Numismatic

1913-D Type-II Buffalo Nickel VF

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The year 1913 marked the debut of one of America's most recognizable circulating designs. Created by James Earle Fraser, this five cent piece departed from traditional classical allegories, opting instead to celebrate the American West. The obverse presents a powerful, textured profile of a Native American, accompanied by the word LIBERTY and the date of issue. On the reverse, a magnificent American bison stands as the central focus. This particular coin represents the Type II design variation introduced during this inaugural year. To prevent the denomination from wearing away too quickly, the ground beneath the bison was modified from a raised mound to a flat, recessed plane. The inscription FIVE CENTS is nestled securely within this protective recessed area, beneath the Denver mint's 'D' mark and the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. Graded in Very Fine condition, this copper-nickel coin offers a tangible look at a pivotal design adjustment in early twentieth-century American coinage.