Conservative investors like to diversify their financial portfolio with the purchase of the Gold Buffalo coin; these types of investments might make up anywhere from ten to twenty percent of a person's financial portfolio. The little risk and high profit margin associated with Gold American Buffalo coin options make the coins a great base for anyone's financial nest egg and the conservative investor, who seeks peace of mind when investing, can rest assured in knowing that the Gold American Buffalo coin investments that he or she makes will maintain its value over time.

The Gold Buffalo coin has had a great value increase in the past three years or so since gold rates have steadily risen in that time period. Even in times of extensive financial crisis on a global scale, gold investments remain the best choice for an investor seeking to maximize their investment options with little associated risk. With a portion of one's monies invested in gold, investors can use the remainder of their investment funds to make riskier investments while simultaneously knowing that their gold investment will continue to profit.

Dividing one's investments is part and parcel of making sound investments. A percentage of any investments made should be put into investment forms that are enduring and secure. The other portion of one's portfolio can then be used to gamble on alternative investment options. With the creation of Gold American Buffalo coin offerings, even the conservative investor can feel better about investing in today's economy.

The image of the Buffalo that appears on the Buffalo Gold coinage was crafted based upon a bison named Black Diamond which originally resided in Central Park Zoo in New York City in the year 1910; the buffalo image later appeared on coinage in the year 1913. What's even more fascinating is that the coin's artist, James Earle Fraser, had to have help when drawing the buffalo representation. As the artist relied on a live bison for a model, another individual had to keep the attention of the bison maintained so that Fraser could view the profile of the bison and sketch it; this is the depiction that has come to appear on the Buffalo Gold coins as they are known today. This small tidbit of trivia can help investors and coin collectors come to truly appreciate the hard work, artistry and the incredible workmanship that is presented on every Buffalo gold coin for sale.

Of course, the obverse side of all Buffalo Gold coins also has a wonderful image which has a unique history too. When Fraser was creating the coin he used three different Indian chiefs as models and combined the attributes of the three men into the single, well recognized image that appears on the Buffalo Gold offerings today. Fraser successfully merged the facial characteristics of chiefs heralding from the Two Moons, the Big Tree, and the Iron Tail American Indian tribes for an unforgettable, artistic rendering.

The Gold Buffalo coin was originally created in the year 2006 and while it had a $50 face value, collector coins were selling for prices between $800.00 and $900.00. The coin is sometimes called the American Buffalo Coin, and the U.S. Congress passed a law in 2005 that allowed for the coin's production with 24 karat gold as its content. The coin is symbolic of timeless art and unrivaled excellence in terms of coin production.

The $50 Gold Buffalo coin one ounce offering is crafted with a diameter of 1.287 inches, thereby presenting the collector with a generously wide coin with a design of unrivalled beauty. The reeded edge on the coin is masterfully designed and flawless. This coin has been designed based upon the art of James Earle Fraser, a well-known sculptor, and the coin has been inspired by the imagery that appears on the Buffalo nickel as well as the Indian Head nickel. If you want a Gold Buffalo coin from a coin dealer and you desire a proof version or uncirculated version of the coin, you can identify the proof coin by checking for the appearance of a "W" on the coin face. The latter marking is known as the "minter's mark." The bullion versions of the $50 Gold Buffalo offering are absent of such a marking.

The $50 Gold Buffalo coins possess the image of a Native American on the obverse side and a buffalo on the reverse side of the coin. The imagery is based upon the depictions first presented on the 1913 nickel Type 1, this same image appears on the 2001 commemorative silver dollar too. The Gold Buffalo coin however, is the most coveted coin of its kind, and collectors have found this coin has become a classic collector's coin in the industry.

The American Gold Buffalo coin has an image of an Indian head on the front side. This is the first time in history that the United States government minted a pure gold coin which was available to the general public. The face value of the American Gold Buffalo coin is $50, but is much greater for a proof coin.

A proof coin is an early sample of the issue of a coin. In 2006, the proof coin value of an American Gold Buffalo coin was $800. In 2007 the value went up to $899.95, with the present value now being around $950 for an American Gold Buffalo proof coin. There were only 300,000 of these coins produced, and there was also a limit of 10 per household strictly enforced as well. The question is, how do you know the difference between a proof coin and a regular coin?

