1936-S Buffalo Nickel Value
A 1936-S Buffalo Nickel is worth roughly $0.10 to $38.00 depending on its condition. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
1936-S Buffalo Nickel value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Good (G-4) | $0.10 to $0.15 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $0.10 to $0.20 |
| Fine (F-12) | $0.20 to $0.35 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $0.40 to $0.70 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $0.80 to $1.35 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $1.60 to $2.70 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $3.20 to $5.40 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $7.20 to $12.00 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $22.50 to $38.00 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
How much is a 1936-S Buffalo Nickel worth today?
At the entry level, well-worn examples bring about $0.10. The same coin in gem uncirculated condition is a $38.00 coin. Grade is everything: two examples of the 1936-S Buffalo Nickel can differ in price by an order of magnitude based purely on preservation.
1936-S Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1936
- Mint mark
- S
- Mintage
- 14,930,000
- Composition
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 21.2 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Earle Fraser
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
Where to look for the mint mark
Identifying a 1936-S Buffalo Nickel hinges on one small letter: the "S" of San Francisco. On the reverse, below FIVE CENTS at the bottom Verify it before pricing the coin, because a 1936 from a different mint can be worth a very different amount.
What collectors pay for in a 1936-S Buffalo Nickel
Context adds the final layer to the 1936-S Buffalo Nickel. Well-struck, fully dated examples are the series' quiet condition rarities. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
With 14,930,000 struck, the 1936-S Buffalo Nickel is one of the more available dates of its series. Its value rests on metal content and condition rather than absolute rarity, which makes it an ideal type coin.
Summary: the 1936-S Buffalo Nickel is valued between $0.10 and $38.00 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.