Depicts the head of an Indian facing right, with the motto "LIBERTY" on the top right, the year of mintage on the bottom left, and below that the letter F for Fraser.

The portrait was modeled from life by studying three Indian models Iron Tail, an Oglala Sioux chief, Two Moons, a Cheyenne chief, and Big Tree, a Kiowa chief.

Only the proof version of the buffalo gold coin bears the mint mark "W" on the obverse of the coin, behind the neck of the Indian; the bullion version does not have the "W" mint mark.

A bison standing on a raised mound. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM above the buffalo's lower back and the device UNITED·STATES·OF·AMERICA along the top. Differences that can be noted between the nickel and the fifty dollar piece are, on the gold American Buffalo coin the mound area of the reverse of the Indian Head nickel bearing the words, FIVE CENTS, has been changed to read $50 1 OZ. .9999 FINE GOLD. Also, the motto, IN GOD WE TRUST, appearing on all U.S. gold coins since 1908, can be seen on the reverse of the newer coin to the left of, and beneath, the buffalo's head.

According to the legend, the buffalo used as a model for this coin was Black Diamond (1893-1915), a famous buffalo at the Central Park zoo in New York City.