For the American Gold Buffalo coin, a proof coin is distinguished by a "W" on the front of the coin. You will find the "W" behind the neck of the Indian. The bullion version will not have this "W" on it, so be sure to check this first if you are interested in acquiring a proof coin of the American Gold Buffalo.

While these coins were only available as a one ounce gold coin, in 2008 smaller versions of these coins were issued. There now included a 1/10 of an ounce coin for $5, a 1/4 ounce for $10, and a 1/2 ounce version for $25. Sales of the American Buffalo coins were halted in September of 2008 as the U.S. Mint had trouble keeping up with the increasing demand of these coins.

While the face value of this gold bullion coin may only be $50, obtaining a proof coin is worth over 10 times that. Being lucky enough to have the available limit of ten per household could prove to be a nice investment for the future.

Many first time collectors start out on Ebay, and find that their purchases are of very good quality. That is because Ebay keeps an eye on what is being sold, and where it's being sold. They notify customers as well as patrons quickly, if they find the slightest detail wrong, or suspect something might be wrong.

Ebay is one of the top auction sites for finding old, rare, and quality deals, especially on coins. Ebay has many safety features installed to help prevent fraud and illegal selling of fake coins, therefore buying on Ebay, is a very good choice when it comes to adding to your collection, or simply getting a start.

Ebay is one of the highest recommended places for buying and selling coins on the Internet, because of their strict guidelines, procedures, and safety measures. The U.S. Mint would be another place that coins can be safely purchased.

According to the U.S. Mint, the American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coin represents the convergence of timeless elegance in numismatic design and quality in coinage production. The coin is made of .9999 pure fine gold.

Congress authorized the Gold Buffalo Coin in 2005 and first minted in June 2006, American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins are among the world's purest gold coins, with the gold being obtained from newly mined sources in America.

United States Mint gold bullion coins are the only official investment-grade gold bullion coins whose weight, content and purity are guaranteed by the United States Government.  In October 2009, the number of American Bouillon coins sold was 86,000.

The American Buffalo Gold coin's obverse and reverse designs feature images originally prepared by noted American sculptor James Earle Fraser, once a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, for America's 5-cent coin (nickel).

That popular coin, known as the Indian Head, or Buffalo, nickel was introduced in 1913 and showcases the native beauty of the American West.

The Native American depiction on the coins obverse is believed to be based on three different American Indians. Two of the American Indians who modeled for Fraser as he sculpted the coin were named by the designer before his death. They were known as Chief Iron Tail of the Lakota Sioux and Chief Two Moons of the Cheyenne. Although many have claimed to have had a sitting with Fraser for this design, he could not recall the name of the third person and satisfactory documentation has not yet been found to identify that individual. It is widely believed that the bison on the coins reverse was modeled after Black Diamond, a popular attraction at the New York Zoological Gardens.

In the first year of the coin’s issuance, 1913, there were two distinct varieties, the first showing the bison on a mound and the second with the base redesigned to a thinner, straight line. American Buffalo Gold Coins bear the original Fraser Type I design.

United States Mint American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins

American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins are the first .9999 fine 24-karat gold coins ever struck by the United States Mint and offered for sale through a network of Authorized Purchasers. These $50 gold coins are available to members of the public seeking a simple and tangible means to own and invest in 24-karat gold in the form of legal tender coins whose content and purity is guaranteed by the United States Government.

American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins are available at many coin and precious metals dealers as well as many brokerage houses and participating banks. Pricing for precious metal investment coins typically depends on the market price of the metal. Click here to locate a dealer.

United States Mint American Buffalo Gold Proof Coins

The United States Mint produces a proof version of these coins for collectors. The term "proof" refers to a specialized minting process that begins by manually feeding burnished coin blanks into presses fitted with special dies. Each coin is struck multiple times so the softly frosted and highly detailed images seem to float above the field.

An official Certificate of Authenticity accompanies each coin. American Buffalo Gold Proof Coins sell at a fixed price and can be purchased directly from the United States Mint.

Product Information

All 24-Karat American Buffalo Gold Coins are struck at the United States Mint at West Point. The 24-Karat American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins are minted and sold in the same manner as American Eagle Bullion Coins.

United States Mint Sales Totals for American Buffalo Coins

Source: US Mint

As a result of the numismatic product portfolio analysis conducted late last year, fractional denominations of the American Buffalo Gold Proof and Uncirculated Coins, as well as the American Buffalo Four-Coin Set, are no longer offered for sale.

