[carbking]

The government actually tried to save us money a few years ago, with the introduction of the Presidential Dollar series. But the public wouldn't go for it. Maybe better advertising would have helped.

Coins last significantly longer than paper. The coin collectors jumped on the Presidential Dollars, but the general public ignored them. Somewhere in the southeast US, supposedly the government stored the excess, which is reported to be in the billions of dollars. With a mintage of maybe an average of 300 million per coin, from different mints, I can easily believe this figure.

The first few years of production, the coins were available at local banks, but due to the apathy of the public, after the first few years, the coins were only available from the US Mint, and mintage figures dropped dramatically.

The portrait of the Indian on the Buffalo nickel is not that of Chief Pontiac. The paragraph below is copied from one of the numismatic sources:

"The Indian on the Indian Head or Buffalo Nickel (1913-1936) is a composite portrait of Three Indian Chiefs – Iron Tail, the Chief that faced General Custer at the battle of Little Big Horn, Two Moons and John Big Tree. The idea was to create a Native American portrait but not to associate the facial features with any specific tribe. The reverse of the coin shows a bison, often called a “buffalo”, thought to be “Black Diamond” from the Bronx Zoo."

Unfortunately, one of the "highest" areas on the Buffalo nickel is the area of the date, thus the date wore badly. Back in the 1960's, some company came out with a chemical that would cause the worn dates to be readable (briefly). I think the chemical is still available, not sure, as I do not collect Buffalo nickels.

I have posted this story before, but in a different lifetime as a teenager, I was the recipient of a unjust speeding ticket. Fine with court costs was $18.20 (THAT should tell you how long ago!). I gave the clerk a $20. bill, and received a $1. bill, three quarters, and a Buffalo nickel. The Buffalo was a 1918/1917 D in VG/Fine condition. I sold it at the local monthly coin auction for $200. This was twice what I had paid for the car!

I always found the history of U.S. coinage, like automotive history very enjoyable. Example: how many of you know the United States does not, and never has, minted a penny? Don't believe me? Look it up.

Jon.