James Earle Fraser, a creative artist best known for his "End of the Trail" Indian sculpture, created a truly unique design for the buffalo nickel or as it is some times called the Indian head nickel. This coin circulated from 1913 to 1938. Fraser once said "that his goal in designing the Indian head nickel was to create a coin that typified America." Three Indian's served as models for the Indian head nickel, Two Moons (Cheyenne) and Iron Tail (Sioux) and third Indian that Fraser could not remember but is said to be Chief John Big Tree (Iroquois). As the story goes Big Tree posed for the nose and forehead, two moons modeled for the cheek and chin and Two Moons for the hair and headdress. The reverse of James Earle Frasers Indian head nickel is reported to be a bison named Black Diamond who lived in the Bronx Park Zoo. However, some numismatists dispute this story as well as the third Indian. The bison was used by Fraser in keeping with distinctly American theme. Over 1.2 billion Buffalo Nickels were minted from 1913 through 1938 at three mints, Philadelphia (no mintmark), San Francisco (S), and Denver (D). The mintmark can be found on the reverse under "Five Cents." The famous 1937-D 3-legged Buffalo is an extremely popular and high priced variety caused by excessive die-polishing when the coins were minted. In the mid 1930s the United States was in the midst of the Great Depression. One of the most interesting and creative collectibles found from this time period is the "Hobo Nickel." Hoboes or homeless people as they are called today altered the Indian head nickels into soldiers, clowns, ladies and even past president's. The most popular subject was an person, usually wearing a derby and sporting a beard. Real 1930s Hobo Nickels are worth $50.00 to $100.00 or more. However be aware of counterfeits. Books and catalogs are available on eBay. |
