Numismatic

1913-1938 Buffalo Nickels (No Dates)

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The Buffalo Nickel, minted from 1913 to 1938, represents a distinctive era in United States coinage. These particular specimens have lost their original minting years through decades of active circulation, leaving behind a smooth surface where the date once rested. This loss of detail transforms each piece into a tactile mystery, inviting us to wonder which specific year between the world wars it originally entered American pockets. James Fraser designed this five cent piece with powerful imagery celebrating the American West. The front of the coin displays a detailed profile of a Native American. On the reverse, a massive American bison stands atop a raised mound. The animal depicted on the reverse was modeled after Black Diamond, a famous bison who lived during that era. Legible portions of traditional inscriptions, such as the patriotic motto meaning out of many, one, can still be traced on the reverse of these copper nickel coins.