Numismatic

1918-S Buffalo Nickel AG

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The 1918 five-cent piece struck at the San Francisco Mint represents a fascinating era in American coinage, showcasing a design that broke away from traditional European-style allegories. This coin, composed of a copper-nickel alloy, displays the distinctive "S" mint mark on its reverse, indicating its origin at the busy West Coast facility during a pivotal year in global history. On the obverse, the profile of a Native American man faces right, rendered with a rugged realism that captures the spirit of the American West. The reverse features a massive American bison standing atop a raised mound of earth, a powerful symbol of the continent's natural heritage. This particular specimen is graded in Almost Good condition, showing the honest wear of a coin that circulated widely through the hands of early twentieth-century Americans. Inscribed on the reverse are the traditional legends of United States currency, including the national motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and the denomination "FIVE CENTS" beneath the bison's feet. The design, created by sculptor James Earle Fraser, remains one of the most celebrated and distinctly American concepts ever to grace circulating coinage.