Buffalo Nickel

The Buffalo Nickel is highly regarded as a popular and iconic coin due to its unique design and representation of American heritage. The captivating depiction of a Native American chief on the obverse side and the powerful image of an American bison on the reverse side evoke a sense of nostalgia and connection to the American West. The Buffalo Nickel's artistic design, combined with its historical significance, has made it a favorite among collectors and coin enthusiasts.

Yes, there are several valuable and rare varieties of the Buffalo Nickel that collectors seek. One notable example is the 1916 Doubled Die Obverse variety, where the inscriptions on the obverse side appear doubled due to a misalignment during the minting process. Another sought-after variety is the 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel, which exhibits a buffalo with a weakened or missing leg due to excessive die polishing. These varieties, along with other scarce dates and mint marks, can command higher prices in the numismatic market.

The Buffalo Nickel is composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel. It was the first nickel to have a composition that included copper, which gives the coin a distinct reddish-brown appearance. The change in composition was made to address the durability issues experienced with the earlier Liberty Nickel, which had a higher proportion of nickel. The copper-nickel alloy used in the Buffalo Nickel has proven to be more resistant to wear and has contributed to the coin's longevity.