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.
The coin you describe is referred to as an " Indian Head Nickel " or sometimes a " Buffalo Nickel ".
The first Indian Head/Buffalo Nickel was minted in Philadephia in the year 1913. The coin is actually called a buffalo nickel or an Indian head nickel, but not "buffalo head". After all, it shows the entire buffalo, not just its head :)
An Indian head
The buffalo is the back. The front is an Indian head.
It's an Indian head nickel or a buffalo nickel, not "buffalo head" - the entire buffalo is shown, not just its head, LOL! See the Related Question for answers.
It's Indian Head or Buffalo nickel not Buffalo Head, values are $1.00-$3.00 for average coins
The coin is called an Indian Head nickel or a buffalo nickel, not "buffalo head" - after all, it shows the entire buffalo! Please see the question "What is the value of a 1936 US nickel?" for more information.
The coin is called an Indian Head nickel or a buffalo nickel, not "buffalo head" - after all, it shows the entire buffalo! Please see the question "What is the value of a 1934 US nickel?" for more information.
The coin is called an Indian Head nickel or a buffalo nickel, not "buffalo head" - after all, it shows the entire buffalo! Please see the Related Question for more details.
This coin is commonly called either a buffalo nickel or an Indian head nickel but not a "buffalo head nickel" - after all, it shows the whole buffalo! Please see the question "What is the value of a 1927 US nickel?" for more information.
No nickel has Mount Vernon on it.Mount Vernon was George Washington's home, but Jeffersonis on the nickel and his home is called Monticello, just like the word underneath the building tells you! Before that (1913-1938), we had the Five Cent Indian Head nickel, popularly called the "Buffalo" nickel with an Indian head on the face (the obverse side) and a buffalo on the back (the reverse side).
The coin is called an Indian head nickel or a buffalo nickel, not a "buffalo head". It shows the entire buffalo, not just its head. Please see the question "What is the value of a 1920 US nickel?" for more information.