American Buffalo 2026 One Ounce Gold Proof Coin
mbr33
Posts: 113 ✭✭✭
Are there many gold Buffalo collectors on the forum? Does anyone collect the proofs? I’m really impressed by the changes they’ve made this year, but not overly FOMO’ed, as I don’t think it will be a sellout by any means. The pricing grid (if released today) would place it at $6140 I believe.
The premium of is course high, but as I hear most often here, buy only if you really want it for yourself….price be damned.
“The coin’s obverse features James Earle Fraser’s Native American portrait from the 1913 Buffalo nickel, while the reverse depicts an American bison. For this year’s issue, the Liberty Bell privy mark sits close to the traditional placement of the "W" mint mark, which has been moved between the headdress feathers. The dual date appears along the lower right rim rather than on the portrait’s shoulder.”
Comments
One of my customers really likes the design
Even though it’ll be the most I’ve ever paid (barring a gold crash before the week of May 7) I would love to add it to my collection of buffalos. I get them out occasionally to see if my opinion of them has changed, but I still am enamored with them and wouldn’t sell them. Buy what you like, they say.
That product makes more sense than the AGE IMO.
I still wish they stuck with the fractional pieces, just to have more stuff
I can envision the 250th alterations to Morgan & Peace bucks now.
Reverse proofs split into single units.
A Morgan & Peace with P mintmark.
The dual date on them lurking somewhere unexpected.
I completed a 3 piece Buffalo oz set in 2013 in different finishes when gold was $1,300 an ounce which made two them $1640 issue direct from the MINT. The Unc oz I got for free due to city giving me back my $1,300 sidewalk replacement check. They liked me, & I respected them. So I Got my uncashed check back after the new 100' side walk was installed & bought the missing 24k ounce of gold I needed to complete 24k different finishes set:
The 2013 24k oz trio.
Luckily for me this new 2026 250th offer of the classic worn away dateless Indian 5c design is not a must have for me at $900 over spot. I think if someone desires gold at $5100 an ounce they should buy it at $5100 ish plus low % over and not drop additional $900 upcharge to plug a hole in a non existent album.
My money my choice, your money your choice.
We have so many things to choose from !
Happy Shopping !
Those are beautiful coins! Very nice! I’m only someone who loves the artistry on both sides of the Buffalo, so I get them “just for me” with no intention of ever selling them in my lifetime. Someday rhe kids can say “Dad surely loved these. Maybe we should keep them”. That would make me happy, and price on that is immeasurable.
You are correct…..so many things to choose from, and I hope you’re enjoying your shopping as well!
I've been collecting the proofs. The prices this year make me wish they did the 1/2 oz at least. I got the 1/2 oz in 2008, I think.
I didnt get the reverse proof as 1) I didnt really have the funds, and 2) I didnt appreciate the finish until I saw a rev proof ASE in hand. Missed that boat I suppose.
...
Also, they're doing the dual-date with these too this year. Cool.
I have a complete collection so I will be buying this one.
I think the 2025-W is a complete sleeper with among the lowest mintages. in PRCGS Pr70DC they are unavailable. You can find them in NGC at $6500+. I think the market is still in sticker shock on 1oz gold coins and sales and mintages for 2026 could be comparable to 2025. I don't buy the hype that the dual date design and privy is a huge sales driver for this or any other coin. I think once the market adjusts to and normalizes these higher gold prices, the premiums will return for the key dates. I'm confident the 2025 will be and the 2026 is a good candidate for extra appreciation.
I collect these, have the entire herd to date so I anticipate getting this years proof as well. Being that this is a the 20 year anniversary for the gold buffalo I was hoping for an anniversary set of 1/10 oz fractionals in mint state, proof, burnished, and a reverse proof.
I would have LOVED that too! There’s so much going on this year, though, I don’t hold out much hope for it to happen.
2025 Bison Red Button at $6,140 is lit !
ats 93
https://www.usmint.gov/on/demandware.store/Sites-USM-Site/default/Product-Variation?pid=25EL
You are welcome
:^)
Lindy
https://www.usmint.gov/american-buffalo-2025-one-ounce-gold-proof-coin-25EL.html?cm_mmc=FacebookPaidPFS--SHOPPING+%7C+PR+%7C+Advantage+Plus--SHOPPING+%7C+PR+%7C+Advantage+Plus-_-SHOPPING+%7C+PR+%7C+Advantage+Plus+%7C+PREC+Catalog+%7C+Static&cc=ADV&utm_medium=paid&utm_source=fb&utm_id=120229842977690614&utm_content=120229844493020614&utm_term=120229842977700614&utm_campaign=120229842977690614&fbclid=IwY2xjawP3Y5BleHRuA2FlbQEwAGFkaWQBqymclTYkpnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR67OWMF119UIwF5HkOscd01ju6jcTUcuqOQ1ybmxfXMHpqadlZHsmXzjGFvHA_aem_jig8O0KYPo5UQAa-HBxq1w
Dateless Bust is growing on me.
Linky Mint Product images up:
https://www.usmint.gov/american-buffalo-2026-one-ounce-gold-proof-coin-26EL.html
Just two months to launch...
Happy Shopping !
I intend to grab one. Let's keep gold prices down thru 2026...LOL
From what I understand gold platinum palladium reprice on Wednesdays, some here know exact time of day, whereas silver doesn't routinely reprice unless some long term price spike occurs
All but silver price grid.
