New 24-karat American Buffalo gold bullion coins were slated to go on sale through an international network of authorized purchasers June 19 and proof versions for collectors were to be offered to collectors June 22.
Price of the proof version is $800 each. A maximum of 300,000 proofs will be struck.
There is also a maximum of 10 proofs per order per household.
A first-strike ceremony was set for 11 a.m. June 20 at the West Point Mint. It will be led by U.S. Mint Deputy Director David A. Lebryk and West Point plant manager Ellen McCullom.
The new bullion coin features the James Earle Fraser Buffalo nickel design with some minor modifications.
The design features an Indian Head on obverse and a bison on reverse. It stands on a mound as does the Type I Buffalo nickel reverse.
On the reverse in the mound area incuse legends will state ?$50,? ?1 OZ? and ?.9999 FINE GOLD.?
In 2006, only one-ounce versions of the coin will be struck.
Pricing of the bullion version will fluctuate with the gold bullion market. For more information, see the U.S. Mint's Web site at www.usmint.gov.
