The History of the Buffalo Nickel - Part I

commonli Big Kids Slides call a "Buffalo nickel,Th obvers design for the Indian Head 5-cent coin." depict a large, power portrait of an Indian, face right. The appear is rough looking, unlik the smooth cheek and other facial featur that typifi the mani version of Ladi Liberti that have been on U.S Coins. The portrait is believ to be a composit of three Indian chiefs, although the ident of the model have been disputed. A few Nativ American laid claim to be the model for the coin. The artist himself identifi two of the model as Chief Iron Tail, a Sioux and Chief Two Moons, a Cheyenne. Unfortunately, Fraser had troubl rememb the name of hi models. He had been ask the question so mani times, that it wa evid he wa grow tire of the whole issu rather than set the record straight. In an undat letter to Mint Director Georg E. Robert believ to be from 1913, suggest that Fraser consid the Indian design repres a type, rather than a direct portrait. He said he could recal Two Moon and Iron Tail as have serv as hi inspir and possibl on or two other . In alter year he drop the number of possibl other model to one.

0,Th buffalo nickel also known as the Indian head nickel wa produc from 1913 through 1938 and wa design by Jame Earl Fraser. It is actual a bison, not a buffalo, on the revers but more on that later.

Treasuri Secretari Franklin MacVeagh' son wrote to him suggest that there be a new design on the five-c piece. The son had read the law which stipul a coin design could not be chang more often than everi 25 years. The 25 year wait period for the Liberti nickel ha pass back in Februari of 1908. MacVeagh had assum offic under Presid William Howard Taft in March 1909,Earli in 1911. and miss all the excit when Presid Theodor Roosevelt manag to get sever top artist to redesign the cent and gold coins.

who recommend Fraser to Presid Theodor Roosevelt to sculptur the offici presidenti bust. Roosevelt and Fraser quickli becam friends. Despit the fact that William Howard Taft wa presid in 1912,Fraser' artist abil earn the undi respect of a dy Augustu Saint-Gaudens. Roosevelt recommend that Fraser be chosen to design the copper-nickel 5-cent coin.

it is wide specul that thi wa done becaus of previou issu with Charl E. Barber over the doubl eagl design by Augustu Saint-Gauden in 1908. Barber wa still the chief engrav and believ that he should have all author of engrav and coin design and sinc he design the nickel that wa still in production,It is interest to note that the Philadelphia mint wa kept in the dark for quit some time dure the initi design chang discussions. Though not proven. he wa probabl not in ani big hurri to chang it.