Scroll right to see everything.
Took me a month to scroll right to see all new 2026 gold products:
https://www.usmint.gov/content/dam/usmint/shop/Pricing-Grid.pdf
The mint should have also been striking these in silver for those who can't afford the big guns.
I “think” the only time they did was for the Smithsonian Commemorative in 2001. Mintage of maybe 220,000.
Would be a good idea if they had time to fit that in (and maybe some gold fractionals which they only did once)
Does it stand to fact that the 2025 Buff has more hair detail than the 1776-2026?
It does look that way.
it looks like an 8000 mintage on ats, which is about what they struck for last year. I have no idea why the mint puts 14,000 on the website for 2025, then only strike 8000. But they have 8,000 for this release in the inventory.
I’m trying to get one for every grandchild's birth year with my first starting in 2007. The issue is fertility. The last one was in 2025.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
Ive gotten one every year. This one will really hurt.
Because they don't think they will be able to sell 14K in the beginning, if at all, so they don't make them all?
I haven't followed new issue pricing that closely over the years...is the premium in percent more or less than when gold was $3000 or $1,800 an ounce ?
i will have to go back and look at what i paid for some of the older ones upon release. There are good resources for mintages online, but not really for original list prices, unless someone else can chime in with a source for that (which would be very helpful) Some years I acquired using "Pure" which after some years have passed, tended to have very decent prices.
They may not be able to even move those 8,000 with prices in the $6000's anytime soon. I'm sure there will not be a waiting room on release day for this one.
Just look at the Mint precious metals pricing grid. The premium is constant. So it decreases in percentage terms as the price of gold rises.
Unfortunately, that is not how the market prices gold coins. The market looks at the total price. As a result, as the price of gold rises, the numismatic premium of gold coins converges toward $0. It does NOT stay constant, decreasing in percentage terms. Just look at where classic $20 gold coins trade today.
This will be my first Buffalo. Also looking forward to the Best of the Mint gold coins releasing this year.
Make room in that boat for me, too. I'm on board for those, too!
I really like the fractional Buffalo gold coins when they came out 2008, but they seemed to be expensive, given the spot price. (What else is new?) Then the fractional program ended, never to return.
I thought about buying them, but really didn't what them certified. I much prefer the original mint packaging. Now more and more of them are certified so buying them raw is even harder. I image that most of the raw ones are dogs which would not have graded well. I have seen a few raw Buffalo one ounce coins which were really marked up.
I suppose the train as passed me by, so I will spend my coin budget elsewhere.
Yes, those fractionals from 2008 still carry a decent premium and don’t often come up for sale. Those who have them want to keep them for the most part. I’ve been watching as well.
Thank you for bringing up the 2008 Buff fractionals….what a time!
At the time, I really loved the idea of them and was able to get both the buffalo gold proof and uncirculated set. One of them remains sealed from the Mint.
And I bought a quarter ounce for a friend, as a gift, given it was close to the size of the original 1913 nickel.
He still thanks me!
Has your opinion of the idea changed now in 2026? Do you think they would have sold enough in 2026 for the 20th anniversary of the coin (and the 250th celebration) to make the Mint "consider" doing them annually?
PS...your friend is very fortunate to have your friendship.
That is a good question. I don’t know. I would appreciate the fractionals in any year that they were produced. I believe in having the different sizes, It’s just more interesting and dynamic.
It’s already a damn beautiful design so it’s all good. As a side-note, it felt very expensive even then.
And there were so many offerings during that time period to choose from the Mint that it was an absolute onslaught of opportunity and temptation.
And thank you, I do love my friends.
Yes, unfortunately it's a similar time with all the new products coming along. The price is steep this year for sure, but a BEAUTY of a coin!
I would love it in any fractional size, and I feel like it could drag some more people along for the ride if offered in more affordable sizes.
I’m not anticipating any new grandchildren. My luck with a duo date , there’ll be twins
spare me.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
I have the entire run w/Mercanti signatures on all of them. Since he no longer signs for PCGS the last four years or so are NGC slabs. Ugh…this hobby is getting expensive…..😩😉
Well, if we can get to say mid to late April, the math works out for new grandbabies to spare you this year. Get one for yourself this year!
Don't know how many are out there, but I still have one 4 coin set of 2008 Buffs in proof and unc still sealed in the original Mint shipping box ordered early in sales all these years later. They are in two separate boxes as they were two different orders.
So cool that Miles still has a sealed set!!
I ordered a bunch of them in various denominations and graded all of them, except for these two which still remain sealed.
Regretfully , I have sold a few over the years , but fortunately , I kept most of them and have them to this day.
I almost always like the OGP better than slabs for modern issues.
I didn't realize the Buffalo fractionals ended. What was the last year ?
What about AGE, Krugerrand, and Maple Leaf fractionals ? I have a few of those...plus some Pandas. All still being made ?
buff frac are 1 yr type - 2008
yes
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Buff fractionals were 2008 only.
I'm glad they don't do fractionals. I like the concept, but buying a 1oz at $6k is hard enough. A 4 coin set is 5 figures.
https://www.usmint.gov/american-eagle-2026-gold-proof-four-coin-set-26EF.html
over $11k
A $5 1/10 oz fractional is an option at only 3 figures - for now.