How to Identify the Buffalo Nickel

What It Is

The Buffalo Nickel, also called the Indian Head Nickel, was struck by the U.S. Mint from 1913 to 1938. It was designed by James Earle Fraser and is admired for its distinctly American subject matter, drawing on both Native American portraiture and the American bison as symbols of the western frontier.

Obverse (Front)

The obverse shows the right-facing profile of a Native American man, said to be a composite based on multiple real individuals. "LIBERTY" appears to the right of the portrait, and the date is at the bottom edge.

Reverse (Back)

The reverse depicts an American bison (commonly called a buffalo) standing on a mound of earth. Two design varieties exist: the 1913 "Type 1" shows the bison standing on a raised mound with "FIVE CENTS" on the mound itself, while the 1913 "Type 2" (used for the remainder of the series) shows the bison on a flat, plain line with "FIVE CENTS" recessed below it. "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "E PLURIBUS UNUM" arc around the top and border.

Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge

The coin measures 21.2 mm in diameter and weighs 5 grams, struck in a 75% copper and 25% nickel alloy. The edge is plain (smooth, not reeded).

Mint Marks

On Type 1 (early 1913), the mint mark sits on the reverse, on the raised mound beneath "FIVE CENTS." From Type 2 (mid-1913) onward, it appears below the "FIVE CENTS" denomination, on the plain ground line. No letter indicates Philadelphia; "D" is Denver and "S" is San Francisco.

Telling It Apart From Similar Coins

The Buffalo Nickel's design is distinct from the preceding Liberty Head "V" Nickel (which shows a female Liberty head and a large Roman numeral "V" on the reverse) and the following Jefferson Nickel (a portrait of Thomas Jefferson with Monticello on the reverse), so confusion between series is unlikely; the main identification challenge is distinguishing the 1913 Type 1 from Type 2 and locating a worn date.

Grading at a Glance

Because the date and mint mark sit on a raised, high-wear area, many circulated Buffalo Nickels have a completely worn-off, illegible date, sometimes called "dateless" nickels. To grade a coin, check the definition of the horn and hair detail on the bison and the cheekbone and braid on the portrait; a well-preserved coin shows a full horn on the bison and sharp facial definition on the portrait.

Authenticity Red Flags

Because a full, legible date and mint mark greatly affect a coin's desirability, some sellers alter or add digits to a worn or dateless coin to simulate a rarer date, so examine any date closely for tooling marks, an inconsistent font, or an unnaturally sharp date on an otherwise worn coin. A coin's weight, diameter, and plain (non-reeded) edge should also match specification, and a cast copy will typically show a grainy texture and softer overall detail than a genuinely struck coin. A date that looks crisp and fresh while the rest of the coin (portrait, rims, and bison) shows heavy, even wear is a strong sign the date was re-engraved.