US Buffalo Nickel MS Set 1
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Updated:
5/5/2026
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The US Buffalo Nickel MS Set captures one of America's most beloved and artistically significant coin series, designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser and minted from 1913 to 1938. The obverse features the profile of a Native American — a composite portrait based on three Wild West Show performers: Chief Iron Tail, Chief Big Tree, and Chief Two Moons — with the date placed below the neck in the lower left (making it one of the most wear-prone areas on any US coin). The reverse depicts an American bison (not technically a buffalo, but the name stuck) with "FIVE CENTS" beneath it and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" along the top edge. The series went through several design refinements: the original Type 1 (1913) had "FIVE CENTS" raised on a mound, which wore down quickly; Type 2 (1913) flattened the mound to improve durability. The series was eventually replaced by the Buffalo Nickel's successor, the Jefferson Nickel, in 1938. A Mint State set is a collector's challenge because the date area on the obverse and the bison's leg details on the reverse are notoriously difficult to find fully struck. Key dates include the legendary 1913 Type 2 (the scarcest issue), the 1914-D, 1918-D, and later issues like the 1937-D "Three Legs" variety (where heavy die polishing erased the bison's front leg).
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US Buffalo Nickel MS Set 1
By EurekaJack
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