Buffalo Nickel

The Buffalo Nickel is a U.S. 5-cent coin that was minted from 1913 to 1938. It was designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser and is considered to be one of the most iconic coins ever produced. The obverse of the coin features an American Indian chief, representing a composite of several distinct tribal chiefs, while the reverse features an American bison standing on a raised mound. It was the first regular-issue coin to feature an indigenous person, paying tribute to the First Peoples of the United States.

The Buffalo Nickel replaced the Liberty Head or "Indian Head" nickel that had been minted from 1883 to 1912. The new design was widely popular with the public and the coin was issued for 25 years without a significant redesign. As a result, the Buffalo Nickel is available in a number of varieties, largely due to the changes in production quality (due to the Great Depression) and methods used by the Mint.

In total, three issues of the Buffalo Nickel were made: the Type I, II and III. A Type I nickel is considered a "Mid 9" and features the earliest obverse and reverse designs. The second Type, the Type II, was introduced in 1916, featuring comparable designs, but with the raised mound on the reverse slightly lengthened. Finally, the Type III was issued from 1925 to 1938 and features a vastly modified obverse design, which was inspired by Native American and animal imagery.

The Buffalo Nickel was initially met with strong approval from both collectors and the general public, due to its novel design and iconic imagery. It continues to be a sought-after coin today, with rare varieties fetching high prices. The coin has also been a source of inspiration for modern U.S. coin designs, as evident in the current Jefferson Nickel and the Sacagawea Dollar. With such an iconic legacy, the Buffalo Nickel continues to be an essential part of any coin collection.