Numismatic

1919-S Buffalo Nickel VF

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The five-cent piece of 1919 represents a classic era of American coinage. Minted in San Francisco, this circulated specimen has survived more than a century, carrying the honest wear of a Very Fine grade. The coin is composed of copper and nickel, presenting a durable alloy that circulated widely through the early twentieth century. On the obverse, the profile of a Native American chief faces right, a portrait created by sculptor James Earle Fraser. The word LIBERTY is inscribed along the upper right edge, with the year 1919 stamped clearly at the base. The design is celebrated for its realistic, textured details that depart from traditional classical allegories. The reverse side displays a majestic American bison standing atop a raised mound of earth. The inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM arch over the animal, while the denomination FIVE CENTS is anchored below. Just beneath the mound, the distinctive S mint mark indicates its origin from the San Francisco Mint, making this particular issue a fascinating piece of Western minting history.