While I was in surgery, the US Mint announced that they will be accepting orders for the new American Buffalo 24-karat Gold Coins starting on July 22, 2008. In addition to the one ounce coin that has been issued since 2006, the Mint will add half ounce ($25), quarter ounce ($10), and one-tenth ounce ($5) fractional issues. They will also sell a four-coin sets that contain one coin in each size.
I was curious as to what premium the Mint was putting on these coins. Using the spot price of $975.10 (as of market close, 4:00 PM on July 15), I took the Mint’s announced price of these coins to create the following table:
| Option | Price | Metal Value | Premium | Premium Pct |
| Proof One Ounce | $1,199.95 | $975.10 | $224.85 | 23.06% |
| Proof Half Ounce | $619.95 | $487.55 | $132.40 | 27.16% |
| Proof Quarter Ounce | $329.95 | $243.78 | $86.18 | 35.35% |
| Proof Tenth-Ounce | $159.95 | $97.51 | $62.44 | 64.03% |
| Proof Four-Coin Set | $2,219.95 | $1,803.94 | $416.02 | 23.06% |
| Uncirculated One Ounce | $1,059.95 | $975.10 | $84.85 | 8.70% |
| Uncirculated Half-Ounce | $539.95 | $487.55 | $52.40 | 10.75% |
| Uncirculated Quarter-Ounce | $289.95 | $243.78 | $46.18 | 18.94% |
| Uncirculated Tenth-Ounce | $129.95 | $97.51 | $32.44 | 33.27% |
| Uncirculated Four-Coin Set | $1,959.95 | $1,803.94 | $156.02 | 8.65% |
If you are into buying gold coins for investment purposes, it looks like the uncirculated one-ounce and multi-coin sets are the best bargains. Since I am not an investor, I will be purchasing the proof one-ounce coin to go with my 2006 and 2007 coins.
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