1936 Buffalo Nickel Value
1936 was the buffalo nickel's biggest year — roughly 119 million at Philadelphia, the highest of the series — so it's the date most likely in your hand and the cheapest to own: $1–4 circulated, $20–40 uncirculated with full luster.
Even the common date rewards a close look: the 1936-D “3½ legs” variety (front leg partially polished off the die) carries a strong premium, and 1936-D/S mintmark varieties interest specialists. None of it matters without a readable date — dateless buffaloes trade for cents regardless of what they might have been.
| Mintage | ~119M (P) + D, S |
|---|---|
| Series rank | Most common buffalo |
| Composition | Copper-nickel (no silver) |
| Key variety | 1936-D 3½ legs |
Value bands
| Condition / variety | Typical retail |
|---|---|
| Dateless | $0.20–0.50 |
| Average circulated | $1–4 |
| Lightly worn | $4–12 |
| Uncirculated | $20–40 |
Bands are conservative US retail ranges for problem-free coins; dealers buy below retail. Where a melt floor applies it overrides any lower band figure.
Varieties that change the price
| Variety | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1936-D 3½ legs | Needs authentication | Front leg mostly missing — die-polish variety with premiums; authenticate, as altered coins exist. |
Restored dates
Acid can raise a ghost of a worn-off date (“Nic-A-Date” coins) — good enough to attribute, but the etching mark permanently caps value at a fraction of a natural-date coin. Fine for filling an album hole; not for resale math.
Coin specifications from U.S. Mint historical standards; value bands are editorial retail ranges reviewed against public auction and dealer pricing — they are context, not offers. Live melt data via gold-api.com. See how we calculate.