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Uncirculated Gold Buffalo Coins
Among the newest bullion 24-karat gold coins minted, the American Gold Buffalo was first minted in 2006. Ever since, this stunning coin has been produced yearly, carrying the same design on its obverse and reverse. The American Gold Buffalos are only minted in 1 oz coin increments, except for 2008, where there was a 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz minted.
Due to the Gold Bullion Act of 1985, the US Mint had been producing the American Gold Eagle since 1986. Although the American Gold Eagle offers 1 oz of .999 pure gold, it's still considered only 22-karats. To compete with other Sovereign mints that were also producing 24-karat coins, the US Mint minted the American Gold Buffalo. The American Gold Buffalo is minted at the West Point Mint in New York, although only proof versions actually carry the "W" mint-mark.
Design of the American Gold Buffalo
The American Gold Buffalo design was heavily inspired by the 1913 Indian Head Nickel design. James Earle Fraser was the American sculptor responsible for the iconic design and so many other masterpieces along the way. Fraser grew up in Minnesota and became familiar with the numerous Native American tribes being pushed further from their land. Fraser used this history as an inspiration for most of his adult work. 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. At the time, Black Diamond was living in the New York City zoo, where James Earle Fraser spent countless hours trying to distract the bison so he could draw its portrait. The result is a famous side-profile portrait of an amazing creature.
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2042.jpg "Uncirculated Gold Buffalo Coin Date Set Years 2006-2024")