Numismatic

1914-S Buffalo Nickel AU

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The 1914 five-cent piece stands as a classic representative of early twentieth-century American coinage. Struck at the San Francisco Mint, this copper-nickel coin carries the distinctive 'S' mint mark on its reverse, indicating its West Coast origin during a transitional era of United States currency design. James Earle Fraser sculpted the imagery for this series, moving away from traditional neoclassical allegories to embrace themes native to the North American continent. The obverse presents a realistic profile of a Native American, created by combining the features of multiple indigenous individuals. The year 1914 is clearly visible on the lower left curve of the portrait. The reverse of the coin showcases a massive American bison standing on a raised mound. Above the animal, the Latin motto UNUM is visible, while the denomination FIVE CENTS is inscribed below the ground line, just above the San Francisco mint mark. This particular specimen survives in Almost Uncirculated condition, preserving much of the original texture and detail from the day it was minted.