U.S. 1913-S Type 1 Buffalo Nickel — Fine 12
Designed by James Earle Fraser | San Francisco Mint | Rare First-Year Issue
Add an essential cornerstone of 20th-century American numismatics to your inventory with this 1913-S Type 1 Buffalo Nickel. As a first-year issue minted at San Francisco with a remarkably low production total, this coin is heavily sought after by date-run collectors and type-coin enthusiasts alike.
Mintage & Key Specifications
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Issuing Mint: San Francisco ("S" mint mark on the reverse beneath "FIVE CENTS")
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Mintage Figure: 2,105,000 pieces (One of the lowest mintages of the series)
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Design Type: Type 1 (Features the bison standing on a raised mound / ground line, which was changed later in 1913 because the high relief wore away too quickly in circulation)
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Designer: James Earle Fraser
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Composition: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
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Diameter: 21.21 mm
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Weight: 5.0 grams
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Grade Condition: Fine 12 (F-12) — Displays even, honest circulation wear characteristic of a well-preserved mid-grade coin. The major design features, clear date ("1913"), and the "S" mint mark are all fully readable. Hair details on the Native American show moderate definition, and the bison's major body lines are distinct.
Numismatic & Historical Significance
The year 1913 introduced James Earle Fraser’s immortal masterpiece, but the San Francisco Mint struck only a fraction of the coins produced in Philadelphia and Denver that year. Furthermore, the Type 1 "raised mound" design was only minted for a few months before the U.S. Mint flattened it to protect the denomination text on the reverse.
Because of its scarcity, a genuine 1913-S Type 1 in collectible Fine 12 condition represents a fantastic mixture of historical rarity and affordability, ensuring solid demand from collectors building a serious collection.
