Buffalo Nickels

The Buffalo Nickel is one of the most beloved US coins. Also known as the Indian Head Nickel, this coin carries the enduring image of the American Bison on the reverse of the coin. The images used on the coin are famous for their depiction of the native beauty of the American West.

The Buffalo Nickel was designed by James E. Fraser. It was minted from 1913 to 1937 at the Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco mints. The series contains some notable highlights and key date coins that make the series both a challenge and a pleasure to collect.

The design of the coin proved so popular and enduring that it was later reused on two modern offerings from the US Mint, the Buffalo Silver Dollar and Buffalo Gold Bullion.

Buffalo Nickel Series Highlights

The Buffalo series contains one of the most notable mint errors, the 1937-D Three Legged Buffalo. The buffalo pictured on the coin is missing one of the front legs. The hoof and stump at the bottom of the leg remain visible. This fascinating error was caused when a mint employee ground the leg off of the mint die when trying to remove some other marks. This coin is considered the key date of the series since most collectors desire an example for their sets.

Besides the regular mint issues, Proof Buffalo Nickels were minted for few years. This gives them a special appeal for collectors. Matte proof coins were minted in limited numbers from 1913 to 1917. Following this brief run, proof coins were not minted again until the final years of the series from 1937 to 1938.

American Buffalo Silver Commemorative

In 2001 the Mint decided to reuse the classic Buffalo design for the American Buffalo Silver Commemorative Dollar. This coin was authorized in commemoration of the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. The coin contains one ounce of silver and was released in both Proof and Uncirculated versions from the US Mint. The coin had a maximum authorized mintage of 500,000 coins and sold out within less than a week.

American Buffalo Gold Bullion

Perhaps due in part to the immense popularity of the Buffalo Silver Dollar, in 2006 the reused the Buffalo design once again. This time the design was used for the American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins. These coins were offered as an alternative to the popular American Gold Eagle Coins. In contrast, the Buffalo Gold Bullion coins were minted in 24 karat gold, as opposed to using an alloy. The first coin was offered in 2006 and the coins continue to be minted today. The uncirculated version of the coin are available from authorized gold bullion dealers. A proof version of the coin is available directly from the US Mint.

Completing Your Buffalo Nickel Collection

With the continuing use of the Buffalo Nickel design on modern coins, the popularity of the series is sure to continue. Now is a great time to complete your collection! View a selection of Certified Buffalo Nickels for sale. Coins below are certified by PCGS or NGC, the leaders in coin grading.