American Gold Buffalo Coins have been with us since 2006 and is reminiscent of the Indian Head or Buffalo Nickel that has been popular with collectors for almost a century. These are the first coins ever produced by the US Mint for the public that are pure 24k gold. This coin has a face value of fifty dollars but the cost to purchase one has risen to well over one thousand dollars. These coins are highly valued by collectors for their purity and stunning design.
The front side of the coin has the profile of a Native American Chief which is almost identical to the image on the Buffalo Nickel. The design was originally crafted by James Earle Fraser and is considered by most collectors to be one of the most beautiful and striking images ever put on any U.S. coin. The design is composite said to have been modeled after three different Native American Indian Chiefs.
On the opposite side of the coin is the image of an American Bison from which the American Gold Buffalo Coins get their name. The image is only slightly altered from that on the original nickel. Many believe that the buffalo on the coin was modeled after one that lived at the Central Park Zoo in New York named Black Diamond. The buffalo have often been associated with the American Indian and the combination of the two on one coin seems to make perfect sense.
These coins were created in response to the realization by the United States Government that people were increasingly investing in foreign gold bullion coins because there made of 24k gold. All other gold bullion coins minted in the U.S. up until that point were 91.67% rather than the 99.9% pure that the Gold Buffalo coins are. The coin has proven so popular that the mint has had trouble keeping up the demand for it.
Since there are a limited number of coins minted each year, the coins are fairly uncommon in terms of the other coins that available to the U.S. public. The high cost for these coins makes them inaccessible for many collectors, especially those just starting out, but they are a fantastic showpiece for any die hard collector of rare and valuable coins. The beauty and exclusivity of the American Gold Buffalo Coins makes them very sought after.
The American Gold Eagle was first issued by the United States Mint in 1986. The coins were struck in 22 karat gold and offered in five different bullion weights. Authorized as a method to allow Americans to easily invest in precious metals, the bullion coins were instantly popular with both precious metals investors and collectors.
The series was offered each year amid fluctuating demand. Starting in the middle of 2008, demand for Gold Eagles expanded dramatically. Financial conditions and uncertainties about the economy led many people to reconsider precious metals investment. Sales of the United States Mint’s Gold and Silver Eagle bullion coins jumped to multi year highs.
The increased level of demand led to some problems for the offerings. On several occasions, the US Mint’s entire inventory was depleted, leading to a suspension of sales. A later solution was a rationing program, which was put into place for extended periods of time when full demand could not be met. As a final measure, some bullion coins like fractional weight Gold Eagles and certain collector coins like proof gold eagles were delayed or canceled.
The situation of rationing, suspensions, and delays persisted for more than two years. Even as the stock market rebounded and some claimed an economic recovery had taken hold, many investors still sought a store of value in precious metals.
Last month, the American Gold Eagle bullion coin sales fell to their lowest level since June 2008. Across available one ounce and fractional weight options, sales of 41,500 ounces were recorded. This low monthly level followed three months of sales exceeding 150,000 ounces per month. Was the last month an aberration, or a sign that the long period of elevate physical precious metals demand is finally abating?
American Silver Eagles have been around since 1986 and are America’s official silver bullion coin. One side of the coin features the “Walking Liberty” design that was originally seen on the half dollar coin in the early half of the twentieth century. This image was used because it has always been one the American public’s favorites. It also reads “Liberty” along the top part of the coin. The image is an iconic one that has been loved since its first unveiling.
On the reverse side of the coin is an eagle behind a shield which is reminiscent of the Great Seal of the United States. It also reads “1 oz. Fine Silver” on the coin. American Silver Eagles have a face value of one dollar. The coins were originally minted with the United State’s own stockpiled silver in an attempt to balance the federal budget. In later years congressional approval was give to use silver bought on the open market.
These coins have been extremely popular with collectors and those individuals looking for a way to buy unique and beautiful silver coins. There have been several special editions of the coins over the years including a 20th anniversary edition and special collector set which featured highly polished coins and coins with a frosted finish. Uncirculated versions of the American Silver Eagle coins have long been available to collectors, though they have been discontinued on occasion when the demand for bullion was too high.
Many collectors have tried to collect the coins by date, getting the uncirculated varieties each year that they were available. They are often considered to be the modern version of the more common silver dollar coins. Since the coins quality is guaranteed by the U.S. Mint, they have been very popular with precious metal collectors aside from coin collectors. The beauty of Silver Eagles has made them one of the more popular coins minted in the United States in the last hundred years.
These coins are a beautiful addition to any collection. The striking detail of each coin is virtually unrivaled and their guaranteed silver quality means that can be a very good investment for anyone want to own a piece of history. American Silver Eagles are some of the more unique coins available today.