Proof and uncirculated fractional sizes of .9999 fine gold American Buffalo coins will be issued by the U.S. Mint in 2007, joining the ounce that debuted in June 2006.
There will be four sizes ? ounce, half ounce, quarter ounce and tenth ounce ? just as there are for the ongoing American Eagle gold coin program. Denominations are expected to mirror the Eagles as well: $50, $25, $10 and $5.
Designs for the fractional gold Buffaloes were reviewed and approved by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee Nov. 14.
CCAC chairman Mitch Sanders said that the designs are reduced versions of the design on the 2006 ounce, with appropriate lettering changes for denomination and year.
In 2007, all four sizes of gold Buffaloes will come in proof and uncirculated finishes, sold by the Mint. Prices are not yet known.
The ounce alone will additionally be available in a third form, a bullion business strike, available through the Mint?s authorized distributors and not directly from the Mint.
No information has been available yet regarding the Mint?s product schedule for 2007.
As with Eagles, the main difference between uncirculated and business-strike Buffaloes will be that the dies striking uncirculated pieces will be burnished, while those for business strikes will not.
All proof and uncirculated Buffaloes will carry West Point?s ?W? mintmark; the business strike one-ouncers won?t.
