United States 1918-D 5 cents
The Indian Head nickel superseded the Liberty Head nickel in 1913 as part of the general freshening of coinage designs started by Theodore Roosevelt. The first issues had the "FIVE CENTS" on a grassy mound on the reverse; this was revised mid-year to put the denomination under an exergue to prevent it from wearing off. This was never done to the date, however, and dealer junk boxes are filled with "dateless" buffalo nickels (the beast on the reverse is a bison, not a buffalo, but buffalo nickel is what it's called). Many dates come poorly struck and lack detail in the Indian's hair and on the bison's pelt. This specimen is the famous 1918/7 overdate, a spectacular blunder eagerly sought by collectors. It was not noticed for many years after its release and high grade survivors are few.
Recorded mintage: 8,362,314.
Specification: 5 g, copper-nickel, 21.2 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 134.
- Alexander, David T., Coin World Comprehensive Catalog & Encyclopedia of United States Coins, Sidney, OH: Amos Press, 1995.
- Breen, Walter H., Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U. S. and Colonial Coins, New York: Doubleday, 1987.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 65th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2011.
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