Buffalo Nickel: America's Western Masterpiece

Overview and Historical Context

The Buffalo Nickel, officially known as the Indian Head Nickel, was part of Theodore Roosevelt's campaign to beautify American coinage. Unlike earlier designs featuring classical or allegorical subjects, Fraser chose distinctly American themes drawn from his frontier childhood.

Design Period: 1913-1938 (25 years)
Designer: James Earle Fraser
Diameter: 21.2mm
Weight: 5 grams
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel
Edge: Plain
Mints: Philadelphia (no mintmark), Denver (D), San Francisco (S)

The design replaced the Liberty Head (V) Nickel (1883-1913) and was itself replaced by the Jefferson Nickel in 1938. The Buffalo Nickel's 25-year run coincided with America's transformation from frontier nation to modern industrial power.

The Artist: James Earle Fraser

Frontier Background

James Earle Fraser (1876-1953) grew up in the Dakota Territory and Minnesota during the final years of the American frontier. He witnessed Native American life firsthand and developed deep respect for indigenous cultures. This authentic experience informed his most famous works.

Artistic Training

• Studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and École des Beaux-Arts in Paris
• Assistant to renowned sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens
• Established reputation with powerful, realistic sculptures
• Known for Western themes and Native American subjects

Major Works

• "End of the Trail": His most famous sculpture—a slumped Native American warrior on exhausted horse, symbolizing the passing of the frontier
• Numerous monuments: Including statues at the U.S. Supreme Court building
• Architectural sculptures: Major buildings throughout America
• Oregon Trail Memorial half dollar: Later coin design work

Design Philosophy

Fraser believed in honoring the authentic American experience. He stated: "My aim was to make a coin which was truly American, and that could not be confused with the coinage of any other country." He succeeded brilliantly—no one could mistake a Buffalo Nickel for anything but American.

Obverse Design: The Composite Native American Portrait

A Composite of Three Chiefs

The portrait is not of a single individual but a composite of three Native American chiefs Fraser knew personally:

• Iron Tail: Oglala Lakota chief who had fought at Little Bighorn
• Two Moons: Northern Cheyenne chief, also a Little Bighorn veteran
• John Big Tree (or possibly Chief Two Guns): Seneca, worked as a model for Fraser

By combining features from multiple individuals, Fraser created an idealized but authentic portrait representing Native American dignity and strength rather than any specific person.

Portrait Details

• Profile View: Strong right-facing profile showing noble, weathered features
• Age and Character: The face shows maturity, wisdom, strength—not a young warrior but an elder statesman
• Expression: Dignified, serious, contemplative—facing an uncertain future with resolve
• Anatomical Detail: Realistic bone structure, skin texture, facial features
• Respect: The portrait conveys deep respect for its subject—no caricature or stereotyping

The Headdress

• War Bonnet: Traditional feathered headdress with individual feathers carefully detailed
• Feather Work: Each feather shows texture, quill detail, natural arrangement
• Authenticity: Fraser drew from actual Plains Indian headdresses, not Hollywood stereotypes
• Symbolism: The war bonnet signifies honor, leadership, warrior status
• Challenge: Rendering feather detail at coin scale was technically difficult but Fraser succeeded

The Hair and Braids

• Two long braids visible falling forward over the shoulder
• Individual hair strands carefully modeled
• Ties or wrappings on the braids
• Natural, realistic treatment—not stylized

The Legends and Date

• "LIBERTY": Arcs along the right border
• Date: Below the portrait
• Designer Initial: Small "F" on the truncation of the neck

Artistic Achievement

• Powerful Presence: Despite small size, the portrait commands attention
• Dignity: Honors Native Americans at a time when they were often stereotyped or ignored
• Realism: Accurate, respectful representation based on actual people
• Emotion: The face conveys nobility, strength, and quiet sadness for a vanishing way of life

Reverse Design: The American Bison

Black Diamond the Bison

Fraser modeled the bison on Black Diamond, a large American bison living at the New York Zoological Gardens (Bronx Zoo). Black Diamond was a magnificent specimen, and Fraser made numerous sketches before creating the coin design.

Sadly, Black Diamond was sold and slaughtered in 1915. His mounted head was displayed for years, and his hide was made into a robe. But his image lives on, appearing on hundreds of millions of nickels.

