In 1911 sculptor James Earl Fraser began designing the Buffalo"nickel. Fraser said the portrait on the"heads side was a composite of three American Indians-Iron Tail, Big Tree and Two Moons. Fraser had the opportunity to study and photograph them when they stopped off in New York on their way to Washington to visit President Theodore Roosevelt By borrowing features from each individual, Fraser was able to sketch the "ideal" portrait for the nickel. President William Howard Taft approved the art work, and the first "Buffalo nickels were produced in February of 1913. Two Moons died in 1917 and Iron Tail and Big Tree in the 1920s. In the 1960s, a second Big Tree appeared at coin shows and claimed to be the Native american on the nickel Although he claimed to have celebrated his 100th birthday In 1962, later records indicated he was actually only 87.• In 1911 sculptor James Earl Fraser began designing the “Buffalo” nickel. Fraser said the portrait on the “head's” side was a composite of three American Indians—Iron Tail, Big Tree and Two Moons. Fraser had the opportunity to study and photograph them when they stopped off in New York on their way to Washington to visit President Theodore Roosevelt. By borrowing features from each individual, Fraser was able to sketch the “ideal” portrait for the nickel. President William Howard Taft approved the art work, and the first “Buffalo” nickels were produced in February of 1913. Two Moons died in 1917, and Iron Tail and Big Tree in the 1920s. In the 1960s, a second Big Tree appeared at coin shows and claimed to be the Native American on the nickel. Although he claimed to have celebrated his 100th birthday in 1962, later records indicated he was actually only 87