American Gold Buffalo Coins

US Gold Coin Background

The US Mint used a 22-karat alloy to make their famous gold coins until 1837. The US Mint desired to depart from the crown gold alloy stopped making gold coins completely. That 50 year streak was broken in 1986, with the production and release of the American Gold Eagle. The American Gold Eagle was still made with a 22-karat alloy so in 2006, the American Gold Buffalo's purity of .9999 pure gold shocked the public.

Design History of the American Gold Buffalo

The design, of the American Gold Buffalo, is rooted in American history, and was inspired by the Indian Head Nickel design of 1913. William Taft's administration commissioned James Earle Fraser to replace the Liberty Head design on the US nickel. Fraser was a student of another gold coin legacy designer, Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Fraser used his very personal experience to portray the heart and spirit, of the Native Americans, as inspiration for his design. James Earle Fraser was born in Minnesota, where he experienced daily life with the Native Americans and was dismayed by their constant struggle of being pushed into confined reservations. James Earle Fraser is best known for his Buffalo Nickel design and his End of the Trail sculpture, depicting the physical, sociological, and emotional exhaustion the Native Americans endured as settlers took over their land, forcing them to move.

The obverse reveals the side portrait of a Native American Chief. It has been noted that James Earle Fraser wasn't portraying a sole person but that this portrait is a combination of 3 actual Native American Chiefs, whose identities were a mystery until 1938. The 3 Chiefs were Iron Tail of the Sioux, Big Tree of the Kiowa, and Two Moons of the Cheyenne.

Black Diamond was the American Bison used as a model for the Buffalo design, on the reverse. It has been recorded James Earle Fraser needed to constantly distract the beast, while drawing its portrait, to contain the side profile view, due to the bison wanting to constantly look forward.

American Gold Buffalo Reverse Proof

In honor of the 100th year anniversary, of James Earle Fraser's Buffalo Nickel design, the US Mint released a special Reverse Proof American Gold Buffalo in 2013. This Reverse Proof coin contains a mesmerizing reversal of standard proof features, showcasing a deeply mirrored, glossy portrait with a frosted, matte background.

The US Mint also only minted fractionalized American Gold Buffalos in 2008, resulting in a surge of their Burnished 1 oz coins. Throughout the years, many of the Burnished American Gold Buffalos have been considered unique Specimen Proof 70 coins. Their finish is similar to a proof coin and their flawless surface is evident of being specially struck and carefully handled.

Certified American Gold Buffalo Coins

There are many coin grading agencies out there but only two that are revered worldwide. The Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) are two companies that issue coins their grades. These companies not only certify coins, but they also encase the graded coin into an official holder, preserving the coin and marking the holder with its earned grade. This alone has changed the coin collecting game, while also offering a peace of mind for collectors and investors.

When purchasing a Certified American Gold Buffalo, there is information provided on the coin holder that is important to know. The first thing to notice is the coin's strike type:

• MS: Short for "Mint-State;" refers to coins that have never been in circulation and are the same condition as when they were originally produced. Mint State coins will receive a grade ranging from 60-70 on the Sheldon Numeric Scale.
• PF/PR: Abbreviation for "Proof;" refers to the method of coin manufacture, made for eye appeal among collectors.
• SP: A "specimen" coin is a combination of strike type (somewhere in the middle of Mint State and Proof).

A Certified American Gold Eagle (or any certified bullion coin) will most likely come in one of two grades:

• MS/PF70: Bullion coins that have kept their original mint luster and contain zero post production flaws.
• MS/PF69: Bullion coins that contain 2 or less minute imperfections but still carry their original mint luster.

Other certification terms often used for bullion coins:

• First Strike: PCGS term designates coins that have been certified within the first 30 days of production by the contributing mint.
• Early Release: NGC term designates coins that have been certified within the first 30 days of production by the contributing mint.
• UCAM/DCAM: Shortened for Ultra-Cameo and Deep-Cameo, these terms refer to the coin's visual brilliance that is apparent on the surface by an unyielding, frosted finish and a deeply mirrored background luster.

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