Buffalo nickel

            For almost the same length of time, most Americans have used the term “buffalo nickel” to describe the stunning coin designed by James Earle Fraser and struck by the U.S. Mint from 1913 to 1938. But some prefer to call it the “Indian Head five-cent piece,” focusing on the obverse’s American Indian, rather than the animal on the reverse.
 
             To complicate matters, the animal isn’t really a buffalo; it’s an American bison. But, as Shakespeare said, what’s in a name? Whatever it’s called, the beast on Fraser’s coin is truly majestic.
  
            Some would argue, too, that “Indian” is inappropriate terminology and should be replaced by “Native American.” That, of course, would require renaming not only the buffalo nickel but also many other U.S. coins – among them the “Indian Head” cent, eagle, half eagle and quarter eagle.  
 
            What would Shakespeare think of such a change?