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The Buffalo Nickel The Buffalo Nickel

Fraser Lost Buffalo Ultra High Relief Proofs Now Available
Quick: name the first coin you ever collected. The piece that you found amongst your pocket change as a child and secreted away as something different and special—something that would lead you to a lifelong love of hobby. For many of us, that coin was the Buffalo Nickel, struck from 1913 to 1938 by the U.S. Mint.

The Buffalo Nickel was boldly American, featuring dramatic designs that couldn’t come from any other nation. It is a design so beloved that the mint resurrected it years later for their first-ever 24-karat gold coin, the Gold Buffalo. But the coin’s designer—the legendary James Earle Fraser—may have preferred it another way.

Now, on the 15th anniversary of the Gold Buffalo series, the National Park Foundation has authorized the striking of proofs that will finally bring Fraser’s Lost Buffalo design to life in a world-exclusive, limited release!

Fraser’s Lost Buffalo
While researching the story of the Buffalo Nickel, experts were shocked to discover Fraser’s original line art for this design. But this line art was not alone—it was drawn side-by-side with two alternate versions! Of these three designs, one of them seems to have been favored by Fraser. And it’s not the one that went on to be struck by the U.S. Mint!

More than 30 years later, in 1945, Fraser received a commission to sculpt a bronze plaque for the Hot Springs High School of South Dakota. South Dakota holds a special place in Fraser’s heart, as he lived there in his early life. South Dakota is also an iconic home to thousands of bison, and the location of the Annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup, where cowboys and cowgirls roundup and drive a heard of approximately 1,300 bison each year. Seizing the opportunity to add his own Buffalo to the history of South Dakota, Fraser finally resurrected and fully realize his “Lost Buffalo” design. What’s more, the design was now vastly more detailed and produced in stunning Ultra High Relief (UHR)!

Like the Buffalo Nickel we know and love today, this design features the mighty bison standing on a hill. But unlike the Buffalo Nickel, this design features a hilly terrain in the background, with a rising sun in the distance. A similar design is actually used as the seal of the National Park Service’s parent department, the Department of the Interior—a seal they adopted in 1917, just a few years after Fraser submitted his three designs for the Buffalo Nickel!

Fraser's Lost Buffalo Nickel Design Sketched in 1911 and the Bronze Plaque for the Hot Springs High School of South Dakota Created in 1945Fraser's Lost Buffalo Nickel Design Sketched in 1911 and the Bronze Plaque for the Hot Springs High School of South Dakota Created in 1945

Reverse Proofs Struck in 99.9% Silver or Gold
Pairing Fraser’s Lost Buffalo design with the classic Native American obverse of the Buffalo Nickel, the Fraser Lost Buffalo has been struck in two ounces of 99.9% fine silver, 10 ounces of 99.9% fine silver and one ounce of 99.9% pure gold.

Struck in Reverse Proof condition, these commemoratives display Fraser’s designs with a shimmering mirrored finish, while the fields below have been given a frosty appearance.

2021 Lost Buffalo 10oz and 2oz Silver and 1oz Gold Coins2021 Lost Buffalo 10oz and 2oz Silver and 1oz Gold Coins

“Explosive” Ultra High Relief Strike
The Fraser Lost Buffalo’s stunning Reverse Proof finish is made even more dramatic by each piece’s double-sided Ultra High Relief condition, which sets the designs high over the coin’s surface. Few mints have the capability to strike dual Ultra High Relief pieces.

The precision and tremendous pressure needed to create these commemoratives is so great, in fact, that one of the planchets actually exploded during production!  

Certified Flawless and FDI by NGC
For a release of this historic important, only the best of the best will suffice. That’s why each commemorative comes struck in double-sided Ultra High Relief Reverse Proof condition, and why we secured as many pieces certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), one of the world’s leading third-party grading services, as flawless Proof 70 (PF70) condition as possible for our customers.

In addition, NGC has certified each commemorative proof as First Day of Issue (FDI), a special designation reserved only for those pieces which arrive with a letter from the mint stating they were struck before or within 24 hours of their official release.

