This year 2006 marks the inaugural year of the American Buffalo Gold Coin Program. The Presidential One Dollar Coin Act of 2005 authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike one ounce, .9999 fine gold bullion coins. These are the first pure gold coins ever issued by the United States Government.

The American Buffalo Gold Proof Coins are collector versions of the official United States Mint American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins and are available in limited mintages. The designs are based on the original 1913, Type I Buffalo nickel, as designed by James Earle Fraser. The obverse features a profile representation of a Native American. The reverse features an American Buffalo (also known as a bison). The 2006 American Buffalo Gold Proof One Ounce Coin is packaged in a blue velvet, satin-lined presentation case and accompanied by a custom-designed Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Deputy Director of the United States Mint.