Numismatic

1913-D Type-II Buffalo Nickel Fine

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The year 1913 marked a significant transition for United States five-cent coinage, resulting in two distinct variations of the Buffalo Nickel. This particular specimen represents the Type II design minted in Denver, which resolved a practical issue with the initial release of the series. While the very first nickels of 1913 placed the bison on a raised mound, this second type modified the reverse so the animal stands upon a flat plain. This adjustment helped protect the denomination text from premature wear during circulation. Created by sculptor James Earle Fraser, the coin's imagery is deeply rooted in the American landscape. The obverse presents a detailed profile portrait of an American Indian facing right. On the reverse, a massive bison dominates the scene, positioned above the denomination. This Denver Mint issue carries the distinctive "D" mint mark, located on the reverse below the flat ground, identifying its origin at the Colorado facility. Struck in a copper-nickel alloy, this coin has survived in Fine condition, showing the honest wear of a piece that once passed through daily commerce. The legible inscriptions include the national motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and the issuing country "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" on the reverse, framing the central bison motif.