Numismatic

1913 Type-I Buffalo Nickel XF

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The year 1913 marked a major transition in United States coinage with the debut of the Buffalo Nickel. Designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser, this inaugural issue departed from traditional neoclassical allegories to present imagery deeply rooted in the American landscape. The obverse displays a powerful, realistic profile of a Native American, accompanied by the inscription of liberty and the date of manufacture. On the reverse, a magnificent American bison stands atop a raised mound of dirt. This specific raised-ground detail defines the Type I variety of the coin's first year. Below the mound, the denomination is clearly struck as five cents, while the upper curve bears the country of origin and the traditional Latin motto. This specific specimen survives in Extra Fine condition, preserving the distinct textures of the bison's coat and the sharp lines of the landscape before the design was modified later in the same year.