American Silver Buffalo Silver Rounds are minted by various private mints (only) and many contain slight variations from each other. It's not a legal tender and thus does not carry a denomination. Silver bullions of such nature as usually known as Silver Rounds.
There are legal tenders. Check 2001 American Buffalo, 500k of them minted as $1 denominated legal tender. There are some buffaloes with a date but no denomination, and I wanted to know if they are minted by the government or privately minted. The answers so far suggests that it is privately minted.
The Silver Buffalo was authorized in 2000 to commemorate the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. The design of the Silver Buffalo coin is based on the noted Buffalo nickel designed by James Earle Fraser, and first issued in early 1913. On one side is a Native American profile, and the reverse features an American Buffalo. The coin is 90% silver, and 10% copper. The U.S. Mint began accepting orders on June 7, 2001, and by June 21st, 2001, the entire issue of 500,000 coins was sold out. The coin was offered in proof condition and uncirculated condition. Privately minted Silver Buffalo Rounds are also available. While not minted by the U.S. Mint, these silver rounds are .999 silver, and feature the same design as the 2001 U.S. Mint version. These privately minted silver rounds are available in 1.oz and 1/2 oz sizes. http://www.gainesvillecoins.com/category/12/Silver+Buffalos.aspx
I have 3 Buffalos that I bought from Bullion Deals last year. They do not have a year on them. Is that suss? They look like crap too.
My interpretation is that all Buffaloes are bullion rounds (ie: no denomination on them) EXCEPT the special US Mint 2001 release of 500,000 coins. http://www.gainesvillecoins.com/products/159142/SilverAmericanBuffalo12001-DMS70NGC.aspx $700 for a MS70 graded 2001 coin, so I would assume they have some numismatic value to them, whereas the generic yearly Buffalo is purely a bullion round, no value apart from the silver content. But, I am no expert and am only going by what Gainesville has stated.
The Golden State Mint makes a good looking buffalo round and I believe they are IRA (retirement fund) eligible. They are not perfect, have no date and no $ denomination of course....but much nicer with more detail than some I've seen from the other private mints. http://www.goldenstatemint.com/mint-products/buffalo-rounds.html
Pretty sure the 2001 legal tender coin is the same size/composition as every other US circulating silver dollar, i.e. 90% silver, 0.7734oz. Not a .999 1oz coin.