Who Were the Models for the Buffalo Nickel?

Chief Iron Tail

The profile of the Native American chief on the obverse side of the Buffalo Nickel was not a portrait of any one man. James Earle Fraser, the sculptor who designed the coin, said that the head was a composite — a type, not a portrait. However, there were three Native American chiefs in particular who sat as models for Fraser.

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James Earle Fraser, Designer of the Buffalo Nickel

James Earle Fraser

James Earle Fraser, the sculptor who designed the Buffalo Nickel, was born on November 4, 1876 in Minnesota. His father, who worked as an engineer for the railroad, was one of the group who retrieved the remains of the Seventh Cavalry after the Battle of Little Big Horn. Fraser’s early exposure to Native Americans and his life in the American West obviously shaped his later artistic style.

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Peace Dollar — Obverse (Front) Side

1922 Peace Dollar

  • The profile on the obverse (front) side of the coin is Lady Liberty. The spiked crown that she wears is purposely reminiscent of the crown worn by the Statue of Liberty.
  • The word “LIBERTY” stretches above Lady Liberty’s head, passing behind the spikes of her crown.

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Peace Dollar — Reverse Side

1922 Peace Dollar

  • The highlight of the reverse side of the coin is an American eagle clutching an olive branch (to symbolize peace). Originally the eagle was perching on a broken sword, but the sword proved to be very controversial and was removed from the final design.
  • “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and the motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” stretch across the top of the eagle.

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