Appearing as the second release of May from the United States Mint, the 2025-W $50 Proof American Buffalo Gold Coin becomes available today at Noon ET. Struck from one ounce of .9999 fine 24-karat gold, the American Buffalo series debuted in 2006 as the Mint’s first offering in that purity, available in both bullion and proof versions. Both feature the same design elements but differ in finish.
Sales of the investment-focused bullion coins reach into the tens of thousands annually, with the first four months of this year totaling 80,500 ounces. Collectors, however, tend to favor the proof editions, like the one released today, which feature frosted design elements set against mirror-like backgrounds. This year’s proof Gold Buffalo has a limited mintage of 14,000.
Coin Designs and Specifications
American Buffalo gold coins take their designs from a century-old U.S. coin, the 1913 Buffalo nickel Type 1, originally created by sculptor James Earle Fraser. Showcased on the obverse (heads side) is a portrait of a Native American, with a buffalo (American bison) on the reverse (tails side).
Fraser is said to have used features from several individuals to inspire the right-facing Native American portrait. Obverse inscriptions include "LIBERTY" and "2025," along with the artist’s mark "F" and the mintmark "W," indicating production at the U.S. Mint’s West Point facility.
Surrounding the buffalo are the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "$50," "1 OZ.," and ".9999 FINE GOLD."
American Buffalo Gold Coin Specifications
| Denomination: | $50 |
| Finish: | Proof |
| Composition: | 99.99% Gold |
| Diameter: | 1.287 inches (32.70 mm) |
| Weight: | 1.0000 troy ounce (31.103 grams) |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| Mint and Mint Mark: | West Point – W |
| Privy Mark: | None |
Sales of Proof American Buffalo Gold Coins
The table below shows the opening price points and final (unaudited) sales for the 1-ounce Proof Gold Buffalos since their introduction in 2006.
| Year of Issue | Opening Price | Sales |
| 2024 (released on June 13) | $3,240.00 | 9,709 (still available) |
| 2023 (released on April 13) | $2,940.00 | 15,911 |
| 2022 (released on May 12) | $2,790.00 | 15,943 |
| 2021 (released on May 14) | $2,740.00 | 16,976 |
| 2020 (released on April 9) | $2,315.00 | 11,887 |
| 2019 (released on April 12) | $1,660.00 | 14,844 |
| 2018 (released on May 10) | $1,710.00 | 15,756 |
| 2017 (released on May 11) | $1,590.00 | 15,810 |
| 2016 (released on March 31) | $1,590.00 | 21,878 |
| 2015 (released on April 9) | $1,590.00 | 16,591 |
| 2014 (released on May 8) | $1,640.00 | 20,557 |
| 2013 (released on May 23) | $1,790.00 | 18,594 |
| 2012 (released March 15) | $1,960.00 | 19,715 |
| 2011 (released May 19) | $1,760.00 | 28,683 |
| 2010 (released June 3) | $1,510.00 | 49,263 |
| 2009 (released October 29) | $1,360.00 | 49,306 |
| 2008 (released July 22) | $1,199.95 | 18,863 |
| 2007 (released May 23) | $825.95 | 58,998 |
| 2006 (released June 22) | $800.00 | 246,267 |
The U.S. Mint has also issued different versions of the Gold Buffalo coins in past years, including fractional sizes and reverse proofs.
Ordering
2025-W $50 Proof American Buffalo Gold Coins can be ordered directly from the U.S. Mint through its webpage dedicated to gold coins.
Initial pricing is set at $4,240, based on gold’s average ranging between $3,300.00 and $3,349.99 per ounce. As with other U.S. Mint gold coins, the price is subject to change weekly based on market conditions.
Thanks for the great stats in the article.
Completely agree. 2008 appeared to be an outlier. The downward trend on this coin has been pretty steady. And 246,267 sold in 2006?!?!?!? It’s unimaginable that any gold proof coin will ever sell numbers like that again.
But the price. I bought one that year. It was a great price.
If I could buy a 1 oz. Au Buffalo for $800 a coin (I bought several in 2006 for that price) oh would I load the truck up! With Au over $3300/spot, and the Buffalo selling for $4240…Yikes!…I agree we will never see numbers like that again. Maybe I should say probably instead of never, as there is now an American-borne Pope and who ever thought that was possible.
“Maybe I should say probably instead of never, as there is now an American-borne Pope and who ever thought that was possible.”
True.
Pope Bob I
Ordered and confirmed. BUT, the Mint again tacked on a shipping charge despite four previous orders this year. Guess I’ll be going through the “call the Mint” routine again this time.