 

Each commemorative you secure will arrive sealed in a black-core display holder decorated with our exclusive James Earle Fraser Commemorative Label. The 10-ounce silver medals and one-ounce gold medals will arrive in a wood display box with a velvet-lined interior. Two-ounce silver medals will arrive in premium black velvet pouches.

Explosive StrikeExplosive Strike
National Park Foundation LogoNational Park Foundation Logo

Officially Authorized by the National Park Foundation
As stated before, this release comes in partnership with the National Park Foundation. The National Park Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service, enriches America’s national parks and programs through private support, safeguarding our heritage and inspiring generations of national park enthusiasts.

Each Fraser Lost Buffalo Ultra High Relief Reverse Proof comes officially authorized by the National Park Foundation.

World Exclusive Limited Release
This is a world exclusive release, but mintages are extremely limited. Just 4,999 two-ounce silver proofs, 999 10-ounce silver proofs and a mere 399 one-ounce gold proofs have been authorized. Even fewer are available certified by NGC as PF70 and FDI and sealed in black-core holders with our exclusive commemorative labels.

Don’t miss out on this historic release. It’s a must-own for any collector of American coins!

2021 Fraser Lost Buffalo Gold UHR 1oz REV PF70 FDI2021 Fraser Lost Buffalo Gold UHR 1oz REV PF70 FDI

2021 One-Ounce Gold Fraser Lost Buffalo UHR Reverse Proof

  • Fraser’s Lost Buffalo Design
  • One Ounce of Pure Gold
  • Struck in 99.9% Fineness
  • Double-Sided Ultra High Relief
  • Reverse Proof Finish
  • Graded PF70 by NGC
  • Certified as First Day of Issue (FDI)
  • Officially Authorized by the National Park Foundation
  • Exclusive Commemorative Label
  • World Exclusive Release
  • Mintage 399
  • Limited Availability
2021 Fraser Lost Buffalo Silver UHR 10oz REV PF70 FDI2021 Fraser Lost Buffalo Silver UHR 10oz REV PF70 FDI

2021 10-Ounce Silver Fraser Lost Buffalo UHR Reverse Proof

  • Fraser’s Lost Buffalo Design
  • 10 Ounces of Fine Silver
  • Struck in 99.9% Fineness
  • Double-Sided Ultra High Relief
  • Reverse Proof Finish
  • Graded PF70 by NGC
  • Certified as First Day of Issue (FDI)
  • Officially Authorized by the National Park Foundation
  • Exclusive Commemorative Label
  • World Exclusive Release
  • Mintage 999
  • Limited Availability
2021 Fraser Lost Buffalo Gold UHR 2oz REV PF70 FDI2021 Fraser Lost Buffalo Gold UHR 2oz REV PF70 FDI

2021 Two-Ounce Silver Fraser Lost Buffalo UHR Reverse Proof

  • Fraser’s Lost Buffalo Design
  • Two Ounces of Fine Silver
  • Struck in 99.9% Fineness
  • Double-Sided Ultra High Relief
  • Reverse Proof Finish
  • Graded PF70 by NGC
  • Certified as First Day of Issue (FDI)
  • Officially Authorized by the National Park Foundation
  • Exclusive Commemorative Label
  • World Exclusive Release
  • Mintage 4,999
  • Limited Availability

In 1911, James Earle Fraser sketched out three designs for the Buffalo Nickel. Only one was chosen for production by the U.S. Mint, and it would be decades before another was realized as a school plaque. Now you have the chance to secure Fraser’s Lost Buffalo design struck as no mints of his day could have produced—in stunning double-sided Ultra High Relief! This is a world exclusive, limited release. Don’t miss out on these extremely limited mintages—call and secure your Gold or Silver 2021 Fraser Lost Buffalo Ultra High Relief Reverse Proofs NOW!

Call 888-870-6339 now!

Scarce and Unique Division LogoScarce and Unique Division Logo

Each non-denominated commemorative proof is privately minted and officially licensed by the National Park Foundation.