1916 Buffalo Nickel Errors, Varieties and Value

The 1916 Buffalo nickel is home to one of the series’ most dramatic and widely recognized die varieties — a doubled-die obverse strong enough to see with the naked eye on a well-preserved example. GetCoinHunt helps you search inventory from multiple coin dealers in one place, compare available examples, and create a wishlist alert when the right coin is not currently listed.

Design and history

James Earle Fraser’s Type 2 reverse, in use since partway through 1913, continued unchanged on 1916 coins: a bison on a flatter, recessed ground with FIVE CENTS set into a shallow channel. Specifications hold steady across the series — 75% copper, 25% nickel, 5.00 grams, 21.21mm diameter, plain edge. Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco all issued normal nickels this year, with D and S mintmarks appearing beneath FIVE CENTS where applicable.

Errors and varieties to know

The 1916 doubled-die obverse is one of the great varieties of the series. PCGS describes dramatic southeast-facing doubling concentrated on the date, with additional duplication visible on Fraser’s lips, chin, throat, and the portrait’s feathers. The separation between the primary and secondary design elements is raised and rounded, not the flat, shelf-like displacement seen on ordinary machine doubling — and it repeats in the same position on every genuine example from that die.

Because so many ordinary 1916 nickels show minor machine doubling or a softly struck, slightly distorted date, the date alone is never enough to claim the variety. A genuine 1916 DDO must match the full documented obverse die, including the doubling on the portrait itself, not just the numerals.

Two Feathers dies are recognized for Philadelphia in 1916, created when over-polishing removed the small innermost feather between the portrait and the long feather behind it. As always, attribution depends on the documented die characteristics rather than a feather that’s simply hard to see.

How to examine a 1916 Buffalo nickel

• Examine the date and the portrait’s lips, chin, throat, and feathers together under magnification and raking light — a genuine 1916 DDO shows raised, rounded doubling across all of these areas, not just the date.
• Rule out mechanical doubling: flat, shelf-like secondary lines that appear pushed to one side are common on this date and are not the collectible variety.
• For a claimed Two Feathers coin, compare against certified reference photos of the specific documented die rather than judging by eye alone.
• Weigh a candidate coin and confirm it falls at approximately 5.00 grams; a coin significantly off that mark warrants further testing.

A worn or damaged date is sometimes chemically “restored” or re-engraved on Buffalo nickels of this era, a practice covered in our guide to documented counterfeit U.S. coins. Do not clean a candidate coin before seeking authentication.

Buying considerations

Certified versus raw coins

Given how often ordinary machine doubling is mistaken for the genuine 1916 DDO, buying a certified example from PCGS or NGC is strongly recommended for this variety. Confirm the certification number on the grading service’s website and compare the coin against the holder’s photographs where available.

Understanding grades and condition

Wear first appears on Fraser’s cheekbone and the braid of hair on the obverse, and on the bison’s shoulder and horn on the reverse. For the doubled-die obverse specifically, the doubling should remain visible even on moderately circulated examples, since it’s part of the design’s relief rather than a surface-level effect.

Problem coins

Cleaned, corroded, or environmentally damaged 1916 nickels are common given the coin’s age. A details-graded example, including a details-graded DDO, can be a lower-cost way to own the date, provided the stated problem is priced accordingly.

Suggested search terms and filters

Start broad: “1916 Buffalo nickel,” “1916 doubled die obverse,” “1916 DDO nickel,” or “1916-D Buffalo nickel.”

Then narrow by:

• Variety: regular strike, doubled-die obverse, or Two Feathers (Philadelphia)
• Mint: no mark (Philadelphia), D (Denver), or S (San Francisco)
• Certification: PCGS, NGC, or raw

Availability and pricing notes

Ordinary 1916 nickels from all three mints are common and affordably priced. A certified doubled-die obverse commands a substantial premium that rises sharply with grade, and pricing should be checked against recent completed sales from a source such as Heritage Auctions or Stack’s Bowers rather than assumed from a listing price alone.

GetCoinHunt does not guarantee that every listing is authentic, accurately graded, or fairly priced. Authentication, grading, pricing, return policies, and fulfillment remain the responsibility of the dealer or marketplace offering the coin.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

1. Search for the coin. Enter “1916 Buffalo Nickel” to search participating dealer inventory.
2. Review the available matches. Compare listings by variety attribution, mint, grade, and certification.
3. Add the search to your wishlist. If the right example isn’t available, save “1916 Buffalo Nickel” as a wishlist item with variety or grade preferences where available.
4. Get notified about new matches. GetCoinHunt sends an alert when new dealer inventory matches your wishlist.
5. Evaluate the coin before buying. Verify certification and photographs, read the full listing, and review the seller’s terms.

Frequently asked questions

What makes the 1916 doubled-die obverse special?

The doubling is unusually strong and visible across multiple design elements — the date, lips, chin, throat, and feathers — rather than being confined to a single small area, which makes it one of the more dramatic doubled dies in the entire series.

How do I avoid mistaking machine doubling for the genuine DDO?

Look for raised, rounded doubling that matches the documented die across all the affected areas. Flat, shelf-like doubling confined to just the date is almost always mechanical, not the genuine variety.

Is every 1916 nickel with a “fat” date the DDO?

No. Date distortion from a worn or clashed die is common on this date and is not the same as the documented doubled-die obverse.

Are 1916-D and 1916-S nickels scarce?

They’re less common than the Philadelphia issue but are regular branch-mint coins rather than errors or varieties in their own right.

What if no suitable coin is currently available?

Add “1916 Buffalo Nickel” to your wishlist below. You’ll be notified when newly detected dealer inventory matches your search.

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