WASHINGTON — The United States Mint will open sales for the 2012 American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin on March 15 at noon Eastern Time (ET). There are no mintage or household order limits for this product.
The designs on the 24–karat one–ounce gold coin’s obverse (heads side) and reverse (tails side) are based on James Earle Fraser’s original 1913 Type I Buffalo nickel. The obverse features the profile of a Native American and the inscriptions LIBERTY, 2012, the initial “F” for Fraser and the “W” mint mark for the United States Mint at West Point. The reverse features the revered American Buffalo – also known as the bison – and the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, IN GOD WE TRUST, $50, 1OZ. and .9999 FINE GOLD.
Each American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin is presented in an elegant hardwood box with a matte finish. The coin is exhibited on a platform which can stand at an angle for display when the box is open. A Certificate of Authenticity is also included.
Pricing for the 2012 American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin will be based on the United States Mint’s pricing strategy for numismatic products containing precious metals located at http://catalog.usmint.gov/wcsstore/ConsumerDirect/images/catalog/en_US/GoldCoinGrid.pdf.
Orders will be accepted at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog or at 1–800–USA–MINT (872–6468). Hearing– and speech–impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1–888–321–MINT (6468). A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 will be added to all domestic orders.
The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins.
Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, orders placed prior to the official on–sale date and time of March 15, 2012, noon ET shall not be deemed accepted by the United States Mint and will not be honored. For more information, please review the United States Mint’s Frequently Asked Questions, Answer ID #175.