The Valuable 1913 Nickel Errors — Complete Guide
The 1913 Buffalo Nickel series has more formally attributed die varieties than most collectors realize. These aren't vague imperfections — every entry below carries an official CONECA or Fivaz-Stanton designation, requires third-party certification for full premium pricing, and represents a genuinely different die state from the business-strike norm. Work through the cards below to see if your coin matches any of these sought-after attributions.
The 3-1/2 Legs variety on the 1913 Type 1 Philadelphia issue (officially designated FS-901) is the earliest-date example of a characteristic Buffalo Nickel error type caused by excessive die polishing at the mint. The working die for the reverse was polished so aggressively that the upper portion of the bison's front right leg was completely removed from the die face, yet the polishing stopped before it reached the hoof — which still appears intact at the coin's surface.
To identify it, examine the bison's front right leg — the one positioned closest to the FIVE CENTS inscription on the raised mound. Under a 10× loupe, you will see that the leg transitions abruptly from a complete hoof to flat, open field where the upper leg should be. The leg is not simply weak or worn — it is genuinely absent. This is a Type 1-specific variety; it appears on the raised-mound reverse only and is not found on Type 2 coins.
Collectors prize this variety because it previews the far more famous 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo by nearly a quarter century. Certified PCGS examples can sell for $4,000 in problem-free lower grades and well over $20,000 in gem Mint State. NGC does not provide standalone designation for this variety in the same way — PCGS certification is widely preferred for maximum market value.
The Two Feathers variety (FS-401) exists on both the 1913-D Type 1 and the 1913-S Type 1 Buffalo Nickels. Like the 3-1/2 Legs error, it originates from overzealous die polishing — in this case, applied to the obverse die in the headdress area. The polishing removed the third innermost feather from the bison's Indian head portrait — specifically the short feather positioned between the back of the chief's neck and the longest feather in the war bonnet.
On a normal 1913 Buffalo Nickel obverse, three feathers are clearly visible in the war bonnet: two long outer feathers and one shorter inner feather. On the Two Feathers variety, only two feathers are present — the inner short feather is entirely gone, leaving a flat, smooth field between the two outer feathers. The absence should be crisp and distinct, not the result of circulation wear blurring the details.
Both the Denver and San Francisco Type 1 issues carry this attribution. The San Francisco FS-401 examples are considered slightly more collectible due to the lower base mintage of the 1913-S Type 1 (2,105,000) versus Denver's 5,337,000. Greysheet values for the 1913-S Two Feathers range from approximately $220 in low circulated grades to $1,300 at gem Mint State, while the Denver version starts lower but converges at higher grades.
The DDO FS-1101 is a doubled die obverse variety on the 1913 Type 2 Philadelphia issue. Doubled die errors are caused during the die-making process when the hub impresses the design onto a working die more than once with a slight rotational or pivotal misalignment. The result is a visible echo — a shadow or notch — on affected design elements that was present on the die from manufacture and will appear on every coin struck from that die.
On the FS-1101, the doubling appears primarily on LIBERTY across the top of the obverse and on the date digits. Under a 10× loupe, affected letters show a distinct secondary image offset from the primary — not the spread or mechanical doubling (machine doubling) sometimes confused with true hub doubling. The key diagnostic is that the secondary image is raised and fully formed, not flattened or smeared as machine doubling appears.
This variety is confined to the Type 2 reverse (recessed denomination) and exists only on Philadelphia coins from this specific die marriage. The Greysheet CPG values range from approximately $300 in lower Mint State to $3,000 in gem MS65 condition. NGC attributes this as CONECA DDO-001 alongside the FS-1101 Fivaz-Stanton designation.
The 1913 Buffalo Nickel series hosts multiple documented doubled die reverse varieties, with FS-1801 (Type 2 reverse) and FS-1802 (Type 1 reverse) being the two most significant and widely attributed examples. As with all hub-doubled varieties, the doubling was introduced during the die-making process — not during the striking — and therefore appears identically on every coin struck from the affected reverse die.
On the FS-1802 (Type 1 reverse), doubling is most evident on the E PLURIBUS UNUM motto and on elements of the FIVE CENTS denomination area. On the FS-1801 (Type 2 reverse), the echo appears on denomination lettering and on secondary design elements near the recessed flat area. Under a 10× loupe, look for a secondary raised image — with sharp edges on both the primary and secondary — that is offset rather than smeared. The FS-1802 generated the highest recorded auction result for these reverse varieties: an MS65 sold for $3,600 at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in December 2018.
Several additional reverse doubling varieties exist for 1913 (DDR-003 through DDR-007 per CONECA attribution), but FS-1801 and FS-1802 are the premium-commanding designations recognized across the major third-party services. The Greysheet CPG for the FS-1802 runs from approximately $275 in lower MS grades to $1,140 in gem condition.
The 1913-S Type 2 Repunched Mint Mark variety (VP-001, CONECA RPM-001) is found exclusively on the already-rare 1913-S Type 2 — the premier key date of the entire series. During the die preparation process at the San Francisco Mint, the mint mark punch was applied to the working die twice, with a slight misalignment on the second application. The result is a secondary "S" impression visible offset or rotated relative to the primary mint mark.
Because the 1913-S Type 2 itself starts at $270 in G4, this variety sits on top of an already-valuable base coin. Under a 10× loupe, examine the area just below the FIVE CENTS denomination in the recessed flat area. Look for secondary serif curves from the S punch that do not align with the primary letter — the second impression may appear slightly south or rotated clockwise relative to the main S. Many circulation-worn examples retain enough mint mark detail for attribution even in Fine condition.
This variety commands a meaningful premium over the already-strong base price of the 1913-S Type 2. Collectors who assemble varieties of the key-date series actively seek attributed examples, and because the base coin is already scarce, the combination of key-date rarity plus formal RPM attribution makes this one of the most coveted 1913 Buffalo Nickel varieties. Proper certification by PCGS or NGC is essential for buyers to pay the full variety premium.
