The 2015 American Buffalo One-Ounce Gold Proof Coin, released on April 9 of last year, is now sold out. The item had been in “Currently Unavailable” status on the U.S. Mint’s Web site for months, and its sales have been stuck at 16,592 pieces since February 10. While there’s a small chance the Mint could adjust this total on the next sales report, it’s likely this constitutes the coin’s final mintage figure.
It’s not a big surprise that the Mint chose this week to discontinue the 2015 Gold Buffalo, with last Wednesday’s 2016 Gold Buffalo release accompanying the recent sellouts of other significant 2015 gold issues, like Gold Eagles and the American Liberty High Relief Gold Coin. But it is a development worth noting, both because the Mint’s timeline for discontinuing unavailable issues has been fairly inscrutable lately, and because the coin now has the lowest final mintage of any Gold Buffalo one-ounce Proof issue.
This low mintage is not likely to be undercut in 2016. According to the Mint’s unofficial early numbers for the week, this year’s issue has already sold a whopping 12,001 units, which amounts to more than 72.3% of the 2015 coin’s total sales. It got there in four days.
For those curious about other low mintages in the series, the next one up is the 2013 issue, which sold 18,594 pieces, followed by the 2008 coin, which made it to 18,863, according to the Red Book. The highest-ever total for a Buffalo Gold one-ounce Proof Coin was reached during 2006, the first year these coins were issued; that year saw 246,267 units purchased.
For more information on American Buffalo Gold Proof Coins, please visit the U.S. Mint’s Web site.
cagcrisp says
It got there in four days…
Mint News Blog says
@cagcrisp, right you are, I misread the calendar. I made the correction.
Scott says
This coin should have been listed as “Sold Out” two months ago.
bobo says
The following first spouses are in slow motion countdown mode:
Coolidge Unc 50 left
Harding Unc 65left
Hoover Unc 84 left
Hoover Proof 11 left
Eisenhower Proof 7 left
This would suggest that roughly 1940 to 1950 uncs were made for each 2014, and roughly 2400 proofs were made for each 2014. If the numbers for the Eisenhower are representative, then about 2700 proofs were made for each 2015. It therefore seems that the 2014s might be among the lowest mintage coins of the series, given that it appears that fewer were made in 2014 than 2015. And we have no way of knowing how many were made for 2016.
Boz says
Maybe just my slow internet but not finding Jackie proof gold on the mints website either. Had been way down at the bottom as unavailable for a long while.
John Q. Coinage says
I’m cryin…not..in other news a new design for the penny reverse
cagcrisp says
@Boz, Jackie proof was taken off the same time the 2015 Buffalo was taken off…
cagcrisp says
I want to Commend the Mint for having Tuesday’s Sales numbers match the Excel spreadsheet numbers released yesterday. This is the 2nd week in a row there there were ZERO differences in the two reports…Thanks…
Joe#2 says
coin guy on hsn now selling 10 ounce silver bars for $110 more than you can buy it from any reputable dealer.. unreal…
earthling says
Thems some tasty lookin Coins there. I’d want to get 2 dozen but theys probly them Milk Choclit ones. I really want white choklit.
Jerry Diekmann says
From the previous post, and speaking of buffalo nickels and the buffalo gold coins – does anyone know if these coins were avidly collected by any of the native American tribes? I’m not quite sure what all this diversity PC is supposed to do for the people who are actually being showcased on our coins and medals now. Also, same question applies to all the code talker medals and the Sacagawea dollars, especially since the Mint went to differing reverses each year. Does the Mint ever report the number of medals sold?
The Civil Rights silver dollar was pretty much a failure, and I wonder if very many black Americans ever supported it anyway – the obverse design was not what should have been shown anyway – the liberty bell motif was 1000% better, but for some reason was rejected by the “expert artists” that decide what our coins are going to look like.
johnaz says
One guy on ebay sold 3-coins park set for 450.00 lost money on that deal.
FLKeith says
Wow. I expected it to take another year for them to finally announce it was sold out.
So Krates says
Wow, that was some list of winners there, Dustyroads. You do realize that the incompetent Col. Klink is a fictional comedic character from American television about a half century ago, right? Didn’t think the wounds were still that fresh, sorry. Hope you’d agree, the new guy is no Col. Hogan. I don’t remember the colonel in F-Troop so how about the colonel from MASH? The first guy who always wore the fishing hat. Kind of a lovable, not really in charge, a reluctant type leader. They were always tricking LTC Blake into going fishing so they could goof off, etc. They all called him “Henry”. We can only hope, like on the series, our beloved Lt. Col at the mint, gets replaced by a guy like Henry’s successor, the no nonsense Col. Sherman T. Potter.
mark says
Wonder how much HSN guy pays for 2 hours of HSN tv time.
Avantika says
I wished that I had purchased these coins earlier.
data dave says
@bobo – I agree with your FS coin mintage logic but I think there is a difference between how many the Mint made and how many they can sell. The 2014s have been out there two years now and are selling at a pace of 2 a week. Hoover UNCs will last into 2017 at the rate they are selling. I think the Nixon and Ford UNCs are going to be low mintage (really sales) at the end of the game because they will just not sell that many. I think that level will be around 1650-1700. Right now it would take the Lady Bird UNC 60 weeks to catch up to E. Roosevelt’s 1886 at a rate of 5 per week, and I would bet she doesn’t make it. As previous conversations on this topic have proven, most collectors gave up on this series a long time ago.
On the proof side things look better and I think Grace Coolidge will be the low with 2315.
Sith says
For those of you with deep pockets.
The first ‘million dollar coin’ which at today’s market prices is valued at $5.36 million (USD), €4.85 million (EUR) and £3.8 million (GBP) has come on the market and is now on sale.
