The Buffalo Nickel remains one of the most recognizable designs ever featured on American coinage. As the first widely circulated US coin to prominently display an Indigenous American portrait, it established a design that continues to inspire collectors and private mints today. Among those modern releases are the 5 oz SilverTowne Buffalo Copper Rounds, now available online from BGASC.

Highlights:

• Round arrives in an individual flip!
• Faithful recreation of Buffalo Nickel visuals!
• Made in the USA!
• Struck by SilverTowne Mint!
• Contains 5 AVDP oz of .999 pure copper.
• The obverse depicts an indigenous figure.
• The reverse includes an American bison.

These 5 oz SilverTowne Buffalo Copper Rounds are packaged in individual flips and struck in the United States by SilverTowne Mint. Every round recreates the classic Buffalo Nickel artwork originally introduced in 1913 through the designs of James Earle Fraser.

Obverse

The obverse of the SilverTowne Buffalo Copper Round presents a right-facing portrait of an Indigenous American based on Fraser’s celebrated Buffalo Nickel design. The inscription Liberty appears just beyond the facial profile, while the SilverTowne pickaxe mint mark is positioned near the end of the braid on the right side of the portrait.

Reverse

The reverse of the 5 oz SilverTowne Buffalo Copper Round depicts the American bison, an animal that has long been associated with the history and heritage of the Great Plains. For generations, bison provided food, clothing, and other essential resources to Indigenous peoples. The design captures the animal in left-profile relief standing atop a raised mound, closely reflecting the original Buffalo Nickel reverse.

History

To create the Native American portrait, James Earle Fraser combined the features of three chiefs who sat for him in person: Iron Tail, Two Moons, and John Big Tree. He believed this approach created a more complete representation than using only one model. The reverse design was inspired by Black Diamond, a large bison from the Central Park Zoo whose appearance Fraser carefully translated into his enduring artwork.

Ordering

For more information about these copper rounds, contact BGASC customer service at 888-992-4272. You may also reach us by email if you need additional assistance.