James Earle Fraser was a popular artists and sculptor in the United States during the first two decades of the 20th century. He had completed many private works of art before the United States Mint tasked him with redesigning the appearance of the nation’s five-cent piece. His iconic Buffalo Nickel design is alive today on the nation’s first-ever 24-karat gold coin. Today, the 2017 1 oz American Gold Buffalo Coin is available to you online from JM Bullion.
Coin Highlights:
- Arrives in a protective plastic slab from the PCGS.
- 12th-ever issue of American Gold Buffalo coins since 2006!
- Limited availability of graded coins!
- Contains 1 Troy oz of .9999 pure gold.
- Face value of $50 (USD) is fully backed by the US government.
- Graded Mint State 69 by the Professional Coin Grading Service.
- First Strike specimen.
- Obverse features James Earle Fraser’s Native American design.
- Fraser’s Black Diamond bison depiction on the reverse.
Fraser was commissioned in 1913 to redesign the imagery on the American five-cent piece. His Buffalo Nickel design used a combination of facial features from three prominent Native American tribal leaders of the day, as well as a bison from the Central Park Zoo named Black Diamond. The Buffalo, or Indian Head, Nickel was in circulation from 1913 to 1938.
The 2017 1 oz American Gold Buffalo Coins listed by JM Bullion today are Mint State 69 specimens according to the PCGS. Coins in this condition exhibit full, original mint luster as well as two minor detracting flaws. Those flaws are limited to minuscule hairlines or contact marks, and found only outside of the primary focal areas.
In order to qualify as First Strike coins, these American Gold Buffalo coins had to arrive at the PCGS or an approved third-party depository within the first 30 days of the US Mint’s 2017 issue date for the Gold Buffalo.
On the obverse of the 2017 1 oz American Gold Buffalo coin is the image of a Native American chieftain, captured in right-profile relief. Fraser’s design debuted on the Buffalo Nickel in 1913, and remained in use until 1938.
The reverse of the 2017 1 oz American Gold Buffalo coin includes the image of Black Diamond. Though not an exact replication, Fraser’s left-profile depiction of an American bison was inspired by Black Diamond, a resident buffalo at New York City’s Central Park Zoo in the early 20th century.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to JM Bullion. Our customer service associates are available at 800-276-6508, or you can connect with us online using our live chat and email features.