I’ve always considered this to the most essentially American design of any of our coinage. The design elements of the American Bison and Native American are to be found nowhere else on Earth. Maybe not the most beautiful, but I think the most American. I’ve always wanted one of these, but they seem completely out of reach for ordinary folks these days. Ah, well, if one has nothing left to dream for, where’s the motivation for progress?
I suppose there’s always the Buffalo Nickel, though those never appear to show up in change anymore. As a kid, I used to see them more often than Mercury dimes or Franklin half dollars. I just got a 1952-D wheat cent in change the other day.
I agree with you that it is a classic American design. I think it was my grandfather’s favorite, though he did like to joke about the indian’s nose facing the same way as the buffalo’s tail
I’ve found Buffalo nickels, and V nickels too, mixed into customer wrapped bank rolls with Jeffersons including some silver war ones. Not the best quality, but with visible dates. You never know when someone decides to cash it in. Lately I seem to be finding a lot of older coins. A sign if the times? If that’s the case, Coinstar must be raking in a good percentage. I wonder if they have a way to sort them?
Like the new pope, an American.
The 2nd American Pope, after Maurice I.
Father Guido Sarducci Named Himself the Pope in This Classic SNL Bit
Antonio, here is a new 1 oz Silver 2025 Pope Leo XIV Commemorative Round from SilverTowne (available Jun 11, 2025).
Well, there’s always the 2005 Westward Journey nickel with the Bison.
Major D, that’s another favorite of mine. I notice they don’t circulate much, at least not in NC.
In 2006 I purchased my first gold proof Buffalo for $800 and kept buying one every year when they were released up untill 2023 when the price was $2940 for that year. I guess I am done buying them at the price they charge now and will not complete the whole set now as I once planed.
For $4,240 you can purchase very nice proof 1913 – 1916 / 1936 – 1937 buffalo nickels.
Me too! Stopped buying proofs when they raised the premiums to ridiculous levels. Now I just buy bullion. (And traded all my gold proofs to a dealer for 15% more ounces of gold bullion.
The price of $4240 is 27% over melt. Meanwhile you can buy a random year proof buffalo from a major dealer for $3491, just 8% over melt. So, buy a bullion buffalo today, and trade up to a proof version in a few years when the premium is down.
The best Buffalos were the herd wrangled by 5he mint back in ‘08…. Got several but the set was the bu, a real GOLD nickel. I got a few rev. Proofs in 13 but mere bullion nowadays.
Yes JQ,
I missed the Mint release of those in ’08, but in ’09 I picked up these two on eBay in OGP at a premium of course. ⇊
The one is about the size of a nickel, and the other about the size of a dime.
I sent them in last year and got a good result with the grades…
Now this years 1oz Proof Buff will be the key date…
I missed out that year. I bought the first year, and when they came out the second year, the price was noticeably higher, that’s when I stopped. Should have bought that year too and stopped the next year. The premium kept rising and now it’s ridiculous. At least I have one proof American Gold Buffalo.
Super nice Rick! Mine still inthe mint capsules! I also have a set I think it was 2 1/2z a Buffalo w a Pt or St. not sure. Or a St. and. pt? Time to do a real search Buried in my black hole.
“Mine still inthe mint capsules!”
Same here. Like Va Bob, I do like my OGP coffins.
I’d say the slabs are the real entombments- a plastic sarcophagus.
Agreed.
I also bought a few of the RP in 2013 and with the spot of Au over $3300 I don’t think selling them for bullion is necessarily a bad thing…if you need the $$. All of my Au coins have gone up nicely in price since I bought them, but I didn’t buy them to get rich instantly. There are other more profitable venues for that. I just like Au, and in Au, coins look awesome!
Craig,
Agreed, most coin designs look their best in gold…sadly, I doubt I’ll ever see much more than I have now. My 1991 1/2 oz. proof is likely the most I’ll be able to afford. Wanted the 1 oz. coin, but being a working stiff, could only shell out the $400 or so for the half-ounce. Probably no premium for the proof these days, but it sure is pretty in its OGP (really nice back then). Even at bullion prices, it’s worth a lot more now!
I had to split the order in two parts to afford the set in 2008, but I do have all four in their own individual OGP coffins.
“I do have all four in their own individual OGP coffins.”
Funny stuff, Bob. Would that we all could own multiple individual OGP coffins.
I did get a 1/2z proof plus the BU set. Another mint “promise “ rejected annual Buffalo fractional. Maybe now a set double 2026 St. and BUFFALO fractionals. A set limited to deep pockets say $19,999 a set. Mintage decided to Ryder from exile…
Two (nail-bitten) thumbs up!