1936 Buffalo Nickel Value
A 1936 Buffalo Nickel is worth roughly $0.10 to $38.00 depending on its condition. Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
1936 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.
What is the 1936 Buffalo Nickel selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1936 Buffalo Nickel starts around $0.10. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $38.00. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1936 Buffalo Nickel specifications
- Series
- Buffalo Nickel
- Year
- 1936
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 119,001,420
- Composition
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Weight
- 5 g
- Diameter
- 21.2 mm
- Edge
- Plain
- Designer
- James Earle Fraser
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
Why this coin has no mint mark
Philadelphia struck the 1936 Buffalo Nickel, and Philadelphia coins of this period carry no mint mark at all. An empty space at the usual mint mark position (On the reverse, below FIVE CENTS at the bottom) confirms a Philadelphia strike, not a flaw.
What makes the 1936 Buffalo Nickel valuable
The generous mintage of 119,001,420 keeps this date affordable. That availability is an asset for collectors: it is the textbook choice for owning the Buffalo Nickel design without a key-date price tag.
Context adds the final layer to the 1936 Buffalo Nickel. Branch-mint issues of the 1920s, struck from overused dies, are notorious for weak strikes. 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.
1936 Buffalo Nickel inscriptions & design
Obverse
LIBERTY / (date) / F [initial]
Native American bust right
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / E/ PLURIBUS/ UNUM / FIVE CENTS / [mintmark]
American bison left
Measured 1936 Buffalo Nickel specimens
5 physically measured 1936 Buffalo Nickel examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 5 g, 21.2 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 Buffalo Nickel #1 | - | - | - | - |
| 1936 Buffalo Nickel #2 | - | - | - | - |
| 1936 Buffalo Nickel #3 | - | - | - | - |
| 1936 Buffalo Nickel #4 | - | - | - | - |
| 1936 Buffalo Nickel #5 | - | - | - | - |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1936 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.