The 2011-W American Buffalo Gold Proof represents a clear turning point in the series. After five years of relatively high production, proof mintage dropped sharply to 28,683 coins — a nearly 42% decline from the 2010 figure — making this one of the lower-mintage standard proof issues in the Buffalo series. One full troy ounce of .9999 fine, 24-karat gold backs every coin, and the West Point Mint’s proof strike brings out the full depth of James Earle Fraser’s design at its best.
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 “2011,” with “W” mint mark and “F” designer initial
- Reverse: Full-body American bison on rocky ground, inscribed “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “1 OZ. .9999 FINE GOLD $50”
- Limited Mintage of 28,683
The obverse presents Fraser’s composite portrait of a Native American chief facing sharply left. The face is strongly modeled — the brow ridge pronounced, the cheekbone prominent, the jaw and chin rendered with clear depth against the mirror-polished field. Two feathers press flat against the hair on the left, and a wrapped braid gathers at the neck, its individual folds and ties struck with fine detail. The “W” West Point mint mark sits to the left behind the neck, with “2011” and the “F” Fraser initial below the portrait. The frosted devices against the proof’s reflective background produce the high contrast that makes this design read so well at this scale. The reverse places the bison squarely in the center of the field, its body turned right and its head angled slightly forward. The mane falls in layered, individually defined strands across the chest and shoulder, and the four legs plant firmly on rough, broken ground. This textured rocky base traces directly to Fraser’s original 1913 Buffalo Nickel design, carried faithfully into the proof format.
The coin ships in its original United States Mint packaging with a Certificate of Authenticity included. It is housed in a protective capsule. The coin measures 32.70 mm in diameter, the standard specification for the one-ounce proof Buffalo series. The 2011-W was released on May 19, 2011 — the earliest release date for a proof Buffalo up to that point in the series.
At a mintage of just 28,683 pieces, this date sits well below the series average for the early years and offers genuine scarcity alongside its full-ounce gold content. Add the 2011-W Gold Buffalo Proof to your cart today.