Numismatic

1913-S Buffalo Nickel Type-II AU-50 PCGS

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In 1913, the United States five-cent piece underwent a significant design transformation. This particular issue, struck at the San Francisco Mint, represents the Type II variety of the famous Buffalo nickel. Sculptor James Fraser designed this classic piece of American coinage, capturing the rugged spirit of the West through two distinct, highly detailed portraits. On the obverse, the profile of an American Indian faces right, a composite portrait created from multiple Native American models. The reverse features a powerful American bison, which, in this Type II version, stands on a flat, recessed line rather than the raised mound of the Type I design. This modification was made to protect the denomination text below the bison from premature wear during circulation. With a relatively low mintage of 1,209,000, this San Francisco issue is a compelling piece of early twentieth-century numismatic history. The coin features the prominent 'S' mint mark below the denomination on the reverse, indicating its origin at the California minting facility. The legends on the reverse include the national motto, 'E PLURIBUS UNUM', and the country of origin, 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA', alongside the face value of 'FIVE CENTS'.