Numismatic

1926-S Buffalo Nickel Fine

---

The 1926 Buffalo Nickel represents a fascinating moment in United States coinage, minted during an era of distinct, artistic currency designs. This particular five-cent piece, struck at the San Francisco Mint, carries the recognizable 'S' mint mark on its reverse. Crafted from a copper-nickel alloy, the coin has survived in Fine condition, showing the honest wear of a piece that once circulated through the hands of early twentieth-century Americans. On the obverse, the coin displays a powerful profile of an American Indian, facing right. The single word 'LIBERTY' is inscribed along the upper right edge, accompanied by the year 1926 near the lower left. The designer, James Earle Fraser, captured a deeply expressive portrait that remains one of the most celebrated images in American numismatic history. The reverse of the coin features a massive American bison standing atop a raised mound of earth. Above the animal, the traditional motto 'E PLURIBUS UNUM' is visible, while the denomination 'FIVE CENTS' is positioned clearly at the bottom. Directly beneath the mound, the 'S' mint mark indicates its origin at the West Coast minting facility, making this specific issue a compelling subject for study and appreciation.