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The Buffalo nickel or Indian Head nickel is a copper-nickel five-cent piece that was struck by the United States Mint from 1913 to 1938. It was designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser.

Under normal circumstances, the process of judging the condition of a coin is known as grading and is something that is completed by a professional coin grading company. Though you may not have the time and money to send your coin away for grading, you can use the specifications below to gain a better idea of the qualities coins of specific grades will have.

Uncirculated: An Uncirculated Buffalo Nickel is one that was placed into a safe spot shortly after it was produced. Because these coins never spent time on the open market exchanging hands, they do not show the signs of wear you will find present on most Buffalo Nickels. Instead, what you will find is a coin that has been well-preserved so much so that even the mint’s original luster remains intact, giving the coin a nice shine.

Extremely Fine: To be given this grade, the coin in question will have spent only a short period of time being circulated. Not much damage will appear while the coin is viewed with the naked eye, but upon closer inspection you will see that some light scratching has occurred. At the end of the day, however, these coins are in extremely great condition.

Fine: This is the grade given to Buffalo Nickels that spent a decent amount of time exchanging hands. These coins will show some light scratching and other blemishes, but will not be so damaged that their imagery or inscriptions are difficult to make out. The heaviest damage can be found near the cheekbone of the Indian and near the front legs of the Buffalo.

Good: Good is the grade given to coins that have been circulated more than any other. These coins will show heavy damage that can include anything from scratching to chipping and some occasions even bending. Despite their condition, these coins are a prize for collectors to get their hands on.

Pricing the 1936 Buffalo Nickel

When it comes to giving the 1936 Buffalo Nickel a price, this will depend first and foremost on the condition the coin is in. Condition is everything for collectors, so you can expect that this is one of the biggest factors affecting the price you pay for a coin. Secondly, the price of the coin will depend on the type of Nickel it is. Because multiple types of Buffalo Nickels were minted most years, this is something to pay attention to. The chart below will give you a good idea of what you can expect to pay for a graded Buffalo Nickel given its type.

1936 Buffalo Nickel
DATE - GOOD - FINE - EXTREMELY FINE - UNCIRCULATED
1936 _ . . $1 . . . $1.75 . . . . . . . $3 . . . . . . . $9
1936 D . . $1 . . . $1.75 . . . . . . . $4 . . . . . . . $12
1936 S . . $1 . . . $1.75 . . . . . . . $4 . . . . . . . $12
Source: Red Book