. Get one in hand and the doubling on the date and the chief’s chin is unmistakable.

A mint-condition example can fetch around $472,349, putting it firmly among the most expensive nickels in existence.

Country	United States
Year	1916
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$472,349

1926-S Buffalo Nickel: $473,663

Once again, collectors have the San Francisco mint to thank. While other mints and other years produced millions, just 970,000 Buffalo nickels left San Francisco in 1926 — and survivors in top condition are rarer still.

A standout 1926-S can command around $473,663.

Country	United States
Year	1926
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$473,663

1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel Doubled Die Obverse: $551,001

Add this one to your watch list. Some Buffalo nickels were first struck with a 1917 die, then struck again with the correct 1918 die — leaving a clearly visible overdate, with the 7 showing beneath the 8.

Prime examples are among the most expensive nickels around. A top specimen can command around $551,001.

Country	United States
Year	1918
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$551,001

1964 Jefferson Nickel Mirror Brockage: $1,260,114

While plenty of 1964 Jefferson nickels are within reach for everyday collectors, one stands apart as one of the most expensive nickels ever sold on eBay. This coin was struck with a mirror brockage, leaving a portrait on both sides — one of them reversed.

A mint mistake of this caliber has become one of the most sought-after coins in existence. It reportedly sold for $1,150,000 on eBay, and a one-of-a-kind error like this would command around $1,260,114 today.

Country	United States
Year	1964
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$1,260,114

1913 Liberty Head V Nickel: $5,750,840

1913 was the year the design changed to the Buffalo nickel — but there’s more to the story. Somehow, five examples of a 1913 nickel bearing the old Liberty Head V design were struck. The rest is collecting history, a saga that rivals the world’s most valuable paintings and the most valuable stamps.

Of the five, only three are privately owned. The last to cross the auction block realized $4,560,000, and collectors now value each survivor at around $5,750,840. It’s a rare day when a coin like this comes up for sale — but you can be certain that when it does, a fortune changes hands for something that was once worth just five cents.

Country	United States
Year	1913
Original Price	$0.05
Current Price	$5,750,840

Buyer’s guide for the most expensive nickels

Countless nickels have been minted across the history of the United States. Sifting through them all is impossible — but finding a valuable one isn’t as hard as you might think.

A few key elements point the way to the rare nickels collectors want. Start with scarcity: the fewer that exist, the more a coin is worth. History matters too, which is why war-period nickels tend to carry a premium.

But the single most important factor in the world of valuable coins is condition. Learn to read the rarity, the history, and the condition of a nickel, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering the hobby.

To train your eye, study the list above. Patterns emerge in the years that hold value and the mints they came from. Commit a few of those dates and mint marks to memory and you’ll start spotting candidates with ease.

Errors are another reliable route to rarity. The 1936 and 1937 three-leg nickels show how a small mint mistake can turn into serious money. Just remember that wear and erosion can mimic these flaws, so you’ll need to tell an original from an imposter.

History is harder to chase, and it’s only one piece of the puzzle. But when a coin comes from a notable era — one of the world wars, say, or a year the design changed, like 1913 — you may well be onto something.

Finally, get comfortable with coin grading. Most valuable coins fall into three categories: circulated, uncirculated, and proof.

Circulated coins have passed through everyday transactions and are worth the least. Uncirculated coins went straight to collectors and are more likely to be pristine. Proofs are struck to an exceptional standard, often twice by the die for maximum clarity — and these tend to be the most valuable nickels you’ll find.

A grading scale of 1 to 70 is also used to value coins, with 1 the lowest and 70 the highest. Dr. William Herbert Sheldon devised it in 1948 on the principle that a coin rated 70 is worth 70 times a coin rated 1. That scale lives on today in the systems used by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC).

Rare valuable nickels: conclusion

If we had a time machine, we might travel back to 1913, track down whoever struck those Liberty Head V nickels, and politely ask for a few more. Or perhaps we’d settle for the 1918 and 1919 nickels, which are merely rare rather than nearly mythical.

We’ve seen nickels worth millions, the most expensive nickels ever sold on eBay, and the rare coins collectors prize most. For all their differences, they share one lesson: face value doesn’t always tell the truth.

The next time you get change after buying a coffee, take a second look. You might stumble onto something special — though you’ll likely have better luck treating the auction sites as your hunting ground.

Either way, you now know the most valuable nickels to watch for, and you’re ready to start a collection of your own.

The most valuable nickels are:

For more treasure hunts, see our guides to the most expensive Bearbricks, the most valuable Beanie Babies, and the most expensive cars.

1. 1913 Liberty Head V Nickel: $5,750,840
2. 1964 Jefferson Nickel Mirror Brockage: $1,260,114
3. 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel Doubled Die Obverse: $551,001
4. 1926-S Buffalo Nickel: $473,663
5. 1916 Buffalo Nickel Doubled Die Obverse: $472,349
6. 1880 Shield Nickel: $227,958
7. 1867 Shield Nickel With Rays: $221,714
8. 1913-D Buffalo Nickel Type 2: $211,418
9. 1917-S Buffalo Nickel: $202,983
10. 1918-S Buffalo Nickel: $184,786
11. 1919-S Buffalo Nickel: $171,654
12. 1935 Buffalo Nickel Doubled Die Reverse: $159,824
13. 1924-S Buffalo Nickel: $139,558
14. 1937-D Buffalo Nickel Three Legs: $117,759
15. 1927-S Buffalo Nickel: $67,423
16. 1949-D Over S Jefferson Nickel: $46,281
17. 1964 Jefferson Nickel SMS: $43,379
18. 1912-S Liberty Head V Nickel: $38,000
19. 1943/2-P Jefferson Nickel Overdate: $25,792
20. 1936-D Buffalo Nickel Three and a Half Legs: $24,538
21. 1885 Liberty Head V Nickel: $4,163

Frequently asked questions about the most expensive nickels