The American Gold Buffalo gold bullion coins have the distinction of being the first pure gold (.9999 fine, 24-karat gold) coins ever struck by the U.S. Mint for public sale. According to the official U.S. Mint press release on June 20, 2006:

"This American Gold Buffalo Coin will appeal to both investors who choose to hold gold and to others who simply love gold," said Deputy Director David A. Lebryk. They were designed by a student of Saint-Gaudens and have inscriptions of the coin's weight, denomination and gold content incised on the reverse (Buffalo side) in the design area commonly known as the "grassy mound."