The composition of the Buffalo nickel, also called the Indian Head nickel, is primarily copper and nickel. Particularly, it includes 75% copper and 25% nickel. This alloy offers the coin its distinctive look and sturdiness.
Understanding the metallic make-up of historic coinage is important for collectors, historians, and people focused on numismatics. Figuring out the exact composition permits for correct valuation, authentication, and a greater understanding of the financial context by which these cash had been produced and circulated. The absence of treasured metals like silver differentiates it from different cash of the period, impacting its intrinsic worth and collectibility.