5 Dollars 'American Buffalo' Gold Bullion Coinage

The American Buffalo series, launched in 2008 at the quarter-ounce, tenth-ounce, and half-ounce denominations alongside the one-ounce, was a direct response to collector demand for a .9999 fine gold coin to rival the Canadian Maple Leaf. Prior to the Buffalo, American gold bullion options topped out at .9167 fine — the standard set by the Gold Eagle's alloy. The 2008 issues were struck only that single year at the fractional sizes before the Mint suspended them, citing production costs and softening demand during the financial crisis.