Numismatic

1914 Buffalo Nickel Fine

---

The 1914 Buffalo Nickel stands as a classic representative of early twentieth-century American coinage. Minted in Philadelphia, this five-cent piece carries no mint mark, a traditional feature for coins produced at the main facility during this era. The coin presents a distinctively rustic aesthetic that departs from the highly stylized European-influenced designs of previous generations, capturing instead a rugged, uniquely American spirit. On the obverse, the coin displays a powerful profile of a Native American, facing right. The year 1914 is clearly visible on the lower left curve of the design. The reverse features a massive American bison standing atop a raised mound of earth. Curving along the upper rim are the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the traditional motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM," while the denomination "FIVE CENTS" is anchored at the very bottom beneath the mound. This particular coin is graded Fine, showing honest wear from its time in circulation while retaining the core details of James Earle Fraser's famous design. The lack of precious metal content, being struck in a base metal alloy, makes its survival in this condition a fascinating window into the daily commerce of the United States on the eve of the First World War.