American Gold Buffalo: specifications, value and where to buy

Every US gold coin before 2006 was an alloy: pre-1933 coins were 90% gold, and the Gold Eagle launched in 1986 is 22 carat. The Buffalo changed that in 2006 as the US Mint's first 24 carat gold coin, and it borrowed one of the country's best-loved designs, James Earle Fraser's 1913 five-cent piece. That combination gives it a following among collectors as well as investors, which shows up in its price. Below: the legal specifications, live value, what dealers charged today and how four countries tax it.

What are the American Gold Buffalo's specifications?

Fineness, weight and face value: 31 USC 5112(a)(11). Design requirement: 31 USC 5112(q). Diameter, thickness, total weight, edge and mint mark: US Mint figures as compiled by Wikipedia.

The law that created the coin, the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005, added a $50 coin "that weighs 1 ounce, and contains 99.99 percent pure gold" to the list of US coins. It also required the first-year coins to carry Fraser's designs, with the weight and denomination set into the "grassy mound" under the bison. The US Mint has kept those designs ever since.

How is the Buffalo different from the American Gold Eagle?

Eagle premium from the GoldVetted price check, 10 October 2026. For a full comparison see American Eagle vs Buffalo and the American Gold Eagle guide.

What is an American Gold Buffalo worth today?

The melt value is the value of the gold inside at the live spot price, the wholesale market price. The 1 oz Buffalo holds exactly one ounce, so its melt value equals the ounce price.

Spot-based melt values, not dealer prices. The 2008 fractional coins sell well above melt as collector pieces. Last updated: Loading. Other amounts: coin melt value calculator.

What do dealers charge for a gold Buffalo, and what do they pay?

A premium is what you pay above melt value. At 06:29 to 06:30 UTC on Monday 12 October 2026, we read the single-coin prices for a random-year bullion Buffalo on two US dealers' product pages. Spot from gold-api.com was $4,184.80 an ounce. We also show Kitco's published buy price from 11 October, which tells you roughly what a dealer would pay you back.

Percentages are against one ounce at the spot price shown. Quantity discounts apply from 5 coins at SD Bullion and 10 at APMEX. JM Bullion does not allow automated price checks, so we do not publish a premium for it. More dates: premium tracker.

Two things stand out. First, paying by card added about $185 to $188 per coin at both dealers, so a wire or check payment is worth arranging if you can. Second, the gap between the cheapest selling price and Kitco's buy price was $294.70, or 6.7% of the purchase price. That is roughly how far gold would need to rise before you broke even on a quick round trip, though the two prices were a day apart. Buffalos also cost more than Eagles at the same dealer, as the comparison table above shows. If you want the lowest cost per ounce and do not care about 24 carat purity, the Eagle or a gold bar is usually cheaper.

See Buffalo prices at SD Bullion

How is the American Gold Buffalo taxed in the US, UK, Canada and Australia?

United States. The IRS treats coins as collectibles, so long-term gains are taxed at up to 28% (IRS Topic 409). For retirement savers the Buffalo is one of the few US gold coins that qualifies for an IRA on purity alone: 26 USC 408(m) exempts bullion that meets the fineness required for futures delivery, which is 99.5% for gold. The coins must be held by a bank or approved trustee. Sales tax depends on your state; our US gold tax guide has the details.

Canada and Australia. Both countries test purity, not the coin's country of origin. At 99.99%, the Buffalo clears the 99.5% bar, so it is free of GST/HST in Canada and GST in Australia, just like a Maple Leaf. This is the opposite of 22 carat coins such as the Eagle and Krugerrand, which are taxed; our guide to Canadian gold tax and the 99.5% rule explains why.

United Kingdom. The Buffalo is VAT-free as an investment gold coin, but it is not sterling, so HMRC treats it as a chargeable asset for Capital Gains Tax. UK buyers who expect gains above the annual exempt amount usually prefer a CGT-free Britannia.

How do you spot a fake gold Buffalo?

• Weigh it: 31.108 g. A scale reading to 0.01 g catches crude fakes.
• Measure it: 32.7 mm across and 2.95 mm thick. Because pure gold is denser than the 22 carat Eagle alloy, a genuine Buffalo is slightly thinner and smaller than an Eagle of the same gold weight. Tungsten-core fakes struggle to match both weight and size.
• Check the colour and finish: pure gold has a deep, rich yellow. A brassy or orange tint needs testing.
• Check the details: bullion coins have no mint mark; a "W" means a proof. The mound inscription should read "$50 1 OZ. .9999 FINE GOLD", and the edge should be reeded.
• Use non-destructive tests: dealers can check coins with XRF (an X-ray scan of the surface metal) or electrical conductivity testers.
• Buy from established sellers: most fakes appear on marketplaces and in private sales priced below spot.

More in how to tell if gold is real and gold scams to avoid.

Which years and versions of the gold Buffalo exist?

For a bullion buyer, the year makes no difference to gold content. Proofs, reverse proofs and graded coins are priced for collectors and rarely resell for their full premium. Read bullion vs numismatic coins before paying extra.

Where can you buy American Gold Buffalos?

The US Mint sells proof Buffalos directly but does not sell bullion coins to the public; those reach buyers through dealers. Our guide to buying from the US Mint explains how that works. In the US, large online dealers including SD Bullion and APMEX both listed random-year bullion Buffalos on 12 October 2026. In the UK, dealers concentrate on Britannias and Sovereigns, so check stock and compare the price with a CGT-free coin before buying a Buffalo there. In Canada and Australia the Buffalo's 99.99% purity keeps it free of sales tax, which makes it a fair alternative to local coins when the premium is competitive.

Pros and cons of the American Gold Buffalo

For other first-time choices, see our best gold coins for beginners, or browse all gold coin guides.

Not financial advice. GoldVetted provides general information to help you compare options. It is not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Gold prices go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you pay. Check tax rules with the official source or a qualified adviser before you act.