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COIN VALUE GUIDES

Nickel Errors by Year: Pictures, Identification and Values

Find U.S. nickel errors and die varieties by year. Compare real Buffalo and Jefferson specimens, normal features, damage checks and dated auction evidence.

Published
1967 Jefferson nickel struck on a clad dime planchet
In this article

Which nickel errors are worth checking?

Nickel errors are manufacturing faults such as wrong-planchet or off-center strikes; doubled dies and the 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo are die varieties. Most unusual-looking nickels need comparison with normal coins first. Identify the exact year, feature and condition before pricing: the historical sales below range from $305.50 to $281,750 for different certified specimens.

Value evidence reviewed November 12, 2026. Historical sales retain their original dates and are not current offers.

Which real coin details should I compare?

Jefferson nickel attributed to 1967, struck on a dime planchet: the smaller blank cuts off the design.
Jefferson nickel attributed to 1967, struck on a dime planchet: the smaller blank cuts off the design.
Same wrong-planchet nickel, reverse: Monticello and FIVE CENTS extend beyond the blank.
Same wrong-planchet nickel, reverse: Monticello and FIVE CENTS extend beyond the blank.

How do the normal features, errors and values differ?

Why separate Buffalo, Jefferson and collector issues?

A nickel guide must first establish which design belongs on the coin. The Buffalo series and the Jefferson series have different portraits, reverse details and diagnostic locations. Jefferson’s Monticello reverse dates to the 1938 introduction of Felix Schlag’s design, while later commemorative designs introduce other comparisons. A 2005 bison nickel is not a 1913–1938 Buffalo nickel.

Composition and manufacturing category matter too. Wartime silver-alloy nickels belong to a distinct normal issue, while Special Mint Set (SMS) coins are collector strikes. Neither category is automatically an error. Use the Buffalo nickel value guide and wartime nickel guide for their normal issue context; this page focuses on diagnosing errors and varieties.

Selected nickel errors and varieties by year
Year / issueCategoryFeature to examineNormal comparisonNext step
1916 BuffaloDoubled-die obverse varietyDoubled date contoursNormal single dateMatch the attributed die
1937-D BuffaloThree-Legged die varietyMissing foreleg and associated reverse diagnosticsNormal four-legged bisonReject a leg simply ground away
1939 JeffersonDoubled Monticello reverse varietyReverse lettering and building detailNormal reverse letteringMatch the recognized doubled reverse
1967 JeffersonWrong-planchet error exampleNickel design on smaller clad dime blank5.00 g, 21.20 mm normal nickel1967 nickel error checks
1965–1967 nickelsNormal mint-mark omissionNo mint markExpected for the periodNo missing-mark premium from absence alone
2005-D bison reverseSpeared Bison die-gouge varietyRaised diagonal feature through the bisonNormal bison without the gougeMatch the specific raised die feature

How do the 1916 doubled die and 1937-D Three-Legged nickel differ?

The 1916 variety concerns the portrait-side date. A doubled die produces repeatable design details from a particular die; it is not the same as a coin being struck twice. Flat shelf-like edges or a blurred date do not authenticate the valuable variety. Compare the complete digit shapes under magnification, using a properly attributed reference.

Where should I inspect a 1916 Buffalo nickel?

Attributed 1916 Doubled Die Obverse Buffalo nickel: arrow identifies the date area for closer inspection.
Attributed 1916 Doubled Die Obverse Buffalo nickel: arrow identifies the date area for closer inspection.

Look at the date beneath the portrait. Wear often makes Buffalo nickel dates difficult to read, so a general resemblance at normal viewing size is weak evidence. A strong candidate needs close photographs and a match to the recognized doubled-date diagnostics.

The selected MS64 historical sale below demonstrates a high-grade attributed example. It does not price a worn, dateless or unverified nickel.

How can I check a claimed 1937-D Three-Legged nickel?

Attributed 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo reverse: inspect the foreleg area below the bison.
Attributed 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo reverse: inspect the foreleg area below the bison.

Check the reverse and confirm the Denver mint mark as well as the absent foreleg and the surrounding die diagnostics. Simply removing a leg from a normal coin does not reproduce the genuine die variety. Scraping, unnatural surfaces or a damaged field require examination.

The missing-leg appearance is associated with the die, not a random planchet flaw. Keep this separate from clips, off-center strikes and damage. The Top 10 U.S. errors and varieties includes this variety alongside its dated sale context.

