Historical Backdrop to the Gold Buffalo Coin’s Iconic Design
Roosevelt used his influence to secure the most renowned American sculptor of the day, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, to design ‘his’ gold coinage, including the iconic Double Eagle coin in 1907. Following these successful collaborations, the U.S. Mint commissioned Saint-Gaudens’ talented understudy, James Earle Fraser, for the Indian Head Nickel project in 1911. Fraser, a sculptor celebrated for his Western heritage sculptures, brought his distinct artistic flair to the new coin.