Introduction
I have always loved Buffalo nickels! I remember my exhilaration after purchasing a treasuredBuffalo nickel in the early 1970s. It was a 1937-D three-legged variety in EF. Mentoring fromolder numismatists helped me make a wise selection. As a high school student, I was the secondyoungest member of the South Central Nebraska Coin Club in Hastings, Nebraska, in the mid-1970s.

Fast forward to many years later. I purchased a beautiful light gold-toned 1913-S Type II PCGSOGH MS 63 from Park Avenue Numismatics of Miami, FL, in 2006. I also picked up awonderful 1926-S PCGS OGH VF 35 from Terry Lenz of Key Date Coins at the ColoradoSprings Coin Show in 2010. I ended up trading these coins for several high-grade Draped Busthalf cents in 2015 and 2016.

To prepare for my new Buffalo nickel acquisition, I reread parts of The Complete Guide toBuffalo Nickels, David Lange, 2006; Renaissance of American Coinage: 1909-1915, RogerBurdette, 2007; A Guidebook of Buffalo and Jefferson Nickels, David Bowers, 2007; andThe Expert's Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins, also by Bowers, 2005. Perusingthese books reminded me that the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Centerin Oklahoma City is the repository of artworks by James Earle Fraser and Laura Gardin Fraser. Ihave long admired Laura's new quarter design with an obverse depiction of George Washington.Her winning design in 1931 should have been on our nation's quarters in 1932! SyracuseUniversity retains the Frasers' personal papers. After retirement, I would be interested in doingarchival research on the Frasers and their coin and medal designs at these locations.

Conducting Research
After contemplating the 1913-Type I, the 1915-P, and the 1938-D as some of the most well-struck American Bison nickels, I opted to focus on the singular year 1913-Type I which can bepurchased for a reasonable price in MS 64 or MS 65. I like the raised ground look on the1913-Type I and the fact that this was the first date minted in a new series.

Making the Purchase
I prefer Buffalo nickels with toning to avoid dipped coins. I studied dozens of specimens on theCertified Coin Exchange and many other dealer sites. After an extensive search, I finally settledon a 1913-Type I NGC MS 65 that I found on eBay.

This wonderful coin arrived in the mail today (6/13/20). It looks even better in person than it didin the eBay images! My wife Beth bought this coin for me as a Father's Day gift. I am verypleased with it!

To read Jeff's earlier article, see:
JEFF BURKE'S SAINT-GAUDENS DOUBLE EAGLE QUEST(https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n15a26.html)