US Mint 2011 Issues Different Types of Gold Coins

The United States Mint, as of May 18, 2011, will issue some very recognizable types of gold coins and other collectors’ items for sale. The gold coins include the Proof American Buffalo Gold Coin and the 25-coin rolls of Ulysses S. Grant Presidential $1 Coins. Besides, it will also issue the Yellowstone National Park Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin.

US Mint Releases Different Types of Gold Coins

Here are the details of the gold coins issued by the United States Mint:

2011 W American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin: Available on May 19, 2011, at noon Eastern Time, it marks the sixth annual issue of this coin. Denominated at $50 a piece, the price of the coin was set at $1,760 on Wednesday (based on the average weekly gold price). As the Mint changes it gold coin prices based on the average weekly gold prices, the prices are also subject to change.

Highly sought after among gold collectors, the coin’s 2010 Proof version (released on June 3, 2010) sold as many as 49,374 pieces as of May 15, 2011. The 2010 version’s sales stopped a few days before the release of the 2011 version.

The 2011 Proof version gold coin is a one ounce, .9999 fine 24 karat gold coin. It features the same design by James Earle Fraser as the 1913 “Buffalo Nickel” or the “Indian Head Nickel” coin. The front of the coin has a portrait of a Native American, with the reverse having an American buffalo. According to the US Mint, the portrait of the Native American was based on three different American Indians who modeled for Fraser while he sculpted the coin. The bison on the reverse is believed to be Black Diamond, a popular feature at the New York Zoological Gardens.

Collectors, however, must not confuse The 2011 American Buffalo Gold Proof coin with the investment-grade Buffalo Gold bullion coin, available since March 14, 2011. While the US Mint’s Proof coin is available directly to the public, the latter is sold through the Mint’s authorized purchasers, who resell them to precious metal providers, coin dealers or the public. The two are also different in terms of their appearance. Proof coins, for instance, are meticulously produced and polished to provide a frosted design and mirror finish. It also has the mint mark “W” on the coin front to the left of the Chief’s neck. However, bullion coins have neither the mint mark nor the mirror-like finish.

2011 Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Coin Rolls: Available for sale on Thursday, the 2011 Ulysses S. Grant $1 Gold Coins are the 18th issue in the US Mint Presidential $1 Coin Program. Under the Presidential Coin Program, four presidents and honored every year with the president’s face engraved on the façade of the coin. The Ulysses S. Grant Presidential coin, for instance, has the portrait of Ulysses S. Grant on the coin front and Statue of Liberty on the back. The portrait of Grant as well and the image of the Statue of Liberty on the back of this coin and other Presidential Dollars are designed by the US Mint sculptor-engraver Don Everhart. The coin is also inscribed with the words “ULYSSES S. GRANT," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "18TH PRESIDENT", among others.

The Ulysses S. Grant roll is the second of the four releases of Presidential Coins this year. The first release was that of Andre Johnson’s. Collectors interested in purchasing the coin can visit the US Mint website. Priced at $39.95, buyers can select from the $25 worth Denver or Philadelphia minted rolls.