The Native American portrait on the famous Buffalo nickel was not based on just one person.

According to the U.S. Mint, designer James Earle Fraser used three Native American models—Chief Iron Tail, Chief Big Tree and Chief Two Moons—to create the coin’s composite profile.

The bison on the reverse also had a real-life model: an American buffalo housed at New York City’s Central Park Zoo. Fraser’s design appeared on circulating nickels from 1913 through 1938.

Behind every authentic coin is a real piece of American history—explore coins, currency and more at ThePatriotVault.com.