US · Five Cents · 1913–1938
Buffalo / Indian Head Nickel (1913–1938)
Native American profile on the obverse; American bison on the reverse. Type 1 (1913) shows the bison on a raised mound; Type 2 (1913–1938) flattened the mound to reduce wear on the date.
i.
Reference photos
Obverse
Photo: Original uploader was Carptrash at en.wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-3.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buffalonickel.jpg (cc-by-sa-3.0) 
Photo: 1935_Indian_Head_Buffalo_Nickel.jpg: The original uploader was Bobby131313 at English Wikipedia. / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Indian_Head_Buffalo_Obverse.png (public-domain) 
Photo: Danthoms / Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-4.0) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buffalo_nickles.jpg (cc-by-sa-4.0) 
Photo: US Mint (coin), National Numismatic Collection (photograph by Jaclyn Nash) / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NNC-US-1913-5C-Buffalo_Nickel_(TyI-mound).jpg (public-domain)
Reverse
Photo: 1935_Indian_Head_Buffalo_Nickel.jpg: The original uploader was Bobby131313 at English Wikipedia. / Wikimedia Commons (public-domain) — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Indian_Head_Buffalo_Reverse.png (public-domain)
ii.
Specifications
| Designer | James Earle Fraser |
|---|---|
| Composition | 75% copper / 25% nickel |
| Weight | 5 g |
| Diameter | 21.2 mm |
| Edge | Plain |
| Series | Buffalo Nickel |
| Years issued | 1913–1938 |
iii.
Key dates & varieties
| Year | Mintmark | Variety | Mintage | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | D | Overdate 1918/7-D | — | key |
| 1937 | D | 3-Legged Buffalo | — | key |
iv.
All varieties
| Year | Mintmark | Variety | Mintage | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | P | Type 1 (Mound) | 31.0M | common |
| 1913 | P | Type 2 (Plain) | 29.9M | common |
| 1918 | D | Overdate 1918/7-D | — | key |
| 1937 | D | 3-Legged Buffalo | — | key |