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The reverse design of buffalo nickels was changed in mid-1913 because of excessive wear to both the dies used to strike the coins and the coins themselves.

The first buffalo nickels featured the buffalo standing on a raised mound. That design caused dies to wear out three times faster than expected. In addition both the date and denomination started to wear quickly after the coins were in circulation.

In an effort to fix the problem, the coin's designer James Earle Fraser and the Mint's chief engraver Charles Barber modified the design to make it easier to strike and reduce circulation wear. The raised mound was changed to a smaller flat plain, and words FIVE CENTS were altered to make them larger and less subject to wear.

In spite of these changes the coins continued to suffer from excessive die breakage and circulation wear. Even though the coins were extremely popular they were replaced with the now-familiar Jefferson nickel immediately at the end of the statutory 25-year period for new designs.

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Q: Why was the design changed on the buffalo nickel?
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