Buffalo Nickel 1913-D Type 2 About Good

The 1913-D Buffalo Nickel Type 2 is a historically important coin from the first year of one of the most famous series in United States numismatics. The Buffalo Nickel, also called the Indian Head Nickel, was introduced in 1913 to replace the Liberty Head Nickel that had been in circulation since the late nineteenth century. The new design was part of a broader effort within the United States Mint to improve the artistic quality of American coinage, a movement strongly influenced by President Theodore Roosevelt’s earlier push for more beautiful and symbolic coin designs. Sculptor James Earle Fraser was chosen to create the design, and he produced a coin that celebrated the American frontier and honored Native American heritage. During the first year of production two different reverse designs were used. The early version, known as Type 1, showed the buffalo standing on a raised mound, but this design caused the denomination to wear away too quickly in circulation. Later in 1913 the Mint modified the design to create the Type 2 reverse, where the ground beneath the buffalo was flattened and the denomination was recessed for better protection.

The obverse design of the Buffalo Nickel is one of the most recognizable images in American coinage. It features a powerful right-facing portrait of a Native American, created by Fraser using elements from several Native American individuals he studied and sketched. The portrait was intended as a symbolic representation of Native American strength, dignity, and cultural heritage rather than a depiction of a single person. The design shows the subject with braided hair, strong facial features, and a feather in the hair, giving the coin a bold and memorable appearance. The word “LIBERTY” appears to the right of the portrait, while the date 1913 is placed near the lower edge of the coin. The reverse of the Type 2 design displays a large American bison standing on a flat ground line. Fraser reportedly based the animal on 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 designed to protect the lettering from wear. This modification made the coin more practical for circulation.

The 1913-D Buffalo Nickel Type 2 was struck at the Denver Mint, which is indicated by the small “D” mintmark located on the reverse below the words “FIVE CENTS.” The coin was produced using the standard five-cent alloy of 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel, a durable composition used by the United States Mint since the 1860s. Each coin weighs approximately 5 grams and measures about 21.2 millimeters in diameter. The Denver Mint produced about 4.1 million examples of the 1913-D Type 2 Buffalo Nickel. Although this mintage was not extremely low, many of these coins circulated heavily and experienced substantial wear due to the coin’s high-relief design and widespread use in everyday commerce.

The mintage of the 1913-D Type 2 Buffalo Nickel makes it a desirable coin for collectors of the series. As a first-year issue and a coin from the Denver Mint, it holds special interest among numismatists who collect by date and mintmark. The Buffalo Nickel series remained in production from 1913 until 1938 when it was replaced by the Jefferson Nickel. Over time, large numbers of Buffalo Nickels were worn down through circulation, and many were eventually removed from circulation or melted as newer coinage replaced them. Because of this heavy use, well-preserved examples of the 1913-D Type 2 coin are much less common today than lower-grade pieces, which adds to its appeal for collectors seeking early issues of the series.

The condition described as About Good indicates that the coin has experienced very heavy circulation and shows extensive wear on both sides. In this grade most of the finer details of the design have been worn smooth from years of handling. On the obverse the outline of the Native American portrait remains visible, though the hair and facial details are mostly worn away. The word “LIBERTY” may be partially visible, and the date 1913 is usually readable but often weak. On the reverse the buffalo’s general outline can still be seen, but the details of the animal’s body and the ground line are heavily worn. The denomination “FIVE CENTS” and other lettering may be faint but generally remain identifiable. Despite the heavy wear typical of an About Good example, the 1913-D Type 2 Buffalo Nickel remains a desirable collectible because it represents the first year of the improved reverse design in one of the most beloved coin series in United States numismatics.