David Hall:
The 1913-S is the lowest mintage (by a mile) of the three Type I Buffalo nickels and is in fact one of the lower mintages of the entire Buffalo nickel series. It is understandably a tough coin in circulated grades. In mint state condition this issue is more available than its low mintage would suggest. Apparently a good number of Uncirculated examples were saved in the year of issue.
Like most S-mints, the 1913-S is generally not as well struck as the Denver and Philadelphia issues of this year. Though strike is somewhat soft for some examples, the strike of the 1913-S Type I is not nearly as big a problem as it can be for S-mints that follow. Luster is typically satiny, almost matte-like.