American Buffalo Commemorative Coin

The American Buffalo Commemorative Coin was available from the U.S. Mint from June 7, 2001, until it sold out on June 21, 2001. The authorized mintage limit was 500,000 coins. The coin commemorates the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian. The design recreates the famous Buffalo Nickel minted from 1913 to 1938. That design features two American icons: a Native American profile and an American buffalo.

Three different Native Americans – Chief Iron Tail, Chief Big Tree and Chief Two Moons – modeled for Fraser for the coin. All three were performers in Wild West shows in New York City. The buffalo model came from the Central Park Zoo.

Fraser (1876-1953) was known for his famous western sculpture, “The End of the Trail.” He also designed the Buffalo Pan-American Exposition Medal; the Victory Army and Navy medal; the Navy Cross Medal; and the Norse-American Centennial medal.

The National Museum of the American Indian

The fate of the American Buffalo – or bison – was linked to the fate of the Native American, and vice versa. Native Americans hunted the bison and used the carcass for everything from shelter and food to needles and cooking implements—they were known for wasting nothing.

The study of Native Americans, including their language, literature, history, art and anthropology, is the purpose of the proposed National Museum of the American Indian. The museum will feature more than 10,000 years of American history. The 260,000 square foot museum is scheduled to open on the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol in 2004 and is expected to attract about 6 million visitors a year.

Ground was broken for the museum on September 28, 1999.