Coin Facts
- Mint Dates: 2006-present
- Designer: James Earle Fraser
- Composition: .9999 purity
- 1 Troy oz coin
- Diameter: 32.7 mm
- Thickness: 2.75 mm
- Gross Weight: 1.01 troy oz (31.103 g)
- Other coin sizes: 1/10, 1/4, 1/2 troy oz
The American Buffalo Coin was the first pure gold coin introduced in the United States.
This article uses information from the U.S. Mint to provide insights about the history and design of the coin.
Continue reading to learn more about the American Buffalo Coin.
About the American Buffalo Coin
The American Buffalo Coin was first offered by the U.S. Mint in 2006. It is the first 24-karat bullion coin produced by the U.S. Mint with a purity of .9999 fine gold.
The coin honors the history of the American West by combining a design inspired by the Indian Head nickel with an American Bison.
History
The American Buffalo gold coin was introduced in 2006 under the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005. The coin is the first pure gold coin minted domestically by the U.S. government.
The silver American Buffalo Coin was introduced a few years prior in 2001 as a commemorative coin for the National Museum of the American Indian. It contains one troy ounce of pure 0.999 silver.
The gold contains one troy ounce of .9999 fine gold and carries a legal tender face value of $50. Fractional values were offered to the public beginning in 2008.
The gold coin was originally limited to a mintage of 300,000. The 2008 Global Financial Crisis rapidly increased demand for gold investments, especially for U.S. investors who wanted to purchase gold domestically.
The silver coin was limited to a mintage of 500,000 coins. It sold out within two weeks of launching in June 2001.
Since its launch nearly two decades ago, the American Buffalo Coin has become a preferred investment for investors.
Originally priced at $800, the Proof Coin has appreciated in value and is now worth $3,640. The gold and silver American Buffalo coins are eligible for inclusion in a gold IRA.
Design
The American Buffalo Coin features a modified version of the Indian Head nickel design created by sculptor James Earle Fraser in 1913.
The design honors the spirit of the American West. The obverse side blends features for chiefs Big Tree, Iron Tail, and Two Moons.
It includes the following inscriptions:
- LIBERTY
- F representing Fraser’s name
The silver round only includes the inscription “LIBERTY.”
The reverse side of the American Buffalo Coin features an American Bison. The reverse inscriptions include:
- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
- E PLURIBUS UNUM
- IN GOD WE TRUST
The gold coin also denotes the coin’s legal tender face value of $50 and the purity marking of “1 OZ .9999 FINE GOLD.”
The silver round only includes the inscriptions “ONE TROY OUNCE” and “999 FINE SILVER.”
Minting & Distribution
The American Buffalo Coin is composed of .9999 purity gold and is available in several sizes, including:
| Size | Diameter | Thickness | Weight | Face Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 troy oz | 32.7 mm | 2.75 mm | 1.01 troy oz 31.103 g | $50 |
| 1/10 troy oz | 16.5 mm | 1.19 mm | 0.10 troy oz 3.11 g | $5 |
| ¼ troy oz | 22.0 mm | 1.83 mm | 0.25 troy oz 7.776 g | $10 |
| ½ troy oz | 27.0 mm | 2.24 mm | 0.503 troy oz 15.552 g | $25 |
The coin is struck at the West Point Mint in New York. The proof version features the mint mark “W” on the obverse, while the bullion version does not have this mark.
The original one troy ounce coin has been minted in limited quantities since 2006:
Bullion Mintage
| 2006 | 337,012 |
| 2007 | 136,503 |
| 2008 | 189,500 |
| 2009 | 200,000 |
| 2010 | 209,000 |
| 2011 | 250,000 |
| 2012 | 100,000 |
| 2013 | 198,500 |
| 2014 | 180,500 |
| 2015 | 220,500 |
| 2016 | 219,500 |
| 2017 | 99,500 |
| 2018 | 121,500 |
| 2019 | 61,500 |
| 2020 | 242,000 |
| 2021 | 350,500 |
| 2022 | 410,000 |
| 2023 | 387,000 |
| 2024 | 66,500 (as of March 2024) |
Bullion Mintage
| 2006 | 246,267 |
| 2007 | 58,998 |
| 2008 | 18,863 |
| 2009 | 49,306 |
| 2010 | 49,263 |
| 2011 | 28,683 |
| 2012 | 19,715 |
| 2013 | 18,584 |
| 2014 | 20,557 |
| 2015 | 16,591 |
| 2016 | 21,878 |
| 2017 | 15,810 |
| 2018 | 15,756 |
| 2019 | 14,844 |
| 2020 | 11,887 |
| 2021 | 16,958 |
| 2022 | 15,943 |
| 2023 | 14,007 |
Fractional sizes were introduced in 2008 in $5, $10, and $25 valuations with the following uncirculated mintages:
Fractional Burnished Uncirculated Mintage
| Year | $5 | $10 | $25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 17,429 | 9,949 | 16,908 |
Mintage of the silver coin was limited to 500,000 and produced at the Denver Mint and the Philadelphia Mint:
Silver Mintage
| Uncirculated Coins | 227,131 |
| Proof Coins | 272,869 |
Best Places to Buy American Buffalo Coins
I’ve listed my top 3 favorite places online that I like to buy my American Buffalo coins from.
Goldco
Goldco is a reputable precious metals dealer that offers the American Buffalo Coin for direct purchase or inclusion in a gold IRA.
Click here to buy gold and silver from Goldco
JM Bullion
JM Bullion is a Dallas-based online precious metals retailer with more than a decade of experience.
APMEX
Founded in 2000, APMEX is an online precious metals marketplace offering the American Buffalo coin.
Are American Buffalo coins a good investment?
The American Buffalo coin is the first pure gold coin produced in the United States. Demand for the coin has skyrocketed in recent years as investors look to diversify risk and preserve more of their wealth in gold and silver.
Learn more about investing in gold to determine if the American Buffalo Coin would make a good addition to your portfolio.
