American Buffalo (coin)

American Buffalo (coin). The American Buffalo coin is a United States Mint-produced bullion coin that features a design inspired by the Buffalo nickel, created by James Earle Fraser, a renowned sculptor and artist who also designed the End of the Trail sculpture, exhibited at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. The coin is made of 24-karat gold and is minted at the West Point Mint, which is also responsible for producing other notable coins, such as the American Eagle (coin), and is overseen by the United States Department of the Treasury, led by the Secretary of the Treasury, who is a member of the United States Cabinet. The American Buffalo coin is a popular choice among coin collectors, including those who collect commemorative coins, such as the Morgan dollar, and numismatists, who study coins from various mints, including the Philadelphia Mint and the Denver Mint.

● Introduction

The American Buffalo coin was first introduced in 2006, as a response to the growing demand for gold bullion coins, which are also produced by other countries, such as Canada, which mints the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, and South Africa, which produces the Krugerrand. The coin's design is based on the Buffalo nickel, which was minted from 1913 to 1938 and features a depiction of a bison, designed by James Earle Fraser, who was inspired by the Native American culture and the American West, which was also depicted in the works of Frederic Remington and Charles Marion Russell. The American Buffalo coin is considered a legal tender coin, which means it can be used as a form of payment, although its value is much higher than its face value, similar to other bullion coins, such as the American Silver Eagle, which is minted by the United States Mint and is popular among coin collectors, including those who collect error coins, such as the 1943 copper cent, and rare coins, such as the 1804 Draped Bust dollar.

● Design

The design of the American Buffalo coin features a depiction of a bison on the reverse side, which was inspired by the Buffalo nickel design, created by James Earle Fraser, who was a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a famous sculptor who designed the Saint-Gaudens double eagle, and was also influenced by the works of Daniel Chester French, who designed the Lincoln Memorial. The obverse side features a portrait of a Native American chief, which is a composite of three different chiefs: Iron Tail, a Lakota chief who was a leader in the Battle of Little Bighorn, Two Moons, a Cheyenne chief who fought in the Battle of the Rosebud, and John Big Tree, a Seneca chief who was a leader in the Iroquois Confederacy. The coin's design is considered a classic example of American numismatic art, which is also represented by other notable coins, such as the Walking Liberty half dollar, designed by Adolph A. Weinman, and the Morgan dollar, designed by George T. Morgan, who was an assistant engraver at the Philadelphia Mint.

● Mintage

The American Buffalo coin has been minted every year since 2006, with the exception of 2009, when the United States Mint suspended production due to a shortage of gold blanks, which are also used to produce other bullion coins, such as the American Gold Eagle, and the American Platinum Eagle. The coin is minted in limited quantities, which can range from 100,000 to 300,000 coins per year, depending on demand, which is also influenced by the gold market, and the economy, which is monitored by the Federal Reserve System, led by the Chair of the Federal Reserve. The coin is produced at the West Point Mint, which is also responsible for producing other notable coins, such as the American Silver Eagle, and the American Platinum Eagle, which are popular among coin collectors, including those who collect proof coins, such as the Proof American Eagle, and uncirculated coins, such as the Uncirculated American Eagle.

● Collectibility

The American Buffalo coin is highly collectible, due to its unique design and limited mintage, which makes it a rare and valuable coin, similar to other rare coins, such as the 1913 Liberty Head nickel, and the 1804 Draped Bust dollar. The coin is also popular among coin collectors who specialize in gold coins, such as the Saint-Gaudens double eagle, and bullion coins, such as the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, and the Krugerrand. The American Buffalo coin is considered a key date coin, which means it is highly sought after by collectors, who also collect other notable coins, such as the 1907 Ultra High Relief double eagle, and the 1933 Double Eagle, which are highly valued by numismatists, who study coins from various mints, including the Philadelphia Mint, and the Denver Mint.

● Specifications

The American Buffalo coin is made of 24-karat gold and has a diameter of 32.7 mm, a thickness of 2.95 mm, and a weight of 31.103 g, which is similar to other gold coins, such as the American Gold Eagle, and the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf. The coin has a reeded edge and a mint mark of "W", which indicates that it was minted at the West Point Mint, which is also responsible for producing other notable coins, such as the American Silver Eagle, and the American Platinum Eagle. The coin's specifications are similar to those of other bullion coins, such as the Krugerrand, and the Chinese Gold Panda, which are popular among coin collectors, including those who collect error coins, such as the 1943 copper cent, and rare coins, such as the 1804 Draped Bust dollar.

● History

The American Buffalo coin has a rich history, dating back to the Buffalo nickel, which was minted from 1913 to 1938, and was designed by James Earle Fraser, who was inspired by the Native American culture and the American West, which was also depicted in the works of Frederic Remington and Charles Marion Russell. The coin's design was revived in 2006, when the United States Mint introduced the American Buffalo coin, which was minted to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Buffalo nickel, and has since become a popular choice among coin collectors, including those who collect commemorative coins, such as the Morgan dollar, and numismatists, who study coins from various mints, including the Philadelphia Mint, and the Denver Mint. The American Buffalo coin is considered a classic coin of the United States, similar to other notable coins, such as the Lincoln cent, and the Washington quarter, which are highly valued by numismatists, who study coins from various mints, including the West Point Mint, and the San Francisco Mint.

Category:Coins of the United States