JarSort · Inherited coin values
1937-D three-legged Buffalo nickel value
The 1937-D three-legged Buffalo nickel is the most famous error in the Buffalo series: the buffalo is missing its front right leg, polished off the die by an overzealous mint worker. A certified example guides at $475–$800 in Good to Very Fine, and a dealer might pay about $300–$550. The catch: it is one of the most copied US coins.
The three numbers that matter
Prices as of Oct 24, 2026 · Silver spot $53.80/ozt (Kitco) · Circulated, common date, problem-free, raw (uncertified) unless stated
Authentication first. The three-legged Buffalo is faked by grinding the leg off a common 1937-D — a ground leg shows tool marks under magnification, and a genuine one does not. Never sell a raw three-legged Buffalo without certification.
How to tell it
Look at the buffalo's front legs on the reverse. On a genuine three-legged 1937-D, the front right leg is missing entirely — the leg was polished off the die, so the remaining legs are sharp and the field where the leg was is smooth. On a faked one, the leg was ground off the