On some 1918-D Buffalo nickels, there is an obvious and easily detectable over date error. It is even noticeable on a heavily worn coin, and many consider this a necessary addition to any serious Buffalo nickel collection. When viewed side by side the over date is clear. There is a "squaring" of the 8, caused by the sharp upper corner of the 7. With the aid of a magnifying glass, locating the D mintmark, judging condition and always the possibility of identifying additional rarity combines to make any 1918 Buffalo nickel an exciting coin to evaluate.
History of the Denver Mint
The Denver Mint began in 1863 as the local assay office, just five years after gold was discovered in the area. An assay office tests the purity of a variety of precious metals, and was crucial to the area’s development. Minting did not begin at the Denver Mint until 1906, when the Treasury Department determined that the demand for coins was too large to ignore the facility. As one of the earliest coins minted at the Denver location, the 1918-D Buffalo nickel is an interesting piece of minting history.
1918-D Buffalo Nickel Values
An average 1918-D Buffalo nickel is valued at around twenty dollars. Like many older coins, the value is tied to the condition of the coin. Collectors should look for clear edges on the design, and a clear engraving of the date, mint mark, and cent-value. 1918-D Buffalo nickels can sometimes feature a distinct over-date, where the 1918 was printed over a 1917 date. These coins are highly sought after, and rare - a mint condition 1918-D Buffalo nickel is worth over five-hundred dollars, with an over date coin fetching nearly two-thousand dollars.
Type of coin: Nickel
Year: 1918
Mint Mark: Denver
Total mintage: 8,362,000
Metal content: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Face value: Five Cents
Weight: 5 grams
Edge: Plain
Designer: James Earle Fraser
Diameter: 21.2 millimeters