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As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Robert L. Rodriguez combines cutting-edge science, numismatic research, and detective work to uncover new evidence about one of the nation's most enigmatic artifacts.
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The 1920-S Buffalo nickel is another scarce San Francisco Mint issue, of similar rarity to other early entries in the series. Fewer than 9.7 million were minted, making this one of the lower-mintage issues in the series. But that alone doesn’t tell the whole tale behind the rarity of this coin. It is a truly difficult coin in uncirculated grade and exceptionally rare in Gem levels, perhaps one of the rarest, if not the rarest in that grade range besides the elusive the 1926-S Buffalo nickel. This fact is borne out in the population stats, with around 50 examples available in MS65 or higher, just one MS66 having been slabbed by NGC.
Obverse Description
James Earle Fraser's famous and simple design depicts a Native American chief with the word LIBERTY from 1-2 o'clock. The date is placed on the lower left of the chieftain's bust.
Reverse Description
A full portrait of the bison, Black Diamond, with the words UNITED STATES oF AMERICA at the top periphery with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM just underneath. The denomination FIVE CENTS is spelled out at the bottom. For the Type 1, the denomination is embossed on a flat surface.
Catalog Information
GSID:
3121
Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Obverse Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Obverse Lettering:
LIBERTY, 1920
Reverse Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Reverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, FIVE CENTS
Weight (gr):
5 gr
Weight (oz):
0.1608 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
21.2
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Plain
Coin Date:
1920-S
Denomination:
5c
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
San Francisco
Mint Mark:
S
Mintage:
9,689,000
Coinage Type:
Buffalo nickel
Coinage Years:
1913-1938
Composition:
75% copper; 25% nickel
PCGS #:
3946
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Subject: I would like to contribute catalog info to CDN for 1920-S 5c MS
Body: Referring page: http://www.greysheet.com/prices/item/1920-s-5c-buffalo-nickel/gsid/3121 GSID: 3121 Title: 1920-S 5c MS
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Coin Value History
1920-S 5c MS
Value By Grade
1920-S 5c MS
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
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Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS66 |
|
$72,000 | $1,234 |
| MS66 | - | $60,000 | $1,234 |
| MS65 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
Buffalo Nickel 5c Type 1 Reverse, 1913 MS [Type]
![Buffalo Nickel 5c Type 1 Reverse, 1913 MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/Ctc/Catalog/20220224/www_davidlawrence_com_product_2199064_-0.20220224083111332.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $7 – $16,000
1913 5c Buffalo, Type 1 MS
Worth: $7 – $16,000
1913-D 5c Buffalo, Type 1 MS
Worth: $13 – $40,200
1913-S 5c Buffalo, Type 1 MS
Worth: $16 – $19,200
Buffalo Nickel 5c Type 2 Reverse, 1913-1938 MS [Type]
![Buffalo Nickel 5c Type 2 Reverse, 1913-1938 MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ctc/catalog/26d-3l-obv.jpeg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $1 – $4,800
1913 5c Buffalo, Type 2 MS
Worth: $7 – $3,600
1913-D 5c Buffalo, Type 2 MS
Worth: $80 – $36,000
1913-S 5c Buffalo, Type 2 MS
Worth: $140 – $30,000
1914 5c MS
Worth: $12 – $4,020
1914/(3) 5c MS
Worth: $150 – $50,000
1914-D 5c MS
Worth: $70 – $21,600
1914-S 5c MS
Worth: $22 – $75,000
1915 5c MS
Worth: $4 – $9,600
1915-D 5c MS
Worth: $13 – $18,000
1915-S 5c MS
Worth: $38 – $50,000
1920-S Buffalo Nickel. AU-50 (PCGS).
$268
1920-S Buffalo Nickel. AU-58 (NGC).
$732
1920-S 5C MS62 PCGS. PCGS Population: 79 in 62, 471 finer (9/26). CDN: $1,050 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS62. Mintage 9,689,...
$1,068
1920-S 5C MS64 PCGS. ...
$6,100
1920-S Buffalo Nickel. Reverse Lamination. AU-55 (NGC).
$342
1920-S Buffalo Nickel. AU Details--Cleaned (NGC).
$129
1920-S 5C VF35 PCGS. PCGS Population: 62 in 35, 1057 finer (4/26). CDN: $100 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF35. Mintage 9,689,0...
$99
1920-S 5C MS63 PCGS. CDN: $1,150 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS63. Mintage 9,689,000. ...
$2,074
1920-S 5C MS65 PCGS. ...
$13,420
1920-S 5C XF45 PCGS. PCGS Population: 78 in 45, 889 finer (2/26). CDN: $165 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF45. Mintage 9,689,00...
$195
1920-S 5C MS61 PCGS. PCGS Population: (5/513). Mintage 9,689,000. ...
$840
1920-S Buffalo Nickel. MS-66 (NGC).
$19,200
1920-S 5C VF25 PCGS. PCGS Population: (47/1116). NGC Census: (35/722). CDN: $70 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF25. Mintage 9,689...
$75
1920-S 5C VF30 NGC. NGC Census: (47/671). PCGS Population: (75/1040). CDN: $85 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF30. Mintage 9,689,...
$77
1920-S Buffalo Nickel. AU Details--Damage (PCGS).
$120
1920-S Buffalo Nickel. EF-40 (PCGS).
$144
1920-S 5C AU53 NGC. NGC Census: (26/519). PCGS Population: (34/738). CDN: $230 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU53. Mintage 9,689,...
$204
1920-S 5c PCGS VG-08
$20
1920-S 5c PCGS F12
$35
1920-S 5C Fine 15 PCGS. PCGS Population (24/963). NGC Census: (14/699). Mintage: 9,689,000. Numismedia Wsl. Price for probl...
$42
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Events
Knoxville Coin and Currency Show - TN
Location: Rothchild Catering & Conference Center
Saturday, August 1, 2026
