The United States Mint is placing the 2023-W $50 Proof American Buffalo Gold Coin, produced by the West Point Mint, on sale today at noon ET.
This collectible is composed of 1 ounce of .9999 fine 24-karat gold, making it one of the purest gold coins available in the world. Each features classic designs familiar to many in the coin collecting community.
American Gold Buffalos date back to 2006 when the U.S. Mint released inaugural bullion editions and followed with special proofs that feature frosted design elements against mirror-like backgrounds. Since their debut, thousands have sold annually. For instance, in the first quarter of this year, the regular bullion version had already logged sales of 151,500 coins.
Coin Designs and Specifications
The 1913 Buffalo nickel, Type 1, as created by sculptor James Earle Fraser, serves as the design origin for these gold coins. This includes the likeness of an American Indian (Native American) on the obverse as well as a buffalo (American bison) on the reverse or tails side.
An amalgamation of several individuals is said to have been used by Fraser to create the right facing portrait found on the obverse each each coin. Inscriptions on the obverse read "LIBERTY" and "2023" along with an artist inscription of "F" and a mintmark of "W" indicating the coin was produced at the U.S. Mint’s facility in West Point.
A buffalo (bison) is found on the reverse perched atop a small rise in the landscape. Reverse inscriptions read "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "$50," "1 OZ.," and ".9999 FINE GOLD."
Specifications for the gold coin are offered in the table below:
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
For further reference, the table below shows sales of the 1 ounce proof Gold Buffalos since their introduction in 2006.
| Year of Issue | Opening Price | Sales |
| 2022 (released on May 12) | $2,790.00 | 15,933 |
| 2021 (released on May 14) | $2,740.00 | 16,958 |
| 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 |
Special fractional sizes and a reverse proof coin have also appeared at times in the series.
Ordering and Mintage
The 2023-W $50 Proof American Buffalo Gold Coin may be ordered directly from the U.S. Mint via their webpage dedicated to gold coins at a price of $2,940.
This initial pricing is subject to change weekly depending on the Mint’s precious metals coin pricing matrix. Currently, pricing is based on LBMA gold that averages within $2,000 to $2,049.99 an ounce.
Mintage for the coin is limited to 16,000. Each is encapsulated and placed in a black presentation case with the United States Mint seal on the lid.
Run Forrest Run.>>>>>>>>> Beat the “GOLD” RUSH>>>>>>>>> HURRY!!!!!!!!>>>>>>
Wonder if the waiting room awaits?
That price jump is amazing. Seems 2020 is gonna be the rare year. Wonder what happened? Covid. Nah.
Raising price $26 reduced sales by 75% the next year. The Buffalo is selling for less than the lady liberal gold coin from 7 years ago. But coins are now almost 33% more than spot. Gold up 150 or so in recent times and the mint tacks on way more. Preparing for the great manipulation movement to crash it so banks can grab it on the cheap and run it back up. Brazil today backs leaving petro US dollar. More and more are jumping on board. Germany France and others. The stage for ww3 is being set and dress rehearsals… Read more »
Especially since we know bills are Buffalo. Should be bison. Buycent. Lol. Shouldn’t the redskins mascot be on the penny. Cultural appropriation and all that legal mumbo jumbo. Jumbo was an elephant, not a mammoth. Manny was the mammoth.
Dear Dazed and ‘fused,
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Let me know when these “dress rehearsals” begin, k?
Wait, check that. In the event WWIII happens, won’t need gold. Fission, fission-fusion, fission-fusion-fission devices can lay waste to our precious Blue Marble.
Well, anyway, continue on. Blink-word word-salads are so … Malcolm Gladwell 2005. Reminds me of youthful academic indoctrination. Write on. Blink.
Dear Dazed and ‘fused,
“The stage for ww3 is being set and dress rehearsals should begin soon.”
Let me know when these “dress rehearsals” begin, k?
Wait, check that. In the event WWIII happens, won’t need gold. Fission, fission-fusion, fission-fusion-fission devices can lay waste to our precious Blue Marble.
Well, anyway, continue on. Blink-word word-salads are so … Malcolm Gladwell 2005. Reminds me of youthful academic indoctrination. Write on. Blink.
Dear Dazed and ‘fused,
“The stage for ww3 is being set and dress rehearsals should begin soon.”
Let me know when these “dress rehearsals” begin, k?
Wait, check that. In the event WWIII happens, won’t need gold. Fission, fission-fusion, fission-fusion-fission devices can lay waste to our precious Blue Marble.
Well, anyway, continue on. Blink-word word-salads are so … Malcolm Gladwell 2005. Reminds me of youthful academic indoctrination. Write on. Blink.
Got mine ordered with no problems. Yes they are very expensive I buy one every year since they came out in 2006. And the price in 2006 was $800 so what will they cost in 17 years ? Tell me your opinion.
Who knows. Could discover whole new element that replaces gold. Could die of nuclear sunburn tomorrow. Magic mike might die and they find a vault in his basement scrooge mcduck would envy. The hsn hoard. Gubmint could seize all gold like last time. No telling. But I figure it won’t make me rich, but it’ll keep me from being poor
No problems here either. The Buffalo nickel was my grandfather’s favorite coin design. I personally prefer my grandmother’s choice, the Mercury dime. I suspect in 17 years the gold proof buffalo will sell for at least twice what they did yesterday – possibly in the $6,000-7,000 range. I also wonder if I’ll be around to purchase one. If I am, I’ll likely shell out the moola with little regard for the cost as I’ve done for the past 17 years. My last “high noon” coin purchase this year will likely be the gold Liberty coin this summer unless the Mint… Read more »
Don’t get caught in the stampede.
Beyond my pay grade.
Same here Antonio.
Not us folks though Kaiser. 🙁
Some people dream of owning a tesla. Many never will. Yet 1 person took a brand new one, shot it into space on his personal space craft. I’ll be putting that space station Lego set on layaway. 10 more payments and it could be all mine. Most people struggle to be able to loan someone $20. Much less $20 to loan to 20 people. Same guy that fired a new car into space on his rocket is able to give all Americans $20 and still buy several tesla. Or spend 50 billion on a company that is floundering and still… Read more »
Elon Musk was born in South Africa where his whole extended family is from & he holds South African citizenship. Then he moved to Canada & got Canadian citizenship. Then he moved to the so-called “promised land” for business people & our government gave him USA citizenship under a program known by many wealthy people around the world as “golden visas” that you can basically buy if you are rich enough. As always, money talks & it talks loudly with a bullhorn!
Wonder how much gold Elon owns??
NumisdudeTX
Hi Seth,
I also had read somewhere that he left South Africa at age 18 because at the time South Africa required mandatory military service at that age. I think it was mentioned in a biography about Elon.
With the help of AI, that Nigerian prince will finally be able to reimburse me for my help.
I have always wanted one of these and finally I am at a point in my life where I can easily afford one. However asking approximately 1k over spot that’s a hard no for me. To each their own but for me that’s way too much just to add another shiny thing to my collection.