Numismatic

1913-D Type-I Buffalo Nickel BU

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The year 1913 marked a dramatic transformation for the United States five-cent piece, introducing a design deeply rooted in the imagery of the American West. Created by sculptor James Fraser, this first subtype of the inaugural year is easily distinguished by its unique reverse illustration. On the obverse, a powerful profile of a Native American facing right dominates the field, accompanied by the year 1913. The reverse showcases a magnificent American bison standing proudly on a raised mound of earth. Below this grassy hill, the denomination is clearly legible as FIVE CENTS, while the Denver mint mark is positioned just underneath. This particular specimen survives in brilliant uncirculated condition, preserving the sharp textures of the bison's fur and the strong lines of the portrait just as they emerged from the Denver Mint over a century ago.