Designed by James Earle Fraser, it features an American buffalo (also called the bison).  It is based upon the Indian Head Nickel (also called the buffalo nickel) first minted in 1913.    Fraser designed two types for the nickel, type 1 and type 2.  The American Buffalo Gold coin is based upon his Type 1 design.  The coin features a Native American in profile on the obverse (heads) and the buffalo on the reverse (tails).   

On the obverse are the inscriptions “Liberty,” “2007,” the initial “F” for Fraser, and the “W” mint mark. The reverse carries the inscriptions “$50,” “1 oz. .9999 Fine Gold,” “United States of America,” “E Pluribus Unum,” and “In God We Trust.”

Production of these coins is authorized by Public Law 109-145, dated December 22, 2005, also known as the Presidential $1 Coin Act.