Buffalo Coin Pendant

$149.00

The Buffalo Coin Necklace combines vintage style with contemporary details.

Forged silver
19" chain
Coin pendant + frame is 1.5" in diameter at widest point
Coin is a reproduction of an original
Claw clasp

COIN HISTORY:

The Buffalo Nickel

The Buffalo Nickel, minted from 1913 to 1938, was designed by James Earle Fraser to capture the spirit of the American West, featuring a composite Native American portrait on the obverse and an American bison on the reverse. The coin was popular for its artistic merit but suffered from a design that wore down quickly in circulation, leading the Mint to replace it with the Jefferson Nickel in 1938.

Design & Meaning:

Sculptor:

James Earle Fraser, who had a connection to the Great Plains and admired Native American leaders, designed the coin to embody the culture and beauty of the American West.

Native American Portrait:

The portrait is a composite of several Native American leaders, including Chief Iron Tail of the Sioux and Chief Two Moons of the Cheyenne, chosen to honor dignity and resilience, not to stereotype.

Bison (Buffalo):

The bison on the reverse is a powerful, majestic symbol of the untamed West. While often associated with a zoo animal named Black Diamond, Fraser likely combined features from multiple bison to create the design.

Buffalo Coin Pendant

The Buffalo Nickel

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