Introduced in 1913, the Buffalo Nickel, or Indian Head Nickel was struck continuously until 1938. In that year it was replaced with the Jefferson Nickel. Struck in large quantities at the Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco Mint, these have been a long time favorite for coin collectors. Both the obverse and reverse display images, which are uniquely American. A set of circulated pieces can be completed with some difficulty in lower grades. A full mint-state set is a major accomplishment and a milestone for advanced collectors.
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The Buffalo Nickel was the successor of the Liberty Nickel, minted for circulation from 1883 to 1912. The new Nickel was designed by James Earle Fraser, who produced a number of pattern pieces at his studio. One of these is now a famous pattern with the head of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and a blank reverse. These are not products of the US Mint, but private patterns, and are correctly listed in Appendix C of the Judd book (United States Pattern Coins).
The design that was chosen as the new nickel denomination shows a Native American male on the obverse. Fraser modeled the head of the Indian after three chiefs (Iron Tail of the Sioux, Two Moons of the Cheyenne, and John Big Tree of the Seneca nation) that had posed for him years earlier. In front of the face is the word LIBERTY, and the date is under the truncation of the neck. Under the date is a small incused "F", the designer’s initial. The placement of the date caused it to wear heavily in circulation, creating many "dateless" Buffalo Nickels.
The reverse of the Buffalo Nickel was made in two distinct types. The first was produced only for a short time in the first year of issue in 1913, at all three Mints in use at the time. A male North American Bison, often called a buffalo, is standing on a raised mound. Although the Bison that Fraser used as model has not been positively identified, legend has survived that it is Black Diamond from the New York Central Park Zoo. Under the mount is the denomination spelled out, FIVE CENTS. The mintmark is below. Above the Bison is UNITED STATES OF AMERICA near the rim and between those two design features is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Soon after the first Buffalo Nickels were struck it became apparent that the reverse design would wear quickly in circulation, particularly the inscription of the denomination FIVE CENTS which was on the highest point of the coin. The design was slightly modified by Charles E. Barber, who at first had strongly criticized the design. The overall relief was lowered, including the area around the denomination. The raised ground of the first variety was made level. This type, which was introduced later in 1913, was used with no further modifications until the end of the series.
