The silver American Buffalo commemorative coin
Released in 2001, the Silver Buffalo Commemorative coin absolutely “flew off the shelves” so to speak. This silver coin was proposed by a Citizen Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee as a five-year plan.
Their main point to Congress was that after the collapse of the commemorative market in the mid 90’s, coin collectors were attracted to classic and iconic designs, in order to succeed they would have to be incorporated into the new coins.
The 1913 Type 1 Buffalo Nickel design was chosen for the new coin, which turned out to be a stroke of marketing genius. The coins were wildly popular, they sold out in 14 days from release!
The Silver American Buffalo Obverse
The iconic Buffalo Nickel was designed by James Earle Fraser, and first released in 1913. The obverse of the coin features the profile of a Native American, which is actually three different men. Three Native American Chiefs modeled for Fraser sometime in the early 1900s, they were Chief Iron Tail, Chief Big Tree, and Chief Two Moons. All three men at the time were performers in Wild West Shows in New York City.
The Silver American Buffalo Reverse
The reverse of the coin features an American Buffalo (I’ve been told they’re actually bison but I'll use both terms interchangeably here). The icon of the American Bison is evocative of the Wild West, roaming the great wild frontier, and the explorations of Lewis & Clark.
If you’ve been to Custer State Park, or the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota (I recently had the opportunity to see it for the first time. If you haven’t seen it yet, you need to!), you’ll have seen these great lumbering creatures. Terrifyingly huge with immense power behind them.
We were stuck for a while as the herd was just lounging around blocking the road. I remember seeing an adult bison run past at full speed, racing with two of the calves. It was unbearably precious to witness them playing, but watching that great 1,000+ pounds of muscle blaze past was something you don’t really want to see in close quarters!
They truly are magnificent creatures, and an undeniable icon of America and the West. Featuring the American Buffalo (or Bison!) on this coin really was a perfect design choice.
The Silver Buffalo Coin
The coin was chosen to commemorate the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian of the Smithsonian Institution and a $10 surcharge was added to the coin to provide additional funding to the museum’s endowment, and educational outreach.
The coins had a maximum mintage of 500,000, and have retained popularity with collectors over the last 20 years. The Silver Buffalo Commemorative coin makes a desirable and affordable addition to the Buffalo Type Set, or any collection.
James Earle Fraser (1876-1953) was most well known for his famous western sculpture “The End of the Trail” as well as the Buffalo Pan-American Exposition medal, the Victory Army and Navy medal, the Navy Cross medal, and the Norse-American Centennial medal.
Do you have one of these coins? We’d love to hear about it, let us know in the comments!
(Main Post image credited as United States Mint Image)
