2001 Silver Buffalo Buying Guide

Written by admin on February 20, 2009 – 9:58 pm -

silver-buffalo-coin2001 silver Buffalo coin is a strikingly beautiful commemorative coin. Commemorative coins are those coins issued to honor some American events, people, places or causes. Although commemorative coins have legal tender value, they are not released for regular circulation purpose. Commemorative coins are produced in limited quantity and only available for a limited time, making them especially popular among collectors or investors.

2001 silver Buffalo coin was issued to the public by the U.S. Mint on June 7, 2001. A total of half million silver Buffalo coins were minted and were sold out in three weeks. The silver Buffalo coin was minted to celebrate the opening of National Museum of American Indian of the Smithsonian Institution. The design of Silver Buffalo coin is a replica of the famous 1913 Buffalo Nickel by James Earle Fraser (1876-1953). The face side of the coin portrays a Native American Chief and the word "Liberty." The back side design is an American bison standing on a mound of dirt, which many people believe is based on Black Diamond, a real-life buffalo of the New York Bronx Zoo. Bison has been closely linked to the lives of Native Americans, who hunted bison and used the carcass for everything from shelter and food to needles and cooking implements.

The 2001 silver Buffalo coin is 90% silver and 10% copper, with a face value of $1 US dollar. There are two versions of silver Buffalo coins. The Proof version is minted in Philadelphia, PA, with a "P" Mint Mark inscribed on the coin. The uncirculated version of silver Buffalo coin is minted in Denver, CO, with a "D" Mint Mark inscribed on the coin.

Because of a great demand of the 2001 silver Buffalo coins among collectors and investors, there are some counterfeits in the market selling as the real thing. Besides numerous differences in the coin appearances and details between the authentic and fake ones, you can also weight the coins, or check coin sizes and thickness. You can also subject it to the magnet test. A silver coin won't be attracted to the magnet, but a fake steel coin would. Before you decide to purchase a silver Buffalo coin, remember to ask for a certificate of authenticity.

There are many sources to buy 2001 silver Buffalo coin today. can visit local coin shops, or order from mail catalogs. In my opinion, however, the best place to purchase silver Buffalo coin is online. The accessibility of the internet has made buying coins much easier than it ever was before. BuffaloCoin.com offer a wider selection and up-to-the-minute deals comparing to the traditional coin retail shops. Always remember to buy from a reputable seller when shopping silver Buffalo coin online. You can look up the sellers' feedback scores, or carefully read the comments from previous customers to determine if the seller is reliable or not.


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Tips of Collecting Silver Buffalo Coin

Written by admin on February 15, 2009 – 2:42 am -

For coin collectors seeking the Silver Buffalo Coin, getting a coin in excellent condition is of the utmost importance. A commemorative Silver Buffalo Coin was created in 2001 which consists of approximately 90 percent pure silver. The commemorative coin is a replica of the original Buffalo Nickel first created by James Earle Fraser and cast between 1913 and 1938. On the front of the Buffalo nickel appeared the profile of a Native American and on the back a standing buffalo is visible. The same design appears on the commemorative coins created in 2001.

The commemorative Silver Buffalo Coin is fully endorsed and backed by the United States Mint. It is possible for buyers come across counterfeits of 2001 Silver Buffalo Coin in the market. One will find on genuine coins that the backside of the coin is inscribed with the words “IN GOD WE TRUST,” just beneath the words “United States of America.” The latter text is arched above the buffalo on the back of the coin. Just beneath the buffalo’s head on the coin, the words “E Plubribus Unum,” the Latin phrase meaning “Out of Many, One” appears. The latter words are indicative of genuine commemorative coins as such an inscription is not inscribed on replications.

silver buffalo set

On a genuine Silver Buffalo Coin, coin collectors can also easily spot the specific denomination just below the buffalo on the obverse side of the coin which should clearly read “One Dollar.” Replications may display the words “giant buffalo proof” where the denomination amount appears on genuine coins. In addition, just below the denomination indicator on the obverse side of the coin, one will find the letter “P” which is an indicator of what mint cast the Silver Buffalo coin as well as the letter “F” which is indicative of the coin’s original designer. The uncirculated version of silver Buffalo coin is minted in Denver, CO, with a "D" Mint Mark inscribed on the coin instead. Another clear clue that the coin is genuine is the fact that on the front side of the coin on the lower left is the engraved year: “2001.”

Careful examination of the Silver Buffalo Coin will give a coin collector a solid idea about what he or she is buying. It is easy to separate all of the replicas from the originals when one knows what to look for. Understanding the identifying markers will help the coin collector ensure he or she is getting a genuine coin in every instance. You can also subject it to the magnet test. A silver coin won't be attracted to the magnet, but a fake steel coin would.


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