1913-S 5C Buffalo Nickel Type 1 PCGS MS65- Trader Bea Label

Coin Highlights

• Issuer: United States of America

• Date: 1913

• Mint: San Francisco (S)

• Denomination: Five Cents (Nickel)

• Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel

• Weight: 5.00 g

• Diameter: 21.2 mm

• Grade: PCGS MS65 (Gem Uncirculated)

• Obverse Design: Native American profile facing right, a composite design by James Earle Fraser.

• Reverse Design: American bison standing on a raised mound (Type 1 reverse), with FIVE CENTS in relief below.

• Edge: Plain

• Orientation: Coin alignment (↑↓)

Historical Significance

• Introduced in 1913, the Buffalo Nickel replaced the Liberty Head (V) Nickel and quickly became a national symbol of American heritage.

• The Type 1 reverse depicts the bison standing on a raised mound. While visually striking, the design caused premature wear of the denomination, leading to the revised Type 2 flat ground design later that same year.

• The San Francisco Mint struck only 2,105,000 Type 1 nickels, making it one of the scarcer branch mint issues of the series and a popular early key date.

Collectibility

• In MS65 Gem, this coin boasts strong strikes, attractive surfaces, and full originality, placing it well above the average surviving example.

• The 1913-S Type 1 is highly desirable to both type collectors, who need a representative of the first design subtype, and series specialists seeking a tough early San Francisco issue.

• The Trader Bea label enhances presentation and collector appeal, making it especially desirable for those who enjoy specialty PCGS holders.