Numismatic

1913 Type-I Buffalo Nickel VF

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In 1913, a bold new aesthetic captured the spirit of the American frontier on a five-cent piece. Designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser, this inaugural Type I Buffalo Nickel departed from traditional classical allegories to showcase imagery native to North America. The obverse presents a powerful, detailed portrait of a Native American chieftain, accompanied simply by the word LIBERTY. The reverse side of this first-year design depicts a massive American bison standing proudly on a raised mound of earth. This specific raised-ground feature defines the Type I variety, as it was modified later in the same year. Below the bison, the denomination is clearly marked as FIVE CENTS, while the legend above proclaims the nation of origin and the traditional motto, E PLURIBUS UNUM. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, these coins do not carry a mint mark. This particular specimen survives in Very Fine condition, showing the honest wear of a coin that circulated during a transformative era in American history.