5 oz Silver Buffalo Silver Bar

The 5 oz CNT Silver Buffalo Bar

The 5 oz CNT Silver Buffalo bar takes the most recognisable design in the generic silver market and scales it to a larger format. The Buffalo design reproduces James Earle Fraser's Buffalo Nickel artwork, originally minted by the US Mint from 1913 to 1938. The design entered the public domain decades ago, and multiple private mints now produce Buffalo-themed silver products. This particular variant is produced by CNT (City National Tangible), a former private mint and bullion fabricator.

In the 1 oz round format, the Silver Buffalo is the single most traded generic silver product worldwide, consistently carrying the lowest premiums available for .999 fine silver in a standardised, recognisable shape. The 5 oz version extends this proposition for buyers who want the familiar Buffalo imagery at a weight that offers marginally better per-ounce pricing than singles while remaining more divisible than a 10 oz bar.

The Buffalo design's cultural weight comes from Fraser's original artwork. The obverse Native American portrait is a composite of three sitters: Iron Tail (Oglala Lakota), Two Moons (Northern Cheyenne), and John Big Tree (Seneca). The reverse bison was modelled after Black Diamond, a resident of the Central Park Zoo. This heritage gives the Buffalo round a legitimacy that purely decorative generic designs lack, contributing to its dominance among 5 oz silver bars and rounds.

CNT Silver Buffalo 5 oz Specifications

Design and Authentication

The design faithfully reproduces James Earle Fraser's original Buffalo Nickel at a larger 5 oz scale. Weight and purity inscriptions (.999 FINE SILVER, FIVE TROY OUNCES) are stamped on the piece. The obverse features Fraser's composite Native American portrait, drawn from three sitters who posed for him between 1911 and 1912. The reverse shows an American bison standing on a raised mound, reproduced from Fraser's original engraving modelled on Black Diamond at the Central Park Zoo.

As with all Buffalo-design products from private mints, there are no advanced security features such as holograms, micro-engraving, or proprietary authentication systems. The Buffalo round relies on its standardised weight and dimensions for verification. Sigma Metalytics verifiers and XRF analysers can confirm the .999 silver composition non-destructively. The absence of sophisticated anti-counterfeiting measures is one reason Buffalo rounds trade at the lowest premiums in the silver market, but it also means buyers should purchase from established, reputable dealers to ensure authenticity.

Tax Treatment for the CNT Silver Buffalo

As a private mint silver product with no legal tender status, this bar receives standard silver bullion tax treatment. The Buffalo design confers no special tax advantages in any jurisdiction.

• United States: IRA eligibility depends on the specific manufacturer being approved by the IRA custodian. CNT products may qualify with certain custodians. Sales tax varies by state, with approximately 35 states exempting investment bullion. Capital gains taxed at up to 28% (collectibles rate) for holdings over one year.
• United Kingdom: 20% VAT on purchase. Not CGT-exempt (no legal tender status). UK buyers seeking tax-efficient silver would find better value in legal tender coins.
• Canada: GST/HST exempt at .999 purity in bar/round form.
• Australia: GST-free as investment-grade silver at 99.9% purity.
• New Zealand: GST-exempt for silver at 99.9% purity.
• Singapore: IPM GST exemption applies at .999 purity.
• Hong Kong: No sales tax, no import duty, no capital gains tax.
• European Union: Full VAT at local rates (19-27%). Not eligible for preferential treatment.