What separates a normal nickel from an error or damage?

Nickel screening comparisons
ObservationNormal / benign explanationError possibilityUseful evidenceAvoid this mistake
Missing mint markNormal on many issues, including 1965–1967Only meaningful if mark was requiredExact year, issue and mint-mark positionTreating all unmarked nickels as rare
Weak Monticello stepsWear, weak strike or die conditionNot an error by itselfSurface preservation and strikeCalling every weak detail a mint error
Extra design edgeMachine doubling or damageRecognized doubled die if diagnostics matchSharp close-ups of the complete featurePricing from a blurred image
Small or odd-shaped coinFiled, cut or otherwise damagedWrong blank, clip or striking errorEdge, weight, diameter and both facesIdentifying from silhouette alone
Raised line on 2005-D bisonMatch the correct reverse design firstSpeared Bison if gouge diagnostics matchRelief and precise positionConfusing a scratch with a raised die feature

What are useful nickel error price comparisons?

The following selected sales were reviewed on November 12, 2026. They are historical auction results for particular certified specimens, not a complete market range or a ranking of all nickel errors. Grade, original surfaces and attribution create large differences. Compare recent sales of the same type and grade before interpreting a headline number.

Selected historical nickel sales — USD
Coin / errorConditionRealized priceSale date / auctionComparison limit
1916 Buffalo Doubled Die ObversePCGS MS64$281,750Aug. 14, 2004; Bowers and MerenaAttributed high-grade variety
1937-D Three-Legged BuffaloPCGS MS66+$99,875Oct. 28, 2021; LegendExceptional preservation
1967 nickel on clad dime planchetPCGS MS61$305.50Jan. 11, 2016; Heritage lot 9631Different manufacturing error
Ordinary worn modern Jefferson nickelNo attributed error$0.05 face valueDenomination baselineOther dates, metals and grades need separate checks

Do not multiply a record sale by how unusual your coin looks. A damaged coin can be more visually dramatic than a genuine minor error. For preservation terminology use the coin grading scale; for the evidence to collect before valuation use the coin appraisal guide.

How can I check my coin in three steps?

  1. 01Read the date, identify the design and locate any expected mint mark. Establish the normal issue, alloy and production category first; use the 1967 guide for the mint-mark suspension and SMS distinction.
  2. 02Photograph both faces, the rim and the suspected diagnostic under diffuse light. For a physical planchet concern, record weight and diameter. Compare with a reference of the same year and error category, not just another unusual nickel.
  3. 03Look for altered dates, removed metal, tool marks, polishing and displaced surfaces. Preserve plausible candidates and seek attribution when photographs cannot establish the manufacturing explanation. Price only after the type and condition are supported.

What should I remember before pricing?

Start with the year and normal design, then decide whether the feature belongs to a die variety, a striking or planchet error, or post-mint damage. No mint mark, weak detail and brightness do not establish an error on their own.

For a detailed worked comparison use 1967 nickel errors. To screen another denomination under the same principles, see dime errors by year and 1966 dime identification.

What else do collectors ask?

Are nickel errors and nickel varieties the same?

No. A mint error is a manufacturing fault affecting a coin or strike, while a die variety is a repeatable feature associated with a die. Both can be collectible, but their diagnostics and price comparisons differ.

Which nickel years should I check for varieties?

Useful starting points include the 1916 Buffalo doubled die, 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo, 1939 Doubled Monticello and 2005-D Speared Bison. The year alone is insufficient; each needs its specific diagnostics.

Is a nickel with no mint mark valuable?

Not from the missing mark alone. Many normal issues have no mint mark, including 1965–1967 nickels. Establish the exact issue before treating an absent letter as an error.

Is a 2005 bison nickel a Buffalo nickel?

The 2005 bison reverse belongs to the Jefferson nickel series and is distinct from the 1913–1938 Buffalo nickel series. Compare Speared Bison candidates with the correct 2005-D variety.

Does a doubled date mean my nickel was struck twice?

No. A doubled die originates in the die and repeats on coins struck from it. A double strike is a different production fault; machine doubling and damage can also imitate extra edges.

Can I value a suspected error from an auction record?

Only as a comparison after matching the exact attribution, grade, surfaces and sale terms. A high-grade historical sale is not a current offer for an ungraded or damaged coin.

Which references support these checks?

References and further readingExpand