The Buffalo With a Hidden Mark
The Sunshine Mint Buffalo 1 oz Silver Round puts both sides of the old Buffalo nickel on one troy ounce of .999 fine silver, and adds something the nickel never had. A small disc on the bison’s side carries Sunshine Minting’s Mint Mark SI, a micro-engraved security mark you can only read through Sunshine’s decoder lens. It ships new.
A Familiar Profile
The front carries a Native American portrait facing right, modeled on the Buffalo nickel the US Mint struck from 1913 to 1938. Two feathers sweep back from the hair, a long braid is wrapped near the jaw, and LIBERTY runs down the right edge in front of the face. Sunshine’s SMI initials sit low on the left, where the nickel once carried its date.
The Bison and the Disc
On the back, the bison stands head down on a low mound, its heavy shaggy mane and lean hindquarters set against an open field. 1 TROY oz 999 FINE SILVER arches over the top. In the middle of the animal’s body sits a flat, matte disc lettered MINT MARK SI around its edge. To the eye it looks plain. Under the decoder lens, the hidden engraving inside it shows up.
What Mint Mark SI Does
Sunshine Minting describes Mint Mark SI as an exclusive Scrambled Indicia feature on its SMI brand bullion, a micro-engraving visible only through its decoding lens. It gives you a quick way to check a round is Sunshine’s own, without testing equipment. Sunshine has supplied the mint industry since 1979 and is now based in Henderson, Nevada.
Priced Close to the Metal
This is a privately minted round, not a coin. It carries no denomination and is valued on its silver. The Buffalo design and the security disc come at a bullion premium, so it suits stackers who want a classic look in an ounce they can check.
Sunshine Mint Buffalo 1 oz Silver Round Specifications
Each round holds one troy ounce of .999 fine silver with a reeded edge, minted by Sunshine Mint and sold new. Our Specifications tab lists it as IRA eligible, and shows the diameter, thickness and tube count. Full current details are on the Specifications tab.
Sunshine Mint Buffalo 1 oz Silver Round FAQ
What is the circle on the bison’s side?
It is Sunshine Minting’s Mint Mark SI. The disc holds a micro-engraving that can only be seen through Sunshine’s Mint Mark SI decoding lens, and it marks the round as a Sunshine product.
Do I need the decoder lens to own this round?
No. The round is the same ounce of silver with or without it. The lens only lets you see the hidden engraving inside the disc.
Is this a US Mint Buffalo coin?
No. It is a private round from Sunshine Minting that borrows the Buffalo nickel’s two designs. It has no denomination and is not issued by any government.
Does the round have a date?
No. There is no year on either side. The SMI initials sit where the original nickel carried its date.
Is the Sunshine Mint Buffalo round IRA eligible?
Our Specifications tab lists it as IRA eligible, and at .999 fine it meets the purity standard for silver. It has to be held by your IRA’s custodian, so check with yours before you buy.
Prefer your Buffalo rounds from another mint? See the GSM Buffalo 1 oz Silver Round.
Add the Sunshine Mint Buffalo 1 oz Silver Round to your cart.