One of My Favorite Pictures
BuffaloIronTail
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Iron Tail (my handle) was one of several Native Americans to pose for Frasers Buffalo Nickel. Fraser stated that the image on the Nickel was not one, but a composite of those who sat for him.
Here's Iron Tail posing with an American Bison (Buffalo):
Quite appropriate, I might add.
Pete
"I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
24
Comments
Great picture Pete.....obverse/reverse.....and, visualize the edge
Cheers, RickO
Thank you for the wonderful photo. They misspelled nickel.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Jim beat me to it!
Do you own this photo, Pete?
Will throw in a Buff for comparison:
Anyone know the backstory? My first guess was that scene was from a display at a museum, at least the backdrop with a stuffed Bison. Otherwise, I would suspect the Chief must have had some amazing hypnotic powers ala a Horse Whisperer.
More likely though a primitive version of Photoshop using photo overlays in the darkroom. (Note the differently divergent directions of the shadows from the Chief as compared to the Bison.)
Both the Indian and the Buffalo are looking the wrong way in the photo
Very cool photo, BTW.
I have an image of that from a post card in my abraded die book, along with these. The first one is featured on "The Authoritative Guide for Buffalo Nickels" that I co-authored with Kevin Flynn and John Wexler back in 2006.
Wow!
@SeattleSlammer.
I found the picture online. Copy it if you wish.
Pete
Another good one I found:
Pete
Very cool images. I have a vintage print of Two Guns around here and, if I can find it, will share it with you. Two Guns is one of the other Native Americans who was identified as having been part of the composite model for Fraser.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Great photo, history and thread! Wasn't the Buffalo named, "Black Diamond"? 2-feather photo? Lol.
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.I just looked at that and thought he’s telling that Buffalo to sit
Very cool but sad 😞
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/publishedset/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/album/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/publishedset/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/album/209923
You are correct. Black Diamond of the Bronx Zoo was the model for the reverse.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I think it is an actual image on location. The shadows are correct (even the people off camera to the left) and there is grass above the Buffalo's hoof. Am I wrong?
Here's a thought? I acknowledge the fact how the American Indian feels about America because of the obvious, but do you suppose any of Chief Iron Tail's relatives, have a collection of the Buffalo Indian Series? Hm-m-m-m?
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.Native Americans like the dateless, worn Nickels.
They carve out the fields and sell them as jewelry.
Pete
Picture where the sun would have to be to make the visible shadows thrown by the Chief and the Bison. The Chief's is going to the right in a parallel direction. The Bison's is angled forward even from the back of the Bison. Also it is odd that there is no visible shadow from the tall tepees.
The similarity of the grass under the shadows does suggest that two separate shots, at different points in time, may have been taken with the camera having remained stationary on a tripod.
My love for the buffalo nickel series runs deep
Thanks for sharing the great pics, Pete
Great pictures!
Very cool, but I am partial to this one.
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