Buffalo Nickel 1913 Type 2 About Good

The 1913 Buffalo Nickel Type 2 is one of the earliest issues of the famous Buffalo Nickel series and represents an important transition in United States coinage design during the early twentieth century. Introduced in 1913, the Buffalo Nickel replaced the Liberty Head Nickel, which had been in circulation since 1883. The new design was part of a broader movement within the United States Mint to create more artistic and distinctly American coinage. Sculptor James Earle Fraser designed the Buffalo Nickel with the goal of capturing the spirit of the American West and honoring Native American heritage. The year 1913 saw two different reverse designs, now referred to by collectors as Type 1 and Type 2. The Type 1 version featured the buffalo standing on a raised mound, but this design proved impractical because the denomination wore away quickly in circulation. Later in 1913 the design was modified to the Type 2 version, where the mound was flattened and the denomination was recessed into the ground line to protect it from wear. The 1913 Type 2 issue therefore represents the first year of the improved and more durable design used for the remainder of the Buffalo Nickel series.

The design of the Buffalo Nickel is widely considered one of the most iconic in the history of American coinage. The obverse features a powerful portrait of a Native American chief facing to the right. James Earle Fraser created the portrait by combining features from several Native American individuals he encountered during his life, producing a composite image meant to represent the strength and dignity of the Native American peoples of the American frontier. The portrait displays strong facial features, braided hair, and a feather in the hair, conveying a sense of realism and cultural respect. The word “LIBERTY” appears to the right of the portrait, and the date 1913 is positioned near the lower edge of the coin. The reverse of the Type 2 design features a large American bison standing on a flat ground line rather than the raised mound seen on the earlier Type 1 coins. The buffalo was reportedly modeled after a bison named Black Diamond that lived at the Central Park Zoo in New York City. Above the animal appears the inscription “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” while the denomination “FIVE CENTS” is placed below the buffalo in a recessed area that protects the lettering from wear. This design modification improved the durability of the coin during circulation.

The 1913 Buffalo Nickel Type 2 was struck at three United States Mint facilities: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. The Philadelphia Mint coins, which do not carry a mintmark, had the largest production numbers. The coins were struck in an alloy consisting of 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel, the standard composition for United States five-cent pieces since the mid-nineteenth century. Each coin weighs approximately 5 grams and measures about 21.2 millimeters in diameter. The copper-nickel alloy was chosen because of its durability, allowing the coins to withstand heavy use in circulation. Despite this durable composition, the Buffalo Nickel’s high-relief design caused many details to wear quickly, especially on coins that remained in circulation for long periods of time.

The mintage of the 1913 Type 2 Buffalo Nickel was substantial because it served as a major circulating coin in the United States economy. Millions of examples were struck across the three mints to meet the demand for small change in everyday commerce. Although the overall production numbers were large, many coins circulated extensively and developed significant wear due to their use in daily transactions. As a result, high-grade examples are much less common today than lower-grade pieces. The Type 2 design continued to be used for the remainder of the Buffalo Nickel series until it was replaced by the Jefferson Nickel in 1938. The 1913 Type 2 issue remains historically important because it marks the first year of the improved reverse design that would define the series for the next twenty-five years.

The condition described as About Good indicates that the coin has experienced very heavy circulation and displays significant wear across both sides. In this grade most of the finer design details have been worn away from long use. On the obverse the outline of the Native American portrait remains visible, but the hair detail and facial features are largely smooth. The word “LIBERTY” may be faint or partially visible, while the date 1913 typically remains readable though often weak. On the reverse the buffalo’s outline can still be recognized, but much of the detail in the animal’s body and the ground line has worn away. The denomination “FIVE CENTS” and portions of the lettering may still be visible but are often weak due to circulation wear. Despite the heavy wear typical of an About Good example, the 1913 Type 2 Buffalo Nickel remains an important collectible because it represents the first year of the improved design in one of the most beloved and recognizable coin series in American numismatics.