Numismatic

1938-D Buffalo Nickel MS-66 PCGS

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The 1938 Buffalo Nickel struck at the Denver Mint represents the final year of one of America's most celebrated circulating coin designs. This particular specimen has been graded Mint State 66 (MS-66), indicating an exceptional level of preservation that allows the original artistic details to shine through clearly. Crafted from a copper-nickel alloy, the coin features two distinct and powerful symbols of the American frontier. On the obverse, a detailed right-facing profile of a Native American dominates the field. The word LIBERTY is inscribed along the upper right rim, with the year 1938 positioned at the lower left. The reverse displays a majestic American bison standing atop a raised mound of earth. The inscriptions on this side include the traditional motto E PLURIBUS UNUM above the animal's lower back, the denomination FIVE CENTS below the mound, and the D mint mark indicating its origin in Denver. Created by sculptor James Fraser, this design remains a landmark of United States coinage. With a total mintage of 5,376,000, finding an example preserved in such a high mint state grade offers a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the texture and depth of the original engraving just as it looked when it left the coining press.