Gold American Buffalo

The Gold American Buffalo is a bullion coin made of 24-carat gold. The coin made its debut on 22 June 2006 although shipment was not done until 13 July 2006. Its design resembles that of the Indian Head nickel. This coin was the first pure mint by the United States Government and has a USD 50 face value. The coin’s value shot up significantly over a considerably short time to reach USD 2,010 in 2011 up from a proof price of USD 800 only upon initial mint. Apart from being exempt from sales tax or VAT, this makes the Gold American Buffalo coin an ideal choice for investors and collectors alike.

The Gold American Buffalo coin has a gross mass of 31.108 grams and comprises 99.99 percent gold (1.0001 t/oz). It is 2.95 millimeters thick, 32.7 millimeters wide and has a reeded edge. The design of the obverse is credited to designer James Earle Fraser based on his original 1913Indian Head nickel. It bears the American Indian head facing to the right and occupying nearly the entire obverse of the Gold American Buffalo coin. The word, “LIBERTY” is inscribed near the forehead of the American Indian head and runs clockwise. The year, “2013” is inscribed on the right shoulder of the effigy and the letters, “W” and “F” split apart by the year.

The reverse of the coin contains more details with the American buffalo looking downwards towards the left occupying over three-quarters of the coin. The inscriptions, “UNITED·STATES·OF·AMERICA” and, “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are above the buffalo. The famous US motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST” is right below the American buffalo’s face. The value text, “$50” is at the bottom of the coin, above the inscription, “1OZ. .9999 FINE GOLD”.

The West Point Mint is the official mint of the Gold American Buffalo coin. Located in New York, the Mint was established in 1937 and was formerly called the West Point Bullion Depository. On 31 March 1988, the Mint became an official United States’ Mint branch. During the same year, the National Register of Historic Places listed the Mint.