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Buffalo Nickels

1937 S Buffalo Nickel
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1937 S Buffalo Nickel

Buffalo Nickels have won a permanent place in the hearts of many Americans, including mine.

However, this interesting and very beloved coin should actually be referred to as the Indian Head Nickel rather than the Buffalo Head Nickel, as the buffalo is actually on the reverse (back) of the coin.

The Indian Nickel was minted from 1913 to 1938 from 75% copper and 25% nickel.

It features a Native American profile on the front (obverse) of the coin and a buffalo on the back (reverse).

The Indian profile is actually a composite of three different Indian chiefs. They are believed to be Iron Tail, Two Moons and John Big Tree.

This was the first time actual Native Americans were used on coins. All previous coins depicting "Indians" had actually been Caucasians wearing an Indian headdress.

The buffalo on the reverse is actually an American Bison, and is modeled on "Black Diamond", a famous buffalo of the time at the the Central Park Zoo.

Hobo Nickel
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Hobo Nickel

This buffalo was the first animal other than the bald eagle to be featured on a US coin.

An interesting story about Indian Nickels (and some other coins) is that people would sometimes carve the Indian portrait into another face.

These coins became known as "hobo nickels"

The Indian Head Nickel has two variety types and was produced at three US Mints: Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco.




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1913 Buffalo Nickel
Variety Type 1
1913 Buffalo Nickel type 1 variety
Type Variety 1 - FIVE CENTS on Raised Ground
Designer James Earle Fraser
Years Minted 1913 only
Weight 5 grams
Composition 75% copper, 25% nickel
Diameter approx. 21.2 mm
Edge Plain
Mints Philadelphia - no mint mark
Denver - D
San Francisco - S
Mintage 1913 - 30,992,000
1913D - 5,337,000
1913S - 2,105,000



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1913-1938 Buffalo Nickel
Variety Type 2
1937 Buffalo Nickel
Type Variety 2 - FIVE CENTS in Recess
Designer James Earle Fraser
Years Minted 1913 to 1938
Weight 5 grams
Composition 75% copper, 25% nickel
Diameter approx. 21.2 mm
Edge Plain
Mints Philadelphia - no mint mark
Denver - D
San Francisco - S
Mintage
Year
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
Philadelphia
29,857,186
20,664,463
20,986,220
63,497,466
51,424,019
32,086,314
60,868,000
63,093,000
10,663,000
35,715,000
21,620,000
35,565,100
44,693,000
37,981,000
23,411,000
36,446,000
22,849,000
0
20,213,003
58,264,000
118,997,000
79,480,000
0
Denver-D
4,156,000
3,912,000
7,569,000
13,333,000
9,910,000
8,362,000
8,006,000
9,418,000
0
0
5,258,000
4,450,000
5,638,000
5,730,000
6,436,000
8,370,000
0
0
7,480,000
12,092,000
24,814,000
17,826,000
7,020,000
San Francisco-S
1,209,000
3,470,000
1,505,000
11,860,000
4,193,000
4,882,000
7,521,000
9,689,000
1,557,000
6,142,000
1,437,000
6,256,000
970,000
3,430,000
6,936,000
7,754,000
5,435,000
1,200,000
0
10,300,000
14,930,000
5,635,000
0

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1937-D 3-legged Buffalo Nickel
1937-D 3-legged Buffalo Nickel

Have you seen any three-legged buffalo lately?

Well on some of the 1937-D Buffalo Nickels, the poor buffalo is missing his right front leg.

It seems the guys at the mint were trying to repair a damaged die and inadvertently removed part of the buffalo's leg.

Many of these coins were already released out into circulation before the goof was noticed.

So keep your eye out for three-legged buffalo, they are valuable coins!




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2005 P Buffalo Nickel
2005 P Buffalo Nickel

The Buffalo Nickel is making a come back after almost 70 years.

The US Mint released the Westward Journey Nickel Series of coins in 2005 to commemorate the bicentennials of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition.

One of the coins in the series features Thomas Jefferson on the obverse (front) and an American bison on the reverse.




For some great deals on U.S. Buffalo Nickels and Coin Supplies visit my friends at Jake's Marketplace, Inc. They have a very comprehensive selection to choose from and give great discounts!



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