Final answer:
The correct answer is a. The first animal other than an eagle to appear on a US coin in 1913 was the Buffalo, featured on the Buffalo Nickel designed by James Earle Fraser.
Step-by-step explanation:
Specifically, this coin was known as the Buffalo Nickel or Indian Head Nickel. The obverse side of the coin featured a right-facing portrait of a Native American, and the reverse showcased the iconic image of an American bison, more commonly called the buffalo. This mammal, Bison bison, was a symbol of the West and represented the vast herds that once roamed the American prairies. The introduction of the buffalo on the coin was part of a broader Renaissance in American coinage, wherein the U.S. sought to display distinctly American motifs and symbols. Designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser, the Buffalo Nickel is now considered a classic piece of American numismatics and is highly celebrated by coin collectors and enthusiasts alike.