Numismatic

1916-D Buffalo Nickel VG

---

The 1916 Buffalo nickel, struck at the Denver Mint, represents a distinct era in United States coinage when traditional themes were replaced by imagery deeply rooted in the American landscape. This five-cent piece, preserved in Very Good condition, showcases the bold, textured artistry of sculptor James Earle Fraser. Rather than using idealized classical figures, the design draws directly from native subjects, capturing a rugged realism that defined the early twentieth-century aesthetic. On the obverse, the profile of an American Indian faces right, a powerful portrait that integrates the word LIBERTY along the upper right edge and the date 1916 at the lower left. The textured fields of the coin highlight the strength of the portrait's features, which remain recognizable even after decades of circulation. The reverse of the coin features an American bison standing atop a raised mound, a design element specific to the early years of this series. The inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM curve gracefully above the animal, while the denomination FIVE CENTS is positioned clearly below the mound. This particular issue carries the D mint mark, indicating its origin from the Denver facility, making it a fascinating piece of early western minting history.