1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel NGC G06 CAC. This 1918-D Buffalo or Indian Head nickel is the rare overdate variety. The coin is graded G6 because while there is no horn on the buffalo, all of the legends and the date are readable. This grade is confirmed by CAC, which indicates that the coin is of premium quality and fully merits the grade assigned. The coin has light tan toning in recessed areas; the surfaces are original and very clean for the grade with no individually distracting abrasion marks.

All of the dies that were used to make the coin were completely hubbed except for the mintmark; consequently, most varieties are the result of hubbing accidents. During the early years of World War I, in the fall of 1917 both 1917 and 1918 dies were made. After being annealed, one working obverse was brought to the wrong hubbing press. This hub received impressions from the two different years. Even in this G6 specimen, the overdate can be clearly seen.

James E. Fraser designed the Buffalo nickel. Fraser, originally from Minnesota, met Augustus Saint-Gaudens in Paris. Saint-Gaudens hired Fraser to assist him on his General Sherman Monument that was erected at the entrance to Central Park in New York City. In 1902, after working for Saint-Gaudens for four years, Fraser set up his own studio in New York. He taught at the Art Students League. Much of Frasers early work was from referrals from Saint-Gaudens who was always over-booked.

In 1913 his best known work, the Indian Head or Buffalo nickel, was minted. He and his wife collaborated on the Oregon Trail Memorial Half Dollar commemorative that was first issued in 1926. She designed the obverse and he the reverse. Fraser also designed the Victory Medal in 1919 celebrating the end of World War I as well as the Navy Cross. In 1915 he designed the End of the Trail, a piece for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.