I would like to know who's likeness was used to put on the buffalo/ indian coin 5 cents

Hi, worday!

Evidently, it's a composite image of more than one Indian.

According to The Official Read Book - A Guide Book of United States Coins, "James Earle Fraser designed this nickel, employing three different Indians as models."

Then, according to the following site, Indian Head nickel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Head_nickel) we have the information that's quoted below:


Fraser featured a profile of a Native American on the obverse of the coin, which was a composite portrait of three Native Americans: Iron Tail, an Oglala Sioux chief, Two Moons, a Cheyenne chief, and Big Tree, a Kiowa chief.

A member of the Seneca Nation, John Big Tree, claimed his profile was used to create that portion of the portrait from the top of the forehead to the upper lip.[1] The sculptor is reported to have said, however, that another Chief Big Tree, Adoeette or Addoeette, from the Kiowa tribe, was the Big Tree who was one of his models for the coin.[2]

The "buffalo" portrayed on the reverse was an American Bison, possibly Black Diamond, from the Central Park Zoo.

Thanks!

Worday- THE nickel with this design on it was 1913, threw 1938
And the designer was[ James Earle Fraserand he used Three different indias to pose for him,and his initial [ F ] is beneath the date. There buffalo was a full grown bison and was in the NEW YORK ZOO, his name was [BLACK DIAMOND; IN the first year it was minted 1913 therewere [TWO} distinctvarieties] the first ,sdhowing the bison on a mound][and the second was with the bisonstanding onm a stright line [level];; I hope that I have answered your question ,if not come back and just holler;;; ha ve a great night and a better tomorrow a and GOD BLESS :: F.B.E./