Description & Specifications
Features of the $50 Gold American Buffalo Bullion:
Eligible for Precious Metals IRA
Contains one troy ounce of .9999 pure gold
Carries a $50 USD denomination
Weight and purity guaranteed by U.S. Mint
In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt suggested that American coinage needed to be
redesigned so that it would rival those of ancient Greece and Rome. This brought about the
creation of the elegant Buffalo Nickel, which celebrates the history of the United States with
a design that includes two of the country's most distinctive inhabitants.
As part of Roosevelt's drive to beautify American coinage, the sculptor James Earle Fraser
designed the Indian Head Nickel which replaced Charles E Barber's Liberty Head design.
Fraser's designs were initially approved in 1912, but objections from the Hobbs
Manufacturing Company meant that its release was delayed until February 1913. The initial
coins were subject to wear, which meant that both the design and dates were easily worn
away; but it was not until 1938 that the design was replaced by the Jefferson nickel
designed by Felix Schlag. Fraser's coin has come to be known as one of the best designs in
U.S. coinage and was also used on the 2001 Smithsonian commemorative coin.
This American Buffalo bullion is based on Fraser's creation. The obverse of the Gold
American Buffalo bullion is engraved with a portrait of a Native American with feathers in
his hair, a piece that Fraser created drawing inspiration from three different Indian chiefs
who posed as models for him to sketch. This side also features the motto "LIBERTY" on the
top right as well as the year of mintage on the bottom left and below that the letter "F" for
Fraser.
On the reverse of the coin stands the American bison, more commonly known as the
buffalo, standing on a mound of dirt. When the design for the nickel was first issued in 1913,
this mound of dirt was more raised. Since then it has been reduced, creating a type 2
variation of the coin. The American Buffalo coin is similar to the nickel in that it bears the
American motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" above the buffalo's lower back and "UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA" along the top. Differences that can be noted between the original nickel and
the coin are that this coin reads "$50 1 OZ .9999 FINE GOLD" rather than the nickel's "FIVE
CENTS," and the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" can now be seen under the buffalo's head.
Gold American Buffalo bullion was introduced by the U.S. Mint on June 22, 2006, and this
was the first time that the United States Government minted pure 24 karat gold coins for
the public. The coin has a legal tender value of $50. Due to the incredible popularity of this
coin combined with an increase in the price of gold since the release, it is now considered to
be worth a lot more – which makes it a great investment. On July 22, 2006, the mint
transferred two of the coins to the Smithsonian Institution because of their historical value.
Fulfillment of this coin is based on availability and no exact date can be guaranteed.