Bullion

2008-W 1/10 oz Gold Buffalo BU (w/Box & COA)

---

In 2008, the United States Mint released a highly distinctive version of its American Buffalo gold coin. Struck at the West Point Mint, this five dollar coin contains one-tenth of an ounce of extremely pure 0.9999 fine gold. What sets this specific release apart is its special burnished finish, an aesthetic treatment that the mint offered on the Gold Buffalo series exclusively during the year 2008. With a limited mintage of just 17,429 pieces, this issue represents a fleeting moment in modern American coinage. The obverse of the coin features the powerful profile of a Native American, a celebrated design originally created by sculptor James Earle Fraser. The word LIBERTY is inscribed along the upper right rim, with the year 2008 and the West Point "W" mint mark positioned near the lower left. This design, along with the reverse, is adapted from the famous Buffalo Nickel first introduced in the early twentieth century. On the reverse, a massive American bison stands in profile, widely believed to be modeled after Black Diamond, a famous resident of the Central Park Zoo. The detailed design captures the rugged texture of the animal's coat. Inscriptions on this side include the issuing country, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, along with the traditional mottos E PLURIBUS UNUM and IN GOD WE TRUST. The lower portion of the reverse displays the coin's weight, purity, and face value, reading $5 1/10 OZ. 0.9999 FINE GOLD.