The first U.S. Mint images of the 2026-W Proof American Gold Buffalo are now available, highlighting its semiquincentennial dual date, 1776 ~ 2026, and a Liberty Bell privy mark bearing the numeral "250."
Struck at the West Point Mint in one ounce of .9999 fine 24-karat gold, the piece is scheduled to go on sale May 7.
The coin will not come cheap. Pricing will not be finalized until shortly before release and may adjust weekly under the Mint’s precious metals pricing matrix. If issued today, it would debut at $6,140.00 based on an LBMA gold range of $5,200.00 to $5,249.99 an ounce.
Design Changes for the 2026 Issue
The coin’s obverse features James Earle Fraser’s Native American portrait from the 1913 Buffalo nickel, while the reverse depicts an American bison. For this year’s issue, the Liberty Bell privy mark sits close to the traditional placement of the "W" mint mark, which has been moved between the headdress feathers. The dual date appears along the lower right rim rather than on the portrait’s shoulder.
Some Background and Mintages
Known for its historic designs and as the first 24-karat gold coin ever struck by the U.S. Mint, the series debuted in 2006 and is issued annually. The mintage for this year’s coin remains a mystery for now, though recent issues provide some context. The Mint continues to sell last year’s coin and the 2024 issue, which carry official limits of 14,000 and 16,000, respectively, with sales through March 1 reaching 7,725 and 10,363.
Proof American Gold Buffalo Mintages and Sales Since 2006 (1 oz)
| Year | Mintage / Sales | Year | Mintage / Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 246,267 | 2016 | 21,878 |
| 2007 | 58,998 | 2017 | 15,810 |
| 2008 | 18,863 | 2018 | 15,756 |
| 2009 | 49,306 | 2019 | 14,844 |
| 2010 | 49,263 | 2020 | 11,887 |
| 2011 | 28,683 | 2021 | 16,976 |
| 2012 | 19,715 | 2022 | 15,943 |
| 2013 | 18,584 | 2023 | 15,911 |
| 2014 | 20,557 | 2024* | 10,363 |
| 2015 | 16,591 | 2025* | 7,725 |
*2024–2025 figures reflect sales through March 1.
Other Semiquincentennial Precious Metal Coins
On the precious metals front, the Mint has already introduced coins this year bearing dual dates and the Liberty Bell privy mark with "250." The 2026-W Proof American Silver Eagle launched Feb. 26, followed by the March 5 debut of the 2026-W Proof American Gold Eagles. Next up is the April 7 release of the 2026-W Enhanced Uncirculated Silver Eagle.
Collectors interested in the upcoming 2026-W Proof American Gold Buffalo or earlier issues can check availability and current pricing through the United States Mint’s online catalog.
