At the time of the Buffalo Nickel’s inception, the previous lower denomination circulated coinage in America, did not picture a Native American nor a bovine for that matter. This was the new radical difference that Fraser wanted to pursue in his design for the five-cent piece. Where the sides were slightly concave like gold eagles …
There are many coin grading standards you may occur, as this is a well researched topic. Please use this as a reference point in your own research to gain personal expertise in numismatics. Make informed decisions when purchasing. Use this reference material to guide you. MS65 (Mint State) Summary: A high quality of mint luster …
As published in the July 1931 volume of The Numismatist, this article is stating that there was confusion to whom the face was on the buffalo nickel. As there were stories from the previous eighteen years since the nickel’s inception mintage in 1913. That is not the face of Chief Two Guns Whitecalf on the …
This comprehensive list can be used as a guide to identify potential major and subsequent varieties of Buffalo Nickels.
American sculptor James Earle Fraser began designing the Indian Buffalo nickel in 1911. Fraser said the portrait on the “head’s” side was a composite of three American Indians – Iron Tail, Big Tree and Two Moons.
The 1938-D/S Buffalo nickel variety was first discovered circa 1961 by Robert Kerr and C.G. Langworthy.
On the reverse of the Buffalo Nickel the tail must exhibit full spread of the end of the tail. They will exhibit 90% to 100% of the full length of the ends of the Buffalo’s tail hairs. Whether or not a coin exhibits this depends on the striking pressure the dies were set to when …
The Philadelphia Mint struck proof versions of the Buffalo Nickel for only six years of the series. Collectively, there were only 16,148 Proof Buffalo Nickels issued compared to more than 1.2 billion circulation strikes. The proofs were struck during two separate periods at the beginning and near the end of the series. Proof Buffalo Nickels were …
The Buffalo Nickel was struck for circulation from 1913 to 1938 at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mint facilities. Mintages cover a fairly wide range from a low of just 970,000 pieces for the 1926-S to a high of more than 100 million for the 1936. Many of the earlier dates of the series command premiums …
The Buffalo Nickel shares the same specifications as the prior series for the denomination. The composition consists of 75% copper and 25% nickel. Each coin has a standard weight of 5 grams, or 77.19 grains, with a diameter of 21.2 mm. The edge of the coin is plain. For pieces struck at the Denver or …