1928-S Buffalo/Indian Head Nickel
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The Buffalo Nickel (officially the Indian Head Nickel) is a U.S. five-cent coin featuring a portrait of a Native American Indian on one side and an image of a buffalo (bison) on the other.
It was designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser in 1912 as part of the U.S. Mint’s campaign to beautify American coinage.
It was produced at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints from 1913 to 1938.
The first coins were distributed on February 22, 1913, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the National American Indian Memorial at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, New York.
Forty nickels were sent by the Mint for the ceremony in which most of the coins were distributed amongst the Native American chiefs who participated in the ceremony.
After the groundbreaking ceremony, the memorial was never built and was dubbed a “philanthropic humbug” by the media.
The Indian head nickel turned out to be difficult to coin. The coins tended to strike indistinctly and were subject to wear with the dates easily worn away in circulation.
The Treasury was eager to discontinue the coin.
In 1938, after the expiration of the minimum 25-year period during which the design could not be replaced, it was replaced by the Jefferson nickel.
Fraser’s buffalo design continues to be admired and has been used on commemorative coins such as the silver and gold American Buffalo coin series.
It was designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser in 1912 as part of the U.S. Mint’s campaign to beautify American coinage.
It was produced at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints from 1913 to 1938.
The first coins were distributed on February 22, 1913, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the National American Indian Memorial at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, New York.
Forty nickels were sent by the Mint for the ceremony in which most of the coins were distributed amongst the Native American chiefs who participated in the ceremony.
After the groundbreaking ceremony, the memorial was never built and was dubbed a “philanthropic humbug” by the media.
The Indian head nickel turned out to be difficult to coin. The coins tended to strike indistinctly and were subject to wear with the dates easily worn away in circulation.
The Treasury was eager to discontinue the coin.
In 1938, after the expiration of the minimum 25-year period during which the design could not be replaced, it was replaced by the Jefferson nickel.
Fraser’s buffalo design continues to be admired and has been used on commemorative coins such as the silver and gold American Buffalo coin series.
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