1922 Buffalo Nickel: Why This Date Doesn't Exist

If you’re holding a nickel that looks like it might read “1922” on a worn Buffalo design, it’s worth knowing upfront: no Buffalo nickels were struck bearing that date. GetCoinHunt helps you search inventory from multiple coin dealers in one place, compare available examples of genuine Buffalo nickel dates, and create a wishlist alert for the coin you’re actually after.

Design and history

The Buffalo nickel ran continuously from 1913 through 1938, with James Earle Fraser’s composite Native American portrait on the obverse and an American bison on the reverse. Every genuine example is struck in 75% copper and 25% nickel, weighs 5.00 grams, measures 21.21mm, and has a plain edge. Production ran at Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco in most years — but not every mint struck the coin every year, and 1922 is the clearest example of a full gap in the series.

Errors and varieties to know

No Buffalo nickels were struck bearing the date 1922 at any mint. If you’ve encountered a coin described as a “1922 Buffalo nickel,” it falls into one of a few categories: a genuine 1912 or other nearby date that’s been misread due to wear, a coin with a chemically “restored” or re-engraved date meant to resemble 1922, or an outright fantasy piece or counterfeit. None of these is a legitimate 1922 issue, because the date simply wasn’t struck.

Acid products and similar treatments can etch a worn, nearly dateless nickel in ways that produce misleading numeral shapes, sometimes creating something that reads like a plausible but nonexistent date. An uncertain or illegible date should stay uncertain rather than be forced into a specific year — least of all one the Mint never struck.

How to examine a nickel offered as “1922”

• First, confirm whether any digits are actually legible under magnification and raking light, rather than accepting a seller’s stated date at face value.
• If a date is visible, compare its numeral shapes carefully against genuine dates from the surrounding years — a worn or acid-treated coin can produce numerals that only loosely resemble a real date.
• Check for seams, unnatural texture, or tool marks in the date area, which can indicate re-engraving rather than an as-struck date.
• Weigh the coin and confirm it falls at approximately 5.00 grams with a 21.21mm diameter; deviations point toward a counterfeit or heavily altered piece rather than a genuine Buffalo nickel of any date.

Chemically restoring or engraving a date onto a worn coin is a documented practice across many series, not just Buffalo nickels — see our guide to documented counterfeit U.S. coins for more on how these alterations are typically identified. Do not clean a candidate coin, since cleaning can further obscure evidence of tampering.

Buying considerations

Certified versus raw coins

Never pay a premium for a raw, uncertified coin described as a “1922 Buffalo nickel.” Since the date doesn’t exist, no legitimate grading service will certify one as such, and any listing claiming otherwise should be treated as a red flag rather than a rare find.

Understanding grades and condition

If your coin turns out, on close inspection, to be a worn example of a genuine nearby date — such as 1921, 1923, or an earlier year — grade it according to the same wear patterns used across the series: the portrait’s cheekbone and hair braid first, followed by the bison’s shoulder and horn.

Problem coins

A dateless or nearly dateless Buffalo nickel, sometimes called a “filler,” has essentially no numismatic premium regardless of what date a seller speculates it might be. These are typically valued at or near melt or novelty prices rather than as a specific date.

Suggested search terms and filters

If you’re building a date set, search by the genuine years and mints that actually exist: “1921 Buffalo nickel,” “1923 Buffalo nickel,” or simply “Buffalo nickel date set.” Avoid searches for “1922 Buffalo nickel,” which will only surface misattributed or altered coins.

Availability and pricing notes

Because no genuine 1922 Buffalo nickel exists, there is no legitimate market price to reference for one. Genuine nearby dates are priced according to their own mintage and condition — compare listings for actual years rather than any coin marketed under the 1922 date.

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 you actually want. Enter a genuine date, such as “1921 Buffalo Nickel” or “1923 Buffalo Nickel,” to search participating dealer inventory.
2. Review the available matches. Compare listings by mint, grade, and certification.
3. Add the search to your wishlist. Save your preferred date and mint as a wishlist item with 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

Was a Buffalo nickel ever struck dated 1922?

No. No mint struck Buffalo nickels bearing the date 1922. Any coin offered under that date is misdated, altered, or counterfeit.

Why would a coin appear to read “1922”?

Wear, acid treatment, or deliberate re-engraving can distort numerals on a genuine nearby date into something that superficially resembles 1922, even though the underlying coin was struck in a different year.

What should I do if I think I have a 1922 Buffalo nickel?

Have it examined under magnification by someone experienced with the series, or submit it to a major grading service. In most cases the coin turns out to be a worn or altered example of a genuine nearby date.

Is a dateless Buffalo nickel worth anything?

Typically very little beyond novelty or melt value, since the date is what most of a Buffalo nickel’s numismatic premium depends on.

What if I’m looking for a specific genuine Buffalo nickel date instead?

Search for the actual year and mint you want, such as “1921 Buffalo Nickel,” and add it to your wishlist below. You’ll be notified when newly detected dealer inventory matches your search.

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