The obverse (heads side) and reverse (tails) designs of the American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin are based on the original 1913 Type I Buffalo nickel by James Earle Fraser. The coin’s obverse bears the profile of a Native American. Inscriptions on the obverse include LIBERTY, 2009, the initial F for Fraser and the W mint mark for the United States Mint at West Point. The coin’s reverse features the revered American Buffalo, also known as the bison. Inscriptions on the reverse are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, IN GOD WE TRUST, $50, 1OZ., and .9999 FINE GOLD.

Each 2009 American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin is presented in an elegant hardwood box with a matte finish and a faux leather inset. The coins are exhibited on a platform which can stand at an angle for display when the box is open. A custom-designed Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Director of the United States Mint is also included.

The United States Mint will accept orders for the 2009 American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin at its secure Web site http://www.usmint.gov/catalog or at the toll-free number 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Please add $4.95 for shipping and handling. There is no mintage or household order limit for this product.

The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage. Its primary mission is to produce an adequate volume of circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins.

Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, orders placed prior to the official on-sale date and time October 29, 2009, noon ET, shall not be deemed accepted by the United States Mint and will not be honored. For more information, please review the United States Mint’s Frequently Asked Questions, Answer ID #175.

By US Mint on Thursday, October 22, 2009

The American buffalo gold coin has an obverse side which presents the striking and sharp profile of a Native American Indian; the date of the coins creation is seen in the neckline of the profile, and the word “LIBERTY” appears in an arc in the upper right hand side of the obverse presentation of this coin. The reverse side of the American buffalo gold coin depicts a highly detailed American Buffalo with the numeration of $50.00 and the words “.9999 1 OZ. Pure Gold,” marked at the bottommost part of the reverse side of this coin. The uppermost part of the coin reveals the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” as well as “E Pluribus Unum,” which literally translated comes to mean, “Out of one, many.” Uncirculated versions of the American buffalo gold coin have been severely limited in terms of production: only 300 thousand of these coins have been created and they are therefore among the most coveted types of buffalo gold coins presently available.

The American buffalo gold coin was made specifically to gain the attentions of avid coin collectors; the government sought to appeal to coin collectors seeking other gold coins from other parts of the world and therefore purposefully had the buffalo gold coin designed. These coins are not only amazingly crafted, but they will continue to increase substantially in value over time. Adding these coins to a collection not only serves as a wise investment, but proves to be a more than satisfying endeavor for the coin enthusiast.

For the first time in its history, the United States Mint is proud to offer its customers the opportunity to purchase a 24-karat gold bullion coin.

The American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coin represents the convergence of timeless elegance in numismatic design and uncompromising quality in coinage production, the result of which is this one ounce coin made of pure .9999 fine gold.

Authorized by Congress in 2005 and first minted in June 2006, American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins are among the world's purest gold coins in terms of the fineness of the metal they contain. Each coin contains its full, stated weight of pure gold. By law, the gold for United States Mint American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins must be taken from newly mined sources in America. They are struck at the United States Mint at West Point, New York. While struck at West Point, American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins do not have a mint mark.

Purity, Weight and Content Guaranteed

United States Mint gold bullion coins are the only official investment-grade gold bullion coins whose weight, content and purity are guaranteed by the United States Government. Like the U.S. dollar, gold bullion coins are welcome in major investment markets worldwide. Investment firms have for years considered pure, 24-karat (.9999) fine gold coins to be bullion eligible for U.S. Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Consult with your investment firm on whether it has decided to include pure .9999 American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins in its portfolios.

Easy to Buy and Sell

One measure of an investment is liquidity, or the ease with which an asset can be converted to cash. The American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coin, with its unique backing by the United States Government, can be sold for cash at most coin and precious metals dealers worldwide. Although the coin is also United States legal tender, its face value is largely symbolic as the value of the gold it contains has historically been far greater.

Source: US Mint

2008 American Buffalo Gold Coin Sales Totals (in ounces / number of coins)

2007 American Buffalo Gold Coin Sales Totals (in ounces / number of coins)

2006 American Buffalo Gold Coin Sales Totals (in ounces / number of coins)

US Year-Dated Coins Sold for American Buffalo Bullion Coin (2006-Current)

Source: US Mint