The American Gold Buffalo was first produced by the U.S. Mint in June of 2006. Created in 24k gold, the American Gold Buffalo quickly gained traction as one of the most collected gold bullion coins in U.S. Mint history.
The American Gold Buffalo was created in order to compete successfully with foreign 24k gold coins. Its .9999 gold purity means it is very appealing to some collectors and investors.
Universally accepted as one of the best coin designs America ever produced, the Buffalo Nickel is certainly the most American of coins.
The bold right-facing portrait takes up virtually the entire obverse. LIBERTY is placed at the upper right periphery, and the date is placed at the truncation of the Indian’s neck. The Indian is a composite of three aging Chiefs: Iron Tail, an Oglala Sioux; Two Moons, a Cheyenne; and Big Tree, a Kiowa.
The central device also dominates the reverse, an American bison facing left. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM are placed above the bison, which stands on a grassy mound with the denomination below. The bison, believed to be Black Diamond, lived in New York City’s Central Park zoo in the early 1900’s.
Both obverse and reverse fields are textured, lending a rugged feel to the coin.
The American Gold Buffalo is one gold bullion coin that doesn’t typically come in fractional weights. One year, 2008, saw the production of a special “Double Prosperity” set which contained a 1 oz., ¼ oz., ½ oz. and 1/10 oz. version of the Gold Buffalo but no other fractional weights have been produced since that time.