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/markets/irish-gold-brokers-win-rights-to-market-sale-of-million-dollar-coin-1.2592815
So Krates says
(In my best Paul Hogan accent) You call that a big gold coin? This is a big gold coin coin…
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.1tonnegoldcoin.com/img/gallery/full/19.jpeg&imgrefurl=http://www.1tonnegoldcoin.com/&h=768&w=1365&tbnid=073kQouQt9MKvM:&tbnh=160&tbnw=284&docid=jDsTHrvBWql_TM&usg=__W2-xWELygHIPifsKlxJD0ZoNxJE=&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjXuNbAmfrLAhWKzoMKHdjpCo4Q9QEINTAA#h=768&imgdii=073kQouQt9MKvM%3A%3B073kQouQt9MKvM%3A%3B_5uXxGS9gLeNVM%3A&tbnh=160&tbnw=284&w=1365
Dustyroads says
So Krates, Of course, and don’t worry about it, no wounds. Was just looking for a thought provoking come-back.
I liked M-A-S-H, maybe only because we had only three channels. It was a toss up between HE HAW, MASH, or Welcome Back Carter. Sure am glad for change.
I read MNB blog looking for info, and notice some commenters are on break. I hope they remain on an even keel even though so much is drawing our attention to the Political, financial, and Geopolitical realms.
The coin collecting hobby does indeed have a high turnover rate due to it’s high costs and associated risks.
It’s best to have one’s priorities in tact and not be a follower of any crowd into disappointment.
I’ve been able to stay away from impulse buys and focus on certain pieces of interest, and have been very happy with that direction. The only Mint product I routinely buy is the Silver Proof Set every year, simply because it’s complete.
Good day to everyone, and remember that today is the ONLY day which is important to you.
Louis says
If you want to see the proposed 2019 moon landing coins issued, please read this:
https://www.coinworld.com/voices/louis-golino/2016/04/act_now_to_make_apol.html
mattarch says
In response to the question about PC coin designs, I did see a Code Talker congressional gold medal on display at an Indian reservation tribal office a few years ago. The real one, not the bronze version.
Joe#2 says
DustyRoads? It was Welcome back Kotter…lol
It was a great show, Probably because i’m a Brooklyn guy…. 🙂
fmtransmitter says
Joe#2 says
APRIL 5, 2016 AT 7:44 PM
coin guy on hsn now selling 10 ounce silver bars for $110 more than you can buy it from any reputable dealer.. unreal…
See him bragging about his MS69 Morgan for $40k?
He’s makin money hand over fist…oN IN INFORMED BUYERS TO BOOT! hOE ETHICAL!~
fmtransmitter says
Sorry, bad spelling on keyboard
Joe#2 says
That’s why you have to do some homework or get a royal sckrew-in..
Those 5 gr gold bars he was selling for you could buy for $115.00 cheaper per bar.
Joe#2 says
The u s mint should be ashamed for putting out those Betty Ford coins. Horrific imo.
Looks like a mans face and many things…
Joe#2 says
Wow… Country music HOF Merle Haggard passes away this morning on his 79th b’day.
Dustyroads says
Joe, That moment when you forget how to spell “Kotter”. It’s been too many years.
Joe#2 says
lol. I hear ya
Give Me Da Money Plz says
@ So Krates and Dustyroads
I love Hogan’s Heroes. Colonel Klink and Sergeant Schultz were the best.
@ Joe#2
There is too many people dying this year. Rest in peace Merle Haggard.
John Q. Coinage says
TV show coins might sell to us old folk, but to the young they would need to be YouTube stars……modern TV has few iconic character, maybe a Seinfeld Set in 2019 for the 30th Anniversary. Could have an alternating reverse for fav episodes…like The Contest, Soup N@zi, etc. Jerry on the face of all, some 2 sided…maybe a Kramer heck I ‘aint PC coin……
Tinto says
@Dustyroads @Joe#2
Welcome Back Kotter .. I’ve forgotten the episodes but I remember liking it a lot. But now you guys mentioned it, I just can’t get that opening theme song out of my head now … 🙂
Give Me Da Money Plz says
@ John Q. Coinage
How about an Everybody Loves Raymond six-coin Silver Proof Set. That show almost made me die it was so funny.
earthling says
In memory of Merle Haggard I’m keeping money that could be spent on a Buffalo Proof and putting it toward a Nancy Reagan Coin, or two.
Money spent on Coins is almost as bad as throwing it out the window. Especially when its a money loser like Clad Proof sets are. Even when it’s something that holds its value, I get them and then lock them up. Storage space and insurance costs alone erode the value.
I need to break the chains of this Coin buying obsession.
Joe#2 says
earthling…I’m hoping the Nancy Reagan FS is better than Ford…
To me, the Ford one looks like this hardened criminal “guy”
from the mob from Bensonhurst Brooklyn…lol
earthling says
Hey Joe#2.
Yeah I hope so too. That Betty Ford Coin needs to go on a list with Bess Truman on the manbroad subset of Spouse Coins.
We have the Liberty Subset and now we could do a list for the Manbroad Subset.
No doubt that is one tough, proud looking woman. Maybe the Betty Ford Clinic needs to buy up a bunch of those Coins and award them to all their successful rich celebrity addicts that complete their treatment.
earthling says
” I need to break the chains of this Coin buying obsession.”
I just realized the US Mint is doing what it can to help me out.
That 2017 High Relief design proposal is exactly what I need to break the chains. Hopefully they’ll keep the trend going.
Something tells me they will. 😉 LOL
Joe#2 says
We can only hope..