Numismatic

1913-S Type-II Buffalo Nickel XF

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In 1913, the United States introduced a striking five-cent piece that celebrated the American frontier. Sculpted by James Earle Fraser, this coin departed from traditional neoclassical imagery to showcase native themes. The obverse presents a powerful, detailed profile of a Native American chieftain, while the reverse features a massive American bison. This particular coin represents the Type II variety of the inaugural year. On the original Type I design, the bison stood on a raised mound of earth, which quickly proved problematic because the denomination was positioned at the very highest point of the mound, causing the words to wear away rapidly during circulation. To resolve this issue, the design was modified to place the bison on a flat plane, recessing the denomination below the ground line to shield it from friction. Struck at the San Francisco Mint, this copper-nickel specimen bears the distinctive "S" mint mark on the reverse, located just beneath the denomination. Having survived in Extra Fine condition, the coin retains sharp details in the native headdress and the textured fur of the bison, offering a clear window into a pivotal year of American numismatic design.