Guide
Gold Eagle vs Gold Buffalo: what's the difference?
Both are U.S. Mint coins holding one troy ounce of gold, so both are worth the same at the gold price. The Eagle is 22 karat; the Buffalo is pure 24-karat gold.
Updated October 26, 2026 · Prices as of November 2, 2026, 6:20 p.m. Pacific
Side by side
| American Gold Eagle | American Gold Buffalo | |
|---|---|---|
| Since | 1986 | 2006 |
| Purity | 22 karat (91.67%), with silver and copper | 24 karat (.9999) |
| Gold | 1 ozt | 1 ozt |
| Weight | 33.93 g | 31.11 g |
| Diameter | 32.70 mm | 32.70 mm |
| Sizes | 1, 1/2, 1/4, and 1/10 ozt | 1 ozt (fractional sizes only in 2008) |
| Design | Saint-Gaudens's Liberty; an eagle on the back | Fraser's Native American profile and bison |
| Face value | $50 | $50 |
What each is worth today
Gold is at $3,942 per troy ounce (the Kitco bid). We pay 96% of that for both: $3,784.70 per 1 ozt coin today. The Buffalo's pure gold is softer, so it scratches more easily; keep it in a capsule.
More: Gold Eagles · Gold Buffalos · every 1 ozt gold coin compared
Coin guides: Krugerrands · American Gold Eagles · American Gold Buffalos · Maple Leafs · Philharmonics · Britannias · American Silver Eagles · Sovereigns · Morgan and Peace dollars · Silver half dollars · Libertads · Pandas · Kangaroos · All 1 ozt gold coins · Mexican 50 pesos · Old U.S. gold coins · All gold coins · All 90% silver
We pay more than pawn shops, jewelers, and mail-in gold kits: in Consumer Reports' tests, jewelers and pawn shops paid 36% to 71% of melt value, and mail-in kits 11% to about 29%. We pay 94% for scrap gold. Who pays the most?
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