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1916-S
| Weight | 5 g |
| Diameter | 21.2 mm |
| Mint | San Francisco |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 11,860,000 |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 75% Copper, 25% Nickel |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | James Earle Fraser |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-1276 |
Collection
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No additional varieties recorded for this strike.
External references
San Francisco's 1916 Buffalo nickel mintage was 11,860,000 coins, a solid production year that places the 1916-S in the common-date category. The coin is available in circulated grades and accessible in Mint State through major dealer inventories at modest premiums. Strike characteristics continue the pattern of variable quality at San Francisco, with some dies producing sharper detail than others.
Collectors building complete Buffalo nickel sets acquire the 1916-S without extraordinary difficulty. The coin is typical of mid-series San Francisco Buffalo production and is a straightforward acquisition. Well-struck Gem examples command modest premiums but are available through specialist channels at reasonable prices.
The 1916-S represents an improvement over earlier San Francisco Buffalo mintages (1913-1915) in terms of overall availability in high grades. Specialists building comprehensive sets often find the 1916-S one of the easier San Francisco Buffalo nickels to acquire in satisfactory condition before tackling the harder semi-keys and key dates.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $10.50 | $12 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $14.50 | $16.50 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $25 | $29 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $40 | $46 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $73 | $84 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $116 | $134 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $183 | $210 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | $320 | $340 |
How much is a 1916-S Buffalo Nickel worth?
How many 1916-S Buffalo Nickels were minted?
What is a 1916-S Buffalo Nickel made of?
What is the melt value of a 1916-S Buffalo Nickel?
Is the 1916-S Buffalo Nickel a key date?
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