2008 $50 Gold Buffalo Coin PF69 Ultra Cameo Early Release NGC

Coin information:Type: Gold Buffalo Year: 2008Denomination: $50.00Gold Content: 1 oz.Mint Mark: West Point, NY Diameter: 32.7mm Grade: PF69 Ultra Cameo Early ReleaseCertified By: NGC The obverse of the coin features a Native American man. The reverse has the design of a buffalo standing on a mound and reads "$50 1 oz. .9999 FINE GOLD" "IN GOD WE TRUST".About the Gold Buffalo Coin: The American Buffalo coin concept was introduced in 1912. James Earle Fraser's design, after modifications, was accepted and first issued in 1913. However, the Buffalo didn't gain real popularity until the release of the more scarce 1931-S. In 1938, the introduction of the Jefferson Nickel ended the Buffalo Nickel series. The buffalo design would not appear again on American coinage until 1991 when the Mount Rushmore Commemoratives were released. In 1999 a similar buffalo design was used in the Yellowstone Silver Dollar Commemorative issued for the 125th anniversary of Yellowstone National Park. The United States introduced the American Eagle Program in 1986 to compete with the Canadian Maple Leaf, South African Krugerrand and Chinese Panda coins. However, unlike the bullion coins being offered by foreign mints, the American Eagle was .900 fine compared to the .999 fine coins currently trading. Since the coins contain less gold than their foreign counterparts, the United States would have to change the content of the American Eagle to a gold standard that is accepted worldwide or issue a separate bullion coin that contained a pure gold standard. The latter was chosen. Much like the American Eagle coins were based on the designs of Adolph Weinman and Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a previous coin design was chosen for this new series. It was James Earle Fraser's original buffalo nickel design. Just like the American Eagle program, the American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins were d