Numismatic

2016-W 1 oz Proof Gold Buffalo (w/Box & COA)

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In 2016, the United States Mint continued its celebrated tradition of striking the American Buffalo gold coin at the West Point facility. This particular issue represents a milestone in American numismatics, being part of the first series of 0.9999 fine gold coins ever produced by the United States government. Struck with a magnificent proof finish, this one-ounce coin carries a face value of 50 dollars, backed fully as sovereign legal tender. The artistry of this coin looks back to the early twentieth century, adapting the beloved imagery of the 1913 Buffalo Nickel. The obverse presents a powerful profile portrait of a Native American, accompanied by the inscription of the word LIBERTY and the year 2016. On the reverse, a massive American buffalo stands in profile, a depiction widely believed to have been modeled after Black Diamond, a famous bison from the Central Park Zoo. The reverse also bears the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the coin's weight and purity of 1 OZ 0.9999 FINE GOLD. This 2016 proof release is highly prized for its exceptional craftsmanship and limited production, with a recorded mintage of 21,878 pieces. This stands in contrast to the larger mintage of 219,500 pieces struck for the brilliant uncirculated version of the same year, making the proof edition a particularly compelling subject for study and appreciation.