ON THE TRAIL OF A BUFFALO NICKEL TYPE COIN

Introduction
I have always loved Buffalo nickels! I remember my exhilaration after purchasing a treasured Buffalo nickel in the early 1970s. It was a 1937-D three-legged variety in EF. Mentoring from older numismatists helped me make a wise selection. As a high school student, I was the second youngest member of the South Central Nebraska Coin Club in Hastings, Nebraska, in the mid-1970s.

Fast forward to many years later. I purchased a beautiful light gold-toned 1913-S Type II PCGS OGH MS 63 from Park Avenue Numismatics of Miami, FL, in 2006. I also picked up a wonderful 1926-S PCGS OGH VF 35 from Terry Lenz of Key Date Coins at the Colorado Springs Coin Show in 2010. I ended up trading these coins for several high-grade Draped Bust half cents in 2015 and 2016.

To prepare for my new Buffalo nickel acquisition, I reread parts of The Complete Guide to Buffalo Nickels, David Lange, 2006; Renaissance of American Coinage: 1909-1915, Roger Burdette, 2007; A Guidebook of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels, David Bowers, 2007; and The Expert's Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins, also by Bowers, 2005. Perusing these books reminded me that the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center in Oklahoma City is the repository of artworks by James Earle Fraser and Laura Gardin Fraser. I have long admired Laura's new quarter design with an obverse depiction of George Washington. Her winning design in 1931 should have been on our nation's quarters in 1932! Syracuse University retains the Frasers' personal papers. After retirement, I would be interested in doing archival research on the Frasers and their coin and medal designs at these locations.

Conducting Research
After contemplating the 1913-Type I, the 1915-P, and the 1938-D as some of the most well-struck American Bison nickels, I opted to focus on the singular year 1913-Type I which can be purchased for a reasonable price in MS 64 or MS 65. I like the raised ground look on the 1913-Type I and the fact that this was the first date minted in a new series.

Making the Purchase
I prefer Buffalo nickels with toning to avoid dipped coins. I studied dozens of specimens on the Certified Coin Exchange and many other dealer sites. After an extensive search, I finally settled on a 1913-Type I NGC MS 65 that I found on eBay.

This wonderful coin arrived in the mail today (6/13/20). It looks even better in person than it did in the eBay images! My wife Beth bought this coin for me as a Father's Day gift. I am very pleased with it!

To read Jeff's earlier article, see:
JEFF BURKE'S SAINT-GAUDENS DOUBLE EAGLE QUEST (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n15a26.html)

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