Why are they called "Buffalo" nickels, instead of "Indian" nickels?

Russ

Just something I've been wondering about.

Russ, NCNE

IndianHeadMan

because the indian thing was done before and Buffalo was something new. Why do we call them state quarters instead of Washingtons?

airplanenut

could also be political correctness

wayneherndon

Actually, both names are used although "Indian Head" is far less common. The Redbook, for example, uses both names.

WH

Twowood

I've heard them called Buffalos AND Indian Heads...excuse me...Native American Heads ! Twowood

jhar

Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways????


"Buffalo Nickels" was a more popular name I guess.

coinguy1

According to Walter Breen, the reverse of these coins actually depicts an American bison (by the name of Black Diamond, living in Central Park at the time), as opposed to a European buffalo. Apparently, most people don't draw a distinction between the two. When Balck Diamond met his end, "Black Diamond Steaks" were sold for $2/lb. Ok, I guess that's enough information - I wont mention what supposedly happened with Black Diamond's head (unless enough of you beg me to).

wayneherndon

Intestingly, the coin was lambasted as a travesty in coinage desing when it was issued. Isn't that amazing given the popularity it has now (which led to the quick sell out of the commems using the design)?

WH

PS: I understand many people tried to save Black Diamond from the packer but the packer refused preferring to get the big dollars for the steaks. The head, I've read someplace, was displayed at a coin show a few years back. Perhaps Mark can confirm whether that is the case or not.

prooflike

What happened to the head??

BNE

I thought the head was in a museum. In David Lange's TERRIFIC "Guide to Buffalo Nickels," there is a great picture of David posing underneath the mounted head.

I really recommend this book, which -- among other things -- discusses the design history, public reaction to it, the minutiae of mint politics at the time (That jealous Charles Barber!) and the demands made on Fraser by a pain-in-the-butt manufacturer of a counterfeit coin detection system.

Twowood

Okay...What happened to Black Diamond's head? Twowood

Gilbert

Head mounted, I believe.

Indian head is a morphing of three separate Native Americans.

Controversy over whether the "Bison" is really Black Diamond, from NY Zoo.

Why not called Indian head - the Native Americans have never gotten any respect; the so-called indian head coins are Liberty in a head dress, the Buff nick is referred to by its reverse. I guess you could say the $2.50 quarter eagle has been accepted as the Indian head quarter eagle, but ...

BNE

Link

coinguy1

The Buffalo head was purportedly displayed at the 1985 A.N.A. - I didn't see it.

To add to what Gilbert said - we do refer to certain $2.50, $5.00 and $10.00 gold pieces as "Indian" or "Indian Head".

keets

for all who don't know, the "Indian Head" gold $2.50 and $5.00 coins and the "Indian Head" five cent piece are the last quarter free submissions.

al h.

shirohniichan

The truth over this travesty is here revealed for the first time.

Powerful Bison interests are at work in the US government. In fact, 75% of THEM are at least half bison. When it came time to name the 5 cent pieces, Native Americans were pushed aside to instead promote the interests of THEM and their bison ways. It's pure bigotry, plain and simple.

Russ

You know, shiro, that's what I was thinking.

Russ, NCNE

Libertad

Libertad

OK, I sttuttered.

Ah, the History !! Glorious! PCGS Lingo page notes that the slang term 'Buffalo' nickel is the prevalent term among numismatists.

James Earle Fraser was a student and assistant to Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and later had a group of art students of his own.
His medalic artwork flourished through commissioning, and he created the Navy Cross medal in 1919.

At the Pan.-Pac. Int. Expo in 1915, he was awarded a gold medal for the "End of the Trail" sculpture which is now often mistakenly attributed to other artists of the time.

Fraser and his contemporaries were involved in a movement called 'representational symbolism' and used models for their realistic work, John Big Tree was the model for the 'End of the Trail' sculpture, and I did read that while he was sketching Black Diamond at the Bronx zoo, the buffalo kept turning to face him, which foiled the profile he wanted. He moved the easel, but the buffalo would turn/face again until a helper was enlisted to distract the beast so the profile could be sketched.

The incuse 'F' present below the date on the Buffalo nickel is often still prominent after the raised lettering is completely worn smooth.

Nice tribute.

Conder101

One thing that no one has mentioned is what happened to the hide. It was made into an automobile robe.

Steve27

"Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways????"

Because driveways lead to garages that are already filled with other stuff, and parkways lead to state parks.

Thus the real question is: why are they called "V" nickels instead of "Liberty" nickels?

shirohniichan

One thing that no one has mentioned is what happened to the hide. It was made into an automobile robe.

That was only before THEM came into power.

richbeat

"Mercury" dime is also a misnomer, although everyone calls them that. The more accurate description is winged liberty, supposedly depicting liberty of thought.

BNE

The so-called "Susan B. Anthony" is another common misnomer.


Its real name is "Ugly on a Stick."

richbeat

BNE,