Numismatic

1927-S Buffalo Nickel Fine

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The 1927 Buffalo nickel struck at the San Francisco Mint represents a classic era of American coinage design. Created by sculptor James Earle Fraser, this five cent piece departs from traditional allegorical figures to celebrate the raw, natural heritage of the American West. This particular specimen survives in Fine condition, showing the honest wear of a coin that actively circulated through the commerce of the late 1920s. The obverse presents a powerful, composite portrait of a Native American facing right, with the word LIBERTY and the date 1927 clearly visible. Fraser used the features of three different Native American models to capture a dignified and authentic representation of the continent's original peoples. On the reverse, a magnificent American bison stands on a raised earthen mound. The inscriptions read UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM above the animal, with the denomination FIVE CENTS positioned below. Just beneath the mound, the distinct S mint mark identifies this coin as a product of the San Francisco facility, making it a fascinating piece of Western minting history to examine.