Buffalo Nickel Tribute – 2 oz Silver Round

A familiar pocket-change classic takes on a substantial silver form. Intaglio Mint’s Buffalo Nickel Tribute pairs a Native American portrait with the powerful American bison in 2 troy ounces of .999 fine silver. The 39mm format gives the sculptural detail room to stand out, from the feathers and braided hair to the bison’s textured coat.

An American Sculptor’s Lasting Design

James Earle Fraser’s Buffalo nickel entered circulation in 1913 and remained in production through 1938. Its bison reverse broke with the familiar eagles and wreaths of earlier American coinage, bringing a distinctly different animal to an everyday denomination.

Fraser’s career extended far beyond that small coin. He worked with Augustus Saint-Gaudens and created the Alexander Hamilton statue outside the U.S. Treasury building. That connection between monumental sculpture and miniature coin design helps explain the strong modeling of the portrait and bison: both subjects have the presence of much larger works.

Obverse Design

A right-facing Native American portrait fills the obverse, with feathers and braided hair framing the face. “LIBERTY” follows the upper-right edge, and the depicted date 1913 appears at lower left. The open field beside the profile keeps attention on the portrait’s distinctive contours.

Reverse Design

An American bison stands facing left beneath “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” “E PLURIBUS UNUM” appears above its back. Below the animal, “TWO TROY OUNCES,” the mint mark, and the hallmark identify the modern silver tribute. This is a privately minted silver round inspired by the historic nickel, rather than a five-cent circulation coin.

Specifications

• Weight: 2 troy ounces
• Metal: .999 fine silver
• Diameter: 39mm
• Thickness: Approximately 6mm
• Edge: Reeded
• Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated

Explore more designs in our silver round collection.