The Buffalo's Stance

• Standing Position: The bison stands on a mound of earth, facing left
• Powerful Build: Massive shoulders, heavy head, thick neck—emphasizing the animal's strength
• Realism: Anatomically accurate, showing Fraser's careful observation
• Posture: Alert stance—head up, ready to move
• Majesty: The buffalo appears noble and powerful, not threatening—a symbol of wilderness strength

Textural Details

• Shaggy Coat: The buffalo's heavy winter coat is carefully textured, especially on shoulders and head
• Individual Hairs: Under magnification, hair strands are visible
• Horns: Curved horns project naturally from the head
• Tail: Hangs naturally
• Hooves: Well-defined, planted firmly on the ground

The Ground Mound

• The buffalo stands on a raised mound representing prairie ground
• Creates visual depth and anchors the composition
• Gives the buffalo a platform, making it more prominent
• Symbolizes the Great Plains habitat

Type 1 vs Type 2 Reverse

Type 1 (1913): The buffalo stands on a raised mound with "FIVE CENTS" in the exergue (area below). The mound is high, clearly defining the ground.

Type 2 (1913-1938): Later in 1913, the design was modified. The mound was lowered and a straight line added beneath it. "FIVE CENTS" was recessed into the line. This change was made because the high points of Type 1 wore very quickly—the denomination became illegible with minimal circulation.

Type 1 coins from 1913 are scarce varieties sought by collectors. Type 2 became the standard for the remaining 25 years of production.

The Legends

• "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA": Curves along the top
• "E PLURIBUS UNUM": Small, near the rim on the left
• "FIVE CENTS": On Type 1, below mound; on Type 2, recessed in line below mound
• Mint Mark: Appears below "FIVE CENTS" (D or S; Philadelphia has no mint mark)

Symbolic Meaning

• Vanishing Wilderness: By 1913, American bison had been hunted nearly to extinction—from 30-60 million to fewer than 1,000. The coin memorializes this loss.
• American Identity: The buffalo represents the untamed continent, westward expansion, frontier spirit
• Strength and Endurance: The bison symbolizes resilience and power
• Conservation: The coin appeared as conservation efforts began saving the species from extinction

Design Challenges and Wear Issues

The Striking Problem

The Buffalo Nickel's beautiful high relief created significant production and wear challenges:

• High Points: The Native American's cheekbone and the buffalo's shoulder are the highest points on each side
• Rapid Wear: These high points wore smooth very quickly in circulation
• Date Placement: The date, being on a raised area, often wore completely away, creating "dateless" Buffalo Nickels
• Denomination Issue: On Type 1, "FIVE CENTS" wore away fast, creating legal concerns (hence Type 2 modification)

Three-Legged Buffalo Variety

A famous error occurred on 1937-D nickels: Die polishing to remove clash marks accidentally removed the buffalo's right front leg from the die. Coins struck from this die show a "three-legged buffalo." This variety is highly sought by collectors and commands significant premiums.

Grading Challenges

• Many Buffalo Nickels were weakly struck even when new
• Full details on both sides are rare and valuable
• Wear vs. weak strike can be difficult to distinguish
• Full horn and tail details are premium indicators

Beauty vs. Practicality

The Buffalo Nickel represents the eternal tension between artistic beauty and practical function. Fraser created a stunning design that didn't wear well. The coins are beautiful when pristine but lost critical details (especially the date) in circulation. This practical flaw contributed to the design's replacement in 1938, despite its popularity.

Historical and Cultural Significance

Honoring a Vanishing America

The Buffalo Nickel appeared at a pivotal moment in American history:

• The frontier officially closed in 1890
• Native Americans were confined to reservations
• Buffalo herds had been decimated
• Wild West was becoming mythology
• America was urbanizing and industrializing rapidly

Fraser's design captured and memorialized this passing era. The coin is both celebration and eulogy—honoring Native Americans and the buffalo while acknowledging their tragic displacement.

Native American Representation

The Buffalo Nickel was controversial in its time. Some praised it for dignified representation of Native Americans. Others criticized it as perpetuating stereotypes or as inappropriate for currency. Today, most view it as a respectful, if romanticized, tribute created by someone who genuinely knew and respected Native American culture.

The coin remains one of the few U.S. coins to prominently feature Native American imagery (until recent Sacagawea and Native American dollar series).

Conservation Movement

The coin appeared as America's conservation movement gained momentum. Organizations worked to save the remaining buffalo from extinction. The coin helped raise awareness of this effort and became symbolic of conservation success—buffalo populations did recover.

American Identity

Unlike coins featuring classical or European imagery, the Buffalo Nickel is unmistakably American. It reflects a uniquely American experience and landscape. This nationalist spirit aligned with early 20th-century movements to define distinct American culture separate from European traditions.

Collecting Buffalo Nickels

Why Collect Them?

