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1924-S
| Weight | 5 g |
| Diameter | 21.2 mm |
| Mint | San Francisco |
| Strike | Circulation strike |
| Mintage | 1,437,000 |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | 75% Copper, 25% Nickel |
| Melt value | — |
| Designer | James Earle Fraser |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-1296 |
Collection
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No additional varieties recorded for this strike.
External references
San Francisco's 1924 Buffalo nickel mintage was 1,437,000 coins, one of the lowest in the Buffalo series and establishing the 1924-S as a major semi-key approaching key-date status for some specialists. The combination of low mintage and heavy circulation through the decade makes the 1924-S scarce in all grades and rare in high condition.
Strike characteristics for 1924-S nickels are notoriously weak. Even Mint State examples often show badly soft obverse detail and barely readable bison hair on the reverse. Finding a well-struck 1924-S is genuinely difficult, and specialists consider full-strike examples in MS64 or better to be among the scarcest items in Buffalo nickel high-grade collecting. Typical strike Mint State coins exist but carry asterisks in most serious collections.
The 1924-S is regularly mentioned alongside the 1926-S, 1913-S Type 2, and 1918/7-D in discussions of the toughest Buffalo nickels to find in condition. PCGS survival estimates place the total population at perhaps 35,000 to 50,000 across all grades, with Mint State examples numbering in the low thousands. Heritage Auctions has sold Gem examples in the $10,000 to $40,000 range over the past decade, with premium-quality strikes bringing significantly higher prices when they appear at auction.
Reference data only — not an appraisal.
| Grade | Description | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $19.50 | $23 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $40 | $46 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $86 | $99 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $305 | $350 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $690 | $800 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $1,350 | $1,555 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | $2,230 | $2,570 |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | $4,780 | $5,060 |
How much is a 1924-S Buffalo Nickel worth?
How many 1924-S Buffalo Nickels were minted?
What is a 1924-S Buffalo Nickel made of?
What is the melt value of a 1924-S Buffalo Nickel?
Is the 1924-S Buffalo Nickel a key date?
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