1936 Buffalo Nickel PCGS PR66 CAC - 1936 5C PCGS PR66 CAC. Proof  1936 Buffalo Nickels were made in two finishes, satin and brilliant. This coin is a Superb Gem Proof example of the former. The lustrous, white coin shows light tones of silver-gray, aqua, gold, and rose. The surfaces are original, as seen by the presence of these colors, and clean with no visible contact marks, hairlines, or other distractions.  As expected for a proof coin in this condition, the coin is well struck. The area above the tie on the braid and the fur line above the bisons shoulder are both strong as are the horn and end of the tail. The CAC sticker indicates that this coin is a premium quality piece that fully merits the grade assigned.

James Earle Fraser designed the Indian Head or Buffalo nickel. The design shows a close profile of an Indian brave facing right. It takes up most of the coins surfaces. The Indians feathers are in his hair, and his braids are tied with string. LIBERTY is at the edge between 2:00 and 3:00. The date is at the lower left on the Indians shoulder. The buffalo, more correctly the bison, is facing left. Its design is from edge to edge. It stands on a slight rise of ground with a straight line below it. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc at the top edge and E PLURIBUS UNUM is in very small letters to the right of the bisons hump. The denomination, written as FIVE CENTS is under the raised ground at the bottom.

Fraser, originally from Minnesota, met the famous sculptor and artist, Augustus Saint-Gaudens in Paris. Saint-Gaudens hired Fraser to assist him on his General Sherman Monument that was erected at the entrance to Central Park in New York City. In 1902, after working for Saint-Gaudens for four years, Fraser set up his own studio in New York. He taught at the Art Students League. Much of Frasers early work was from referrals from Saint-Gaudens who was always over-booked. In 1913 his best known work, the Indian Head or Buffalo nickel, was minted. He and his wife collaborated on the Oregon Trail Memorial Half Dollar commemorative that was first issued in 1926. She designed the obverse and he the reverse.  Fraser also designed the Victory Medal in 1919 celebrating the end of World War I as well as the Navy Cross. In 1915 he designed the End of the Trail, a piece for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.

In its population report, as of April 2013, CAC has confirmed 45 1936 Buffalo nickel satin proofs at the PR66 grade level.