The 2006-W American Buffalo Gold Proof marks a genuine milestone in U.S. coinage: the first one-ounce, 24-karat gold coin ever struck by the United States Mint. For investors, it offers the highest gold purity available in a U.S. government-issued coin. For collectors, its inaugural-year status and proof finish make it a standout piece in any holding.
Key Features:
- Purity & Weight: 1 troy oz of .9999 fine (24-karat) gold, face value $50
- Metal: Gold
- Obverse: Right-facing portrait of a Native American chief, inscribed “LIBERTY,” dated 2006, with “W” mint mark and “F” designer initial
- Reverse: Full-body American bison standing on a rocky mound, inscribed “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “1 OZ. .9999 FINE GOLD $50”
- Limited Mintage of 246,267
The obverse carries James Earle Fraser’s composite portrait of a Native American chief in sharp left-facing profile. Individual strands of hair, a bound braid, and feathers pressed against the neck are rendered with fine depth across the proof fields. The inscription “LIBERTY” arcs along the right rim, and below the portrait sit the date 2006, the West Point “W” mint mark, and the “F” initial for Fraser. The reverse presents a massive bison planted squarely on uneven ground, its thick neck, shaggy mane, and heavy haunches struck in high relief against the mirror-polished background. The animal fills most of the field, giving the design an immediate sense of weight and presence. Fraser adapted both sides from his original 1913 Buffalo Nickel design, one of the most recognized compositions in American numismatic history.
The coin ships in its original United States Mint packaging: a navy blue presentation case with gold-tone hardware and a white outer sleeve bearing the Mint’s branding. A Certificate of Authenticity from the U.S. Mint is included. The proof finish features frosted devices against mirror-bright fields, a combination that heightens the contrast in Fraser’s deeply modeled designs. The coin measures 32.70 mm in diameter. Total proof mintage for 2006 reached 246,267 pieces — the highest of any year in the proof Buffalo series.
A first-year proof in original government packaging with its certificate intact is increasingly difficult to find in this condition. Add the 2006-W Gold Buffalo to your cart today to secure this founding-year issue before availability tightens.