Buffalo Skull
Overview
The 2001 Texas Silver Dollar Buffalo Skull was issued as part of the Texas Silver Dollar Collection, made by The Texas Mint & Mercantile, Whitney TX, represents one of the earliest confirmed annual designs in the program. Struck in .999 fine silver, the Buffalo Skull motif reflects frontier symbolism and western heritage themes that became characteristic of the broader Texas Silver Dollar series. It represents the second annual release in the Texas Dollar / Texas Silver Dollar program, continuing the mint’s series of Texas-themed silver rounds introduced in 2000. This issue introduces a new obverse design featuring a longhorn skull set within a stylized Texas landscape, while the reverse adopts a revised format centered on the Texas Lone Star over a radiating sunburst field. The reverse also incorporates the recurring heart motif within the denomination inscription, an intentional design element present across the series. This issue reflects the program’s annual design rotation while maintaining consistent specifications, format, and symbolic Texas identity established by the inaugural release.
Story of the Buffalo Skull
“The 2001 Texas Silver Dollar, the Buffalo design shown remembers a time when the Staked Plains of the Texas Panhandle down to the Gulf Coast region were covered with the woolly creatures that provided food and clothing for the people living there. Across the plains the buffalo was a symbol of sustenance and good times for the early Texans. The obverse (tails) side of the coin carries a large Lone Star, symbol of independence and Texas heritage. The rays dawning behind it represent the dawn of a new century.” – Rick Pinner
Details
| Year | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Type | Round |
| Set/Collection | Texas Silver Dollar Collection |
| Mint Mark | None |
| Manufacturer / Mint | Texas Mint and Mercantile (Whitney, TX) |
| Issuer | Texas Mint and Mercantile (Whitney, TX) |
| Designer / Sculptor / Engraver | Rick Pinner |
| Obverse Image |  |
| Design: Obverse | A frontal longhorn skull is centered within a stylized Texas landscape. The skull is rendered in naturalistic detail with defined horn curvature and elongated nasal cavity. Beneath the skull is a flat horizon line representing open terrain. At left, a yucca plant rises from the ground, depicted with narrow leaves and a flowering stalk. At right, two birds appear in flight above the horizon. The date “2001” is positioned at the lower right. The design is enclosed within an inner beaded border and an outer rope-style border. |
| Reverse Image |  |
| Design: Reverse | A large five-pointed star is centered within a field of radiating lines extending outward toward the rim. The inscription “STATE OF TEXAS” appears along the upper perimeter and “ONE DOLLAR” appears along the lower perimeter. The inscription “.999 Fine Silver” is positioned below the central star. The letter “O” in “DOLLAR” is replaced with a heart motif. The design is enclosed within a rope-style border. |
| Edge Type | Reeded |
| Edge Inscription | None |
| Metal | Silver |
| Fineness | .999 |
| Weight (grams) | 31.1 |
| Weight (troy oz) | 1 |
| Diameter (mm) | 39.3 |
| Thickness (mm) | 1.13 |
| Notes | This issue introduces a revised reverse design featuring a radiating sunburst behind the central star, replacing the wreath used on the 2000 inaugural issue. The heart motif incorporated into the denomination inscription remains present as a recurring design element of the Texas Dollar series. |