Actually there were 3 native American chiefs from different tribes were used to come up with the image used on the Buffalo. Not 1 individual. I saw all 3 on a TV game show called to tell the truth....back in the 1960' s. The shows premise was 3 individuals were questioned by a TV stars pannel. When the show ended and the 3 native Americans chiefs were asked for the real person to stand up....all 3 stood up. Then it went on to say that each one the artist chose different facial characteristics was used to draw the design. Plus the 3 chiefs were also on a tour of the country....and one of the panelists disqualified themselves as they had read that the 3 chiefs were on tour. I am about 10 y/o at this time and bouncing off the walls seeing on TV the persons whom faces were the obv. Buffalo nickel. Now you know the rest of the story....
Who was the Native American model for the buffalo nickel? Fraser claimed that the portrait of the Native American on the buffalo nickel was a composite of three Native Americans chiefs from different tribes. Those chiefs included Iron Tail (Lakota), Two Moons (Cheyenne) and John Big Tree (Seneca). (Native American design on the 1913 Buffalo nickel) Chief Iron Tail is considered by many to be the most famous Native American of his day. He is known for his lead roles in the world famous "Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show." Iron Tail was one of many well-known individuals who traveled in the show, which included Sioux warrior Sitting Bull and sharp shooters Annie Oakley and Lillian Smith. Iron Tail and William Cody, otherwise known as Buffalo Bill, were close friends and even took hunting trips together. They worked together until 1913. For the next three years, Iron Tail joined "The 101 Ranch Wild West Show." However, in May 1916, due to pneumonia, Iron Tail died at the age of 74. Cheyenne Chief Two Moons first made his name when he participated in three battles that included the Battle of the Rosebud, Battle of Little Big Horn and Battle of Wolf Mountain. In January 1877 at the Battle of Wolf Mountain, he surrendered his Cheyenne band to Gen. Nelson A. Miles. Two Moons would later enlist as an Indian Scout for Miles. Two Moons was friendly and well-liked by the soldiers he worked alongside. Therefore, Miles appointed him head chief of the Cheyenne Northern Reservation. Two Moons never stopped serving the Cheyenne; later in his life he served the Cheyenne Northern Reservation by traveling to Washington, D.C. on several occasions to discuss and fight for the future of his fellow Native Americans. During the Woodrow Wilson presidency, Two Moons was invited by the president to discuss the future of Two Moon's people. In 1917, he died in his Montana home at the age of 70. The final Native American who can lay claim to being the model of the coin was John Big Tree. Not only did he claim to be one of the models of Fraser's design, Chief John Big Tree claimed to be the only model. John Big Tree also made claims that he was the model for Fraser's "End of the Trail" work. Big Tree also played roles in several Hollywood films. Additionally, he appeared on the cover of the March 1964 edition of Esquire Magazine.
Hey.. Who modeled for the Buffalo? A BISON An American bison. While the official name is the Five Cent Indian head, this coin has come to be known in the hobby as a “Buffalo Nickel.” Peculiarly, the sturdy animal featured on the coin is not an actual buffalo — it is an American bison!
The name of the bison that modeled for the reverse of the Indian Head Nickel is Black Diamond, he lived at the Bronx zoo. One of the reasons the nickel is known for what is on the reverse is because some people were to to racist to even say the name of what is depicted on the obverse.
But then there is the IHC - the Indian head cent - with a young Caucasian female wearing a Native American head dress. As far as I know it has always been referred to as an Indian cent.
Not intending to put a less than friendly word about this often claimed "honor", but Baloney. Had anyone now alive been alive up to the year 1911, all of the various Tribes and Chieftains and anyone residing in North America including Mexico and Canada, would without hesitation state it was Quanah Parker. The entire Sioux Nation, including the Oglala, never crossed into Comancheria, and wouldn't dream of doing so, and Iron Tail actually moved the Oglala after having lost a territorial dispute with Quanah. Quanah was asked by POTUS, on 3 occasions and by 3 different POTUS, to gather the spokespersons for the Native American Nations to discuss social needs and territorial boundaries. This approach to Quanah was because he never signed a Treaty with the U.S., and by his birth was a U.S. Citizen. The other Indian Nations respected him, including the Chieftains Crazy Horse and Iron Tail of the Oglala. Goodnight labeled him the fiercest warrior, and the person most responsible for controlling the decisions of Western Expansion. "Most famous" is relative, I guess.
I have never read anything that touches on this theory (fact?), and like anyone else, I learn something new every day, and am grateful I still can. I did a little research prior to this post, and could not locate any commentary about it. It does have a "feel" of the emerging propensity of redefining historical issues, so maybe that is why. I don't know. I don't readily dismiss such revelations, just because it was previously unknown to me. A recent example is that I have discovered I like the pink lollipops. Whoo'd a thunk?
And that is correct that it thought or believed his daughter was the model for the IHC. I do believe that Teddy Roosevelt wanted some respect for the native Americans,as he loved the west ,and its heritage. They wanted to give some sort of respect to the Native American nation. Thus they used 3 chiefs faces to do a composite drawing that would represent all the Native American tribes.
He visited Quanah on a few occasions, stayed with him, ate with him and hunted with Quanah. He absolutely respected all the Native American Nations.
The items you quoted me on are researcned facts not my own interpretation. And actually part of a story in coin world press. But I do know for a fact from researching that 3 NA's from 3 tribes were used for his composite drawing which led us to the Buffalo nickel. I personally do feel that If Teddy had his way...no American president would be on our coinage....he was more nature...less politics.....plus he had a sense of respect for nature....not shooting a bear tied to a tree....it just proves to me I was born at the wrong time...as Teddy bar none was and is my favorite President who ever led this country.
I also believe that after Longacre used his daughter it did stir up issues over a coin being called an Indian head cent when in fact it is a white woman. Roosevelt knew it wasn't politcally correct and pushed for a coin that would represent the true American culture he loved.
Please don't take offense. That was not the purpose of my post, nor do I attribute anything posted by others as wrong or incorrect or not fact. The only thrust of my post is that Iron Tail, while certainly a persona, was not nearly as influential as Quanah. It is sort of like Crazy Horse... very little is known about him or his early life at all, and he was considered a lower order "raider" among the Sioux, yet he is all over a mountain, because the sculptor knew of Little Big Horn, and a letter to the sculptor long after the death of Crazy Horse. The interesting aspect is that there is no photo/painting/likeness of Crazy Horse, and nobody knows what he looks like, but because of the letter from Henry Standing Bear, who was only interested in the sculptor rendering a likeness to represent all Native Americans, here we are. Fact is sometimes born of myths. And vice versa. I will stop now. I am high jacking and as usual my post caused a bit of unintended ire.
You are correct! It is a fact that when you ask different people a question you get different answers. I think that is why forums are popular with the general public. We get a chance to learn/relearn history with a broader view of it all.
