Numismatic

1919-S Buffalo Nickel Good

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The 1919-S Buffalo nickel, struck over a century ago, represents a classic era of United States coinage. This five-cent piece, minted at the San Francisco facility, showcases a design that captures the spirit of the American West. Despite showing honest wear consistent with its Good grade, the coin retains the essential character of its iconic imagery. On the obverse side, a detailed portrait of a Native American chief faces right. The simple inscription of the word LIBERTY is placed along the upper right edge of the coin. This side represents a composite study of indigenous faces, rendered with a realism that departed from traditional allegorical depictions of liberty. On the reverse, a massive American bison stands on a raised mound of earth. The inscriptions surrounding the animal include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA along the top rim, with the Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM positioned just above the bison's back. Below the mound, the denomination FIVE CENTS is clearly visible, accompanied by the small S mint mark, indicating its origin at the San Francisco Mint. This design, created by James Earle Fraser, remains one of the most celebrated in American numismatic history.