Numismatic

1913 Buffalo Nickel Type-I MS-64 PCGS

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In 1913, the United States introduced a dramatic departure from traditional coinage design with the debut of the Indian Head five-cent piece, commonly known as the Buffalo Nickel. This inaugural version, designated as Type I, showcases a highly detailed aesthetic that captured the spirit of the American frontier. The coin is composed of a copper-nickel alloy, though its composition contains no precious metal. The obverse presents a powerful profile portrait of a Native American, facing right, with the date of manufacture clearly visible. On the reverse, a massive American bison stands atop a raised mound of dirt. This raised mound design is the defining characteristic of the Type I variety, as it was modified later in the first year of production to a recessed ground line to protect the denomination from wearing away too quickly. Crafted by the sculptor James Fraser, this particular specimen was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which did not utilize a mint mark. Out of a total mintage of 30,992,000 pieces for this specific variety, this coin has survived in exceptional condition. It has been officially graded as Mint State 64 (MS-64), preserving the original textures and fine details of the bison and the portrait just as they appeared over a century ago.