• Iconic Design: One of America's most recognizable coins
• Historical Significance: Represents frontier era and American identity
• Challenging but Achievable: Complete sets are possible but require dedication
• Affordable Entry: Common dates in lower grades are inexpensive
• Variety: Type 1 vs Type 2, errors, different strikes create collecting dimensions
• Nostalgia: Connection to grandparents' generation

Key Dates and Rarities

• 1913-S Type 2: First year Type 2, lower mintage, key date
• 1913 Type 1 (both mints): Short-lived first type, collector favorites
• 1914/3: Overdate error, rare
• 1916/16: Doubled die variety
• 1918/7-D: Famous overdate, highly sought
• 1921-S: Low mintage key date
• 1924-S, 1926-S: Semi-keys, scarce in higher grades
• 1937-D Three-Legged: Most famous variety, very valuable

Common Dates

For type collectors or beginning collectors:

• 1930s Philadelphia issues (generally available)
• Many 1920s and 1930s dates affordable in circulated grades
• Best value: 1934-1938 dates in Fine-VF condition

Dateless Buffalo Nickels

Many Buffalo Nickels in circulation wore until the date disappeared completely. These "dateless" nickels are very common and inexpensive. Some collectors use acid treatments to restore dates (not recommended—damages coins). Dateless Buffalo Nickels make affordable filler coins or examples of the design's wear problem.

Grading Key Points

• Obverse Wear Points:
  • Hair above and around the ear (first to wear)
  • Cheekbone (highest point, wears smooth quickly)
  • Feather details in headdress
  • Date (often weak or missing)
• Reverse Wear Points:
  • Buffalo's shoulder and hip (highest points)
  • Horn detail (full horn is premium indicator)
  • Tail (often weak or missing)
  • Hair texture on head and shoulders
• Full Details Indicators:
  • Complete horn
  • Full tail
  • Sharp feather definition
  • Clear date

Collecting Strategies

1. Type Coin: One nice example in VF-XF
2. Type Set: One Type 1 and one Type 2
3. Date Set: One of each date, any mint
4. Complete Set: All dates and mint marks (challenging, includes expensive keys)
5. Short Set: 1934-1938 or other limited date range
6. Variety Focus: Pursue overdates, three-legged, other varieties

Approximate Values

• Dateless: $1-2
• Common dates, Good-VG: $2-5
• Common dates, Fine-VF: $5-15
• Common dates, XF: $20-40
• Common dates, AU: $50-100
• Common dates, MS-63: $80-150
• Common dates, MS-65: $300-600+
• Key dates: Varies widely; 1937-D Three-Legged in Fine: $600+; MS examples: $3,000+
• 1913 Type 1: $10-20 in Good; $100+ in AU

Appreciating the Design

Viewing Tips

• Study Both Types: Compare Type 1 and Type 2 to understand the modification
• Magnification: 5x-10x reveals hair, feather, and texture details
• Good Lighting: Shows the sculptural relief and depth
• Compare Grades: See how wear affects the design—understand why higher grades command premiums
• Examine Varieties: If possible, view the three-legged buffalo variety

What to Look For

• Portrait Character: The strength and dignity in the Native American's face
• Feather Detail: Individual feathers in the headdress
• Hair Texture: Braids and individual hairs
• Buffalo Presence: The power and majesty of the standing bison
• Coat Texture: Shaggy hair on buffalo's shoulders and head
• Sculptural Quality: How Fraser created depth and dimension
• Emotional Impact: The sense of nobility and impending loss

Historical Reflection

Consider what this coin represents: a nation acknowledging, perhaps with guilt and nostalgia, what it destroyed in the name of progress. The Buffalo Nickel is beautiful, but that beauty carries melancholy—it memorializes peoples and animals displaced by American expansion.

This depth of meaning, combined with Fraser's artistic skill and the coin's authentic American character, explains why the Buffalo Nickel remains beloved more than a century after its debut.

Legacy and Influence

Impact on American Coin Design

• Demonstrated that coin designs could tell American stories
• Showed value of authentic cultural representation
• Influenced later Western-themed coins and medals
• Set standard for Native American imagery in numismatics

Cultural Icon

• Became symbol of early 20th-century America
• Reproduced on countless collectibles, art pieces, decorative items
• Recognized even by non-collectors
• Represents American frontier mythology

Modern Recognition

• American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coin (2006) uses modified Fraser design
• Frequently referenced in popular culture
• Still collected avidly by multiple generations
• Considered essential part of American numismatic heritage

Enduring Appeal

More than 85 years after the last Buffalo Nickel was struck, these coins remain among America's most popular collectibles. They represent a unique moment in American history and showcase coin design at its most ambitious—beautiful, meaningful, and distinctly American, even if impractically designed for circulation.