1918-D 8 Over 7

The 1918/7-D Buffalo nickel is one of the major key dates of the entire series and one of the most famous twentieth-century overdate varieties in American numismatics. The coin was created when a 1917-dated working die was overpunched with an 8 digit to produce a 1918 die, leaving traces of the underlying 7 visible beneath the final 8 on well-preserved examples. The overdate occurred at the Denver Mint and was discovered by numismatists in the early 1930s, decades after the coin entered circulation.

Identification requires examining the date under magnification. The diagnostic trace of the 7 appears within the final 8, where the crossbar of the 7 is visible inside the upper loop of the 8. The trace is clearest on Mint State examples and becomes progressively more difficult to discern as wear softens the digit detail. On heavily worn coins (Good or About Good), attribution can be ambiguous and requires certification from a major grading service. PCGS and NGC both attribute the 1918/7-D on encapsulated examples, and certified pieces are the standard for serious collectors.

Survival is extremely limited. PCGS estimates perhaps 3,000 to 4,000 examples across all grades, with most in lower circulated condition. Very Fine and Extremely Fine pieces are scarce and command strong four-figure prices. About Uncirculated coins are rare. Mint State examples are genuinely rare: fewer than 200 are known, and MS64 or higher pieces appear at auction only occasionally, bringing five- and six-figure prices when they do. The finest known is a PCGS MS65+ that has changed hands in private transactions valued in the mid-six-figure range.

Counterfeits and altered-date coins are significant concerns at key-date pricing levels. The most common deception is an added D mintmark on a Philadelphia 1918 overdate (which does not exist). Any 1918/7-D at key pricing should carry certification, and specialists cross-check mintmark shape, position, and the overdate diagnostic against known-genuine reference images. The coin is one of the most studied Buffalo nickels in terms of authentication, and genuine examples are well-documented.

The 1918/7-D has been recognized as a major American numismatic rarity since its discovery in the 1930s and has appeared in every significant Buffalo nickel reference published since. Along with the 1937-D 3 Legs and the 1913-S Type 2, it anchors the high-end of Buffalo nickel collecting. Heritage Auctions has sold Gem examples in the $150,000 to $300,000 range over the past decade, with the finest known coins bringing higher prices in the strongest markets. For collectors building comprehensive Buffalo nickel sets, the 1918/7-D is a required purchase and often the single most expensive acquisition in the collection.