Owner Comments:
First and only year for the Fractional American Buffalo Gold Proof.
James Earle Fraser was an American sculptor during the first half of the 20th century. His work is integral to many of Washington, D.C.'s most iconic structures. The American Buffalo is a 24-karat gold coin featuring James Fraser's designs based on the original 1913 Type I Buffalo nickel.
US Coin Designer and Engraver James Earle Fraser was born on November 4, 1876 in the city of Winona, Minnesota. He was raised in the frontier and among the Sioux Indians and other Native Americans. Minnesota at that time was part of the Western Frontier of America where James witnessed the displacement of the American Indian and the life and fall of the American Bison of the prairies which gives us insight into his inspiration for the coins design.
On July 11th, 2008 the United States Mint announced that it would begin accepting orders for fractional weights of the American Buffalo Gold Coin, available in proof and for the first and only time, W mint mark uncirculated versions on July 22nd. Both versions of the coin will be offered in four sizes; one ounce ($50 denomination), one–half ounce ($25 denomination), one–quarter ounce ($10 denomination) and one–tenth ounce ($5 denomination), as well as in four coin sets that contain one coin in each size.
This was the first and only year for the 2008 $25 Gold Proof Buffalo as late in the year the US Mint decided to cancel production of the fractional Gold Proof coins. This announcement boosted sales until the coin sold out.
The IPO for the release day of the 1/2 oz $25 Buffalo Proof on July 22, 2008 was $619.95; the price of gold was $942.20. Sales after the announcement that the $25 coin would no longer be produced reached 12,169 coins.
Buffalo Proof Ultra Cameo Mintages
2006 246,267
2007 58,998
2008 $5 18,884
2008 $10 13,125
2008 $25 12,169
2008 Proof Set 7,803
2008 18,863
2009 49,306
2010 49,263
2011 28,683
2012 19,715
2013 18,584
2013 RP 47,836
2014 20,557
2015 16,591
2016 21,878
2017 15,810
2018 15,756
2019 14,844
2020 11,887
2021 16,969
2022 15,943
2023 15,138
Sources: US Mint, USA Gold, Guide to American Gold Buffalo Coins