Who is the Indian on the face of a buffalo nickel?

Answer 1

The image of a Native American chief is actually a composite of several individuals. Over the years the coin's designer, James Earle Fraser, told varying stories about his models but many sources state they were Chiefs Iron Tail, a Sioux, Big Tree, a Kiowa, and Two Moons, a Cheyenne.

Answer 2

The image is a generic and rather stylized representation of an Indian princess. It's not known who posed for the picture. To quote from the U.S. Treasury fact sheet:

There is a popular rumor about the design of this coin, which states that Mr. Longacre used his daughter as his model for the Indian likeness on the cent. Unfortunately, this information has not been authenticated in United States Mint files

Answer 3

It is a personification of Liberty. It was designed by James Barton Longacre. And it is actually modeled after a 12 year old girl, who went into the mint and put on a head dress that was there from a local indian and then when longacre seen this, he came up with the idea. I know this becuase that little girl is a way distant reletive of mine and her last name was friend, which was my grandma's mom's mom sister married last name. There is articles on this ive seen that my granny has. MY great grandmother became a Case when married and morris after that.

Answer 4

Buffalo or Indian head but not "buffalo head". After all, it shows the entire animal!

The image is a composite. The coin's designer gave the names of several different individuals he had used as models. By most accounts there were three: Iron Tail, a Sioux, Big Tree, a Kiowa, and Two Moons, a Cheyenne.

Answer 5

Assuming you're referring to modern Native American dollar coins, they carry a stylized image representing the famous guide Sacajawea.

No one knows what she actually looked like so the coin's designer used a Native American college student as her model.

Answer 6

The identities of the models for the Native American on the obverse and for the bison on the reverse are not known with certainty. The Indian was a type, rather than based on a specific individual, and identified various Native Americans as models, not always consistently, including Iron Tail, Two Moons, and Big Tree (of the Kiowa people)

Answer 7

It's a stylized portrait that the artist developed from several live models.

Answer 8

Sacagawea