2025 Mesa Grande $5 5-oz Mercanti Native American Bison NGC PF70 First Day of Issue w/Mercanti-Signed Label

Mercanti-Designed Native American Bison Coins Inspired By Classic Buffalo Nickel!

Unbelievably, former U.S. Mint Chief Engraver John Mercanti's design for the 2004–2005 Westwards Journey Nickel Series was not used. Yes, really!!! But now it's been reborn on a new series of Native American Bison gold & silver coins released by the Mesa Grande Sovereign Nation. And in homage to James Earle Faser Fraser's original Buffalo Nickel, Mercanti used the same three Native American Chiefs to create a composite figure.

An Instant Classic: A Mercanti Design Reborn On New 2025 Coins

While Mercanti's handsome Native American obverse design draws upon the same inspiration used by famed U.S. coin designer/sculptor James Earle Fraser–a composite of Native American Chiefs Iron Tail, Chief Two Moons, and Chief Big Tree–his version shows the man from the waist up with a large majestic American Eagle soaring in the background. The reverse design shows an American Bison image also created by Mercanti. Like the symbolism portrayed by Fraser's Buffalo Nickel issued from 1913–1938, Mercanti's design demonstrates the deep connection between Native heritage and American identity. Mercanti's inclusion of an eagle–known to Native Americans as the waÅ‹blí–in his design represents strength, bravery, and spirituality in Native American cultures.

Available Exclusively Through GOVMINT

These John Mercanti Gold & Silver Native American Bison Coins are available exclusively through GOVMINT. Here you can secure the $5 coin struck in five Troy ounces of highly pure 99.9% fine silver on a double thick Piedfort planchet. Each coin is also legal tender of the Mesa Grande Sovereign Nation, a federally recognized tribe located in southern California, about 75 miles northeast of San Diego, California. In addition, not only does each coin available here come in gorgeous Proof condition with beautifully frosted details rising over mirror-like fields, but they have been graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) as being in flawless Proof-70 (PF70) condition, a distinction that means these perfectly-graded proof coins have ZERO imperfections–showing all features and fields exactly as the engraver and mint intended. 

What's more, NGC has certified that these proofs are First Day of Issue (FDI) coins, meaning they were purchased within one day of the first day the coins were available for sale and was received by NGC or an NGC-approved depository within one week of the release date along with documentation that demonstrates the date when they were purchased. Each coin available here will come sonically sealed in a museum-quality acrylic holder and encapsulated with a label personally signed by John Mercanti!

The Legendary John Mercanti

A giant in the numismatic world, Mercanti has produced more coin and medal designs than any person in U.S. Mint history and his work is highly revered in numismatics, especially his Heraldic Eagle design that appeared on the American Silver Eagle from 1986 to 2021. Mercanti, who served as the U.S. Mint's 12th Chief Engraver from 2006 to 2010, was working as a sculptor/engraver at The Mint when he submitted these designs for the 2004–2005 Westwards Journey U.S. 5-cent series. Now, the designs have come full circle and have finally seen the light of day in 2025 on the 20th anniversary of the Westward Journey nickel series.

Act Fast; Just 499 Coins Available For Worldwide Release!

Because any coin design by John Mercanti instantly becomes a collector favorite, the low mintage of just 499 for these 2025 Mesa Grande $5 Five-Ounce Mercanti Native American Bison Proof coins means that this limited mintage is destined to disappear quickly. These coins will come in a presentation case along with an individually numbered mint Certificate of Authenticity and a story card on the program. Don't wait on this because these coins will be gone before you know it!

COIN HIGHLIGHTS:

• PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED JOHN MERCANTI DESIGNS – The designs on this coin are the work of former U.S. Mint Chief Engraver John Mercanti, who had submitted them for the 2004–2005 Westwards Journey U.S. 5-cent series. The coin depicts a Native American man from the waist up with a large majestic American Eagle soaring in the background. The reverse design shows an American Bison.
• STRUCK IN HIGHLY PURE SILVER – Each Mercanti Native American Bison coin was struck in five Troy ounces of highly pure 99.9% fine silver on a double thick Piedfort planchet and measures 65 mm in diameter.
• LEGAL-TENDER COIN – These 2025-dated Five-Ounce Silver Mercanti Native American Bison coins are $5 legal tender in the Mesa Grande Sovereign Nation, a federally recognized Native American tribe located in northern San Diego County in California.
• PERFECT PROOF CONDITION – Your 2025 Mesa Grande $5 Five-Ounce Silver Mercanti Native American Bison coin has been graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) in flawless Proof-70 (PF70) condition.
• KEY FIRST DAY OF ISSUE DESIGNATION – NGC has designated that this proof is a First Day of Issue (FDI) coin, meaning that it was purchased within the first day of release and submitted to grading within the required timeframe.
• SIGNED BY A COIN LEGEND – Your coin will come in an acrylic holder and encapsulated with a label personally signed by the legendary John M. Mercanti, the U.S. Mint's 12th Chief Engraver! A giant in the numismatic world, Mercanti has produced more coin and medal designs than any person in U.S. Mint history.
• LOW LIMITED MINTAGE – Just 499 of these 2025 Mesa Grande $5 Five-Ounce Silver Mercanti Native American Bison Proof coins have been issued for worldwide release–and they available only through GOVMINT and its marketing partners.

Don't wait; secure your 2025 Mesa Grande $5 Five-Ounce Silver Mercanti Native American Bison Proof now! Just 499 of these 99.9% silver coins have been issued for worldwide release and they are expected to disappear quickly!