1936 Brilliant Finish Nickel PR Values

Greysheet & Red Book® Price Guide

Sponsor

shop eBay

Sponsor

shop Stacks Bowers Auctions

Sponsor

shop CAC

Sponsor

shop David Lawrence Rare Coins

Sponsor

shop Whitman

1936 Brilliant Finish Nickel PR Values

Details

The 1936 Type 2 brilliant proofs were made later in the year, after some collectors expressed dissatisfaction with the satin proof finish which, on first glance essentially resembled a nicely made business strike example. Around 2,000 are known and are mostly clustered in the PR64-67 range, with around three dozen certified by PCGS and NGC as PR68s.

Obverse: James Earle Fraser's famous and simple design depicts a Native American chief with the word LIBERTY from 1-2 o'clock. The date is placed on the lower left of the chieftain's bust.

Reverse: A full portrait of the bison, Black Diamond, with the words UNITED STATES oF AMERICA at the top periphery with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM just underneath. The denomination FIVE CENTS is spelled out at the bottom. For the Type 1, the denomination is embossed on a flat surface.

Basic Information

GSID:

3156

Coin Date:

1936

Denomination:

5c / 5 Cents

Designation:

PR

Mint & Coinage Details

Mint Location:

Philadelphia

Mintage:

4,420

Coinage Type:

Buffalo nickel

Coinage Years:

1913-1938

Composition:

75% copper; 25% nickel

Varieties and Classification

Variety:

Brilliant Finish

Physical Characteristics

Weight:

5 gr

Weight:

0.1608 oz

Strike Type:

Proof

Diameter:

21.2 mm

Coin Shape:

Round

Design Details

Designer:

James Earle Fraser

Obverse Lettering:

LIBERTY, 1936

Obverse Designer:

James Earle Fraser

Reverse Lettering:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, FIVE CENTS

Reverse Designer:

James Earle Fraser

Feedback:

Available on Greysheet Marketplace

View All

Dealer Directory

View All Dealers

Greysheet News

View All News
Summer Starts in Baltimore's Inner Harbor with Whitman's Coin & Currency Expo June 11–13, 2026
Summer Starts in Baltimore's Inner Harbor with Whitman's Coin & Currency Expo June 11–13, 2026
5/22/2026

Whitman Expos™ announces the return of the Whitman Summer Coin & Collectible Expo, taking place June 11–13, 2026, at the Baltimore Convention Center Halls A & B in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

Whitman Unveils All-New 2027 Red Book Celebrating 80 Years of Numismatic Excellence
Whitman Unveils All-New 2027 Red Book Celebrating 80 Years of Numismatic Excellence
5/22/2026

The landmark 80th edition introduces 1,000+ new additions, enhanced collector-focused updates, Semiquincentennial coverage, and new formats for every level of the hobby.

Liberty Gets a Classic Makeover: The Half Eagles of 1834-1838
Liberty Gets a Classic Makeover: The Half Eagles of 1834-1838
5/18/2026

These coins were struck for five years—between 1834 and 1838—and they were struck every year at the Philadelphia Mint.

Map icon

DAVID LAWRENCE RARE COINS

Map icon

The Police Athletic League (PAL) Building