Collecting coins has been popular throughout the world and history. Some people collect coins as an investment others such as myself collect coins as a hobby and I started collecting coins many years ago. My interest was more in the coins itself and not so much as to the grade of the coins, though I always looked for the best grade possible within my budget. For people who collect anything; coins, stamps, art work or even rocks for a hobby, one thing that makes the hobby worth while, other than the ownership of the object, is to be able to display and show them to others.
The Liberty Head nickel, is also called the V nickel due to the Roman numeral V on the reverse side. Liberty Head Nickels were minted from 1883 to 1912. Though, an mint official did produced some V Nickels dated 1913. There are only five 1913 V nickels known. The Liberty Head nickels were minted at Philadelphia, except for a small quantity minted in 1912 from Denver and San Francisco. The first type of this coin in 1883 did not have the word CENTS on the reverse, but was added on later that year. The coins was designed by Charles E. Barber. The composition is 75% copper and 25% nickel, with a 21.2 mm diameter. It weights 5 grams and has a plain edge.
The Buffalo nickel was designed by James Earle Fraser. The obverse of the coin has a profile of a Native American. Fraser used three models for the coin; Iron Tail, who was a Oglala Sioux, Two Moons, a Cheyenne chief and John Big Tree from the Seneca Nation. Underneath the date is his initial F. On the reverse side, a bison named Black Diamond was used as a model for the coin. The Buffalo nickels were minted from 1913 to 1938. In 1937 too much polishing on some of the coins at the Denver Mint caused the right foreleg on the bison to be removed creating the three legged variety. There is also a 3 ½ variety from 1936 also from the Denver Mint. The coins were minted at three mints; Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco. The coins are also know as Bison or Indian Head nickels.
