American indian coin

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez. The Indian Head penny may be one of the most popular U. Indian Head pennies were designed by James B. Longacre and were first released in circulation in Indian Head pennies are generally common, though they do not show up in circulation any more except for very rare exceptions. The Buffalo nickel is a Native American coin loved by many.

The Native American on the obverse of the coin is actually a composite that Fraser sketched, inspired by the features of 3 actual Native Americans.

The U.S. Mint is proud to offer the Native American $1 Coin Program with changing reverse designs each year and a common obverse design featuring Sacagawea.

Maybe we should start calling the coin a Bison nickel instead of a Buffalo nickel, huh? Actually, the Buffalo nickel is also often referred to as an Indian Head nickel, though the term Buffalo nickel seems to have far more popularity. There have been occasional reports of some people finding a Buffalo nickel in circulation in recent years, but they have been virtually absent from pocket change since at least the early s.

Many who were homeless — or otherwise down on their luck — have used Buffalo nickels as the canvas for artistic coin sculptures. Called Hobo nickels , these carved Buffalo nickels were often exchanged for food, a place to sleep, clothing, and other necessary provisions. The popular Buffalo Indian Head nickel has inspired the U. In , the United States Mint released the famous Sacagawea gold dollar.

This gold dollar, which features an image of the Shoshone woman named Sacagawea on the coin, she is carrying her infant son, Jean Baptiste , was designed by Glenna Goodacre.