Now the famous Buffalo design can be had in a smaller half ounce denomination. These .999 fine silver ½ ounce Buffalo Silver Rounds (1/2 troy oz silver) are ideal for silver stackers looking to add fractional silver to their holding.
Between 1913 and 1938 the United States minted the iconic "Indian Head" or "Buffalo" nickel. This design remains one of the most iconic in U.S. minting history. These half oz silver Buffalo rounds are modeled after the famous James Earl Fraser design. Its back story makes it one of the most fascinating pure silver bullion rounds to buy.
Featuring James Earle Fraser’s design of an American Buffalo and a Native American, the American Silver Buffalo Rounds depict some of the imagery associated with America’s rich history. No one really knows who the Native American featured in the picture actually is, not even the man himself (Fraser) could give an exact answer.
He wrote that a combination of three separate Native Americans were used; Iron Tail, Big Tree and Two Moons, but he could not remember for sure. Later many others had self-proclaimed to be the model for Fraser's coin. After all these years, there's still no official answer as to who holds the honor of gracing the obverse of these beautiful rounds. Fraser himself was part of native American life, living in Winona, Minnesota, during an era where native Americans were being forced west or into colonies during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Fraser’s design seems to be a depiction of the images memorable to him during his life on the frontier. He seems to have chosen a design depicting what American life meant to him and, therefore, the imagery of the American Buffalo and Native American symbolize two key features and sets of characters within his own life.