2006-W 1 oz Proof Gold Buffalo $50 Coin (w/Box & COA)

 Marking a historic milestone in United States coinage, the 2006-W 1 oz Proof Gold Buffalo $50 Coin is the inaugural proof issue of the U.S. Mint's flagship 24-karat gold series. Struck at the West Point Mint, this coin was the first-ever .9999 fine 24-karat gold coin produced by the U.S. government for public sale. Featuring frosted raised devices set against deeply mirrored proof fields, each coin is delivered in its original United States Mint presentation box with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). 

History & Significance of the Series

Authorized under Title II of the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005, the American Gold Buffalo was created to compete with international 24-karat gold bullion offerings like the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf and Austrian Philharmonic. Prior to 2006, the U.S. Mint only struck 22-karat bullion (such as the Gold Eagle). To introduce America's pure 24-karat program, the Mint revived James Earle Fraser’s beloved 1913 Buffalo Nickel design, widely recognized as one of the most artistic motifs in U.S. history. The inaugural 2006-W proof release saw a final mintage of 246,267 pieces, establishing it as a foundational key-date issue for registry set collectors.

Coin Details:

• Made from .9999 fine gold with a weight of 1 troy oz
• Produced by the U.S. Mint
• $50 USD denomination
• Obverse: Features a right-facing profile portrait of a Native American with the following inscriptions: “2006,” “LIBERTY,” and a tiny “F” engraver’s mint mark
• Reverse: Displays an American Buffalo with the following inscriptions; include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and "IN GOD WE TRUST" along with the denomination, purity, and weight.