1934-1938 Buffalo Nickel Short Sets Long On Opportunity
July 17, 2026
The Buffalo Nickel series remains popular with collectors as a date-and-mintmark pursuit even as the series is actively aging past the century mark and many issues are becoming tougher and more expensive. However, there’s a way for collectors to enjoy building a comprehensive survey of this nostalgic series without having to break the bank: build a short set.
When it comes to the Buffalo Nickel, there’s a commonly pursued short set consisting of all the business strikes ranging from 1934 through 1938. This avoids the most expensive dates, including the rare 1937 Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel, which falls into that five-year (inclusive) date range but as a variety isn’t technically necessary in the basic circulation-strike short set. The basic short set also excludes other varieties and all the proofs.
From PCGS