Owner Comments:
Seventh year of issue.
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.
The US Mint released the 2012 Gold Buffalo Proof on March 15, 2012. The IPO on the release day was $1,960.00; the price of gold was $1,658.02. Total sales for the 2012 Gold Proof dropped again as the first day price was clearly impacting coin lovers decision to buy. Compared to the previous year sales of 28,683, total purchases for the 2012 Proof Buffalo only reached 19,715 coins; a 31% drop in sales.
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