Numismatic

1917-S Buffalo Nickel VF

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The 1917-S Buffalo nickel stands as a striking example of early twentieth-century American coinage, minted at the San Francisco facility during a transformative era. This five-cent piece, composed of copper and nickel, displays the honest wear of a coin graded in Very Fine condition, preserving the bold details of its celebrated artwork. On the obverse, designer James Earle Fraser presents a powerful, composite portrait of an American Indian facing right, paired with the simple inscription of the word LIBERTY and the clear date of 1917. The design represents a departure from traditional neoclassical figures, opting instead for a rugged realism that captured the spirit of the American frontier. The reverse of the coin features a majestic American bison standing atop a raised mound of earth. Positioned beneath this native animal is the denomination, FIVE CENTS, while the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM and the country of origin, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, frame the upper curve. Collectors can locate the distinctive 'S' mint mark just below the bison's mound, indicating its origin from the West Coast minting facility.