The shield nickel was produced until 1883, when it was replaced due to manufacturing issues by the “Liberty Head” nickel. The decades that followed saw a succession of new designs, starting in 1913 with the Buffalo nickel and followed in 1938 by the initial Jefferson nickel.
When did nickel design change?
2005
In 2005, the United States Mint changed the nickel’s obverse for the first time since 1938, incorporating a new profile image of Thomas Jefferson on the obverse and two new designs, the American Bison and Ocean in View images, on the reverse.
What does a Buffalo nickel look like?
Buffalo nickels were struck from 1913 through 1938. They are among the most popular 20th-century United States coins around. The coin depicts a Native American chief on the obverse and an American bison (or “buffalo”) on the reverse. This five-cent coin is beloved for its classic Old West imagery.
Liberty Head nickel
The initial design of the Shield nickel was struck from 1866 until 1883, then was replaced by the Liberty Head nickel. The Buffalo nickel was introduced in 1913 as part of a drive to increase the beauty of American coinage; in 1938, the Jefferson nickel followed.
When did the nickel design change?
1966
In 1966 a small change was made to the design to add the initials of the designer (FS) to the obverse, underneath Jefferson’s portrait. In commemoration of that change, two proof 1966 nickels with the initials were struck and presented to him.
What did the first nickel look like?
BIG NICKEL GETS ITS COIN The first true “nickel” appeared in 1866, and bore a shield design based on the previous two-cent piece. It was a very handsome coin, and it even said “5 CENTS” on the reverse!
What was the first US nickel?
America’s first “nickels” were actually pennies. Starting in 1859, the United States Mint used a nickel and copper blend to produce its one-cent pieces, and in 1865 Congress authorized the federal government to use a similar composition for its new three-cent coin.
When did they start making the Buffalo nickel?
Many factors go into determining the value of a coin , and the value of Buffalo nickels are no exception. In 1913 the U.S. Mint retired the Liberty Head nickel (or “V” nickel) design and started making the Buffalo nickel. It is also commonly known as the Indian Head nickel.
Who is the Native American on the Buffalo nickel?
The Buffalo Nickel (sometimes called the Indian Head Nickel) is a U.S. five-cent coin that was designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser in 1912. It was part of the Mint’s campaign to beautify American coinage and featured a realistic portrait of a Native American on one side and an image of a buffalo on the other.
What makes 1913 nickel different from other Nickels?
What makes this year unique in the series are the different variations of the coin. It was minted at three different mints, each with two distinct varieties. Combined, the 1913 nickel has six different possible value scales. And just to make it interesting, the condition of your coin further affects value within each nickel type.
When did the Indian Head nickel come out?
The Buffalo Nickel was in production for the mandatory twenty-five years, from 1913 to 1938. In 1938, as soon as was allowed by law, the Mint announced a competition to design the Buffalo Nickel’s successor. The Jefferson Nickel began circulating in November 1938. Filed under Buffalo Nickel, Coin History, Indian Head Nickel. Bookmark the permalink.
