The 1936 proof set is the parent of all modern United States proof sets.
After a 2-decade break of making proof coins, the U.S. Mint resumed making proof coins.
Featuring mirror-like surfaces, the coins in the 1936 proof set resemble the type of high quality we have come to expect from the U.S. Mint.
The 1936 proof set features:
- Lincoln wheat cent
- Buffalo nickel
- Mercury dime
- Washington quarter
- Walking Liberty half dollar
What a neat variety of designs, huh? That’s a selection straight out of the golden era of 20th-century coin designs, if you ask me.
A 1936 proof set cost just $1.89 to buy directly from the U.S. Mint back in the day. Not so anymore… That same 1936 proof set is valued at over $7,000 today!
I’m the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. I’m a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. I’m also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). I’ve contributed hundreds of articles for various coin publications including COINage, The Numismatist, Numismatic News, Coin Dealer Newsletter, Coin Values, and CoinWeek. I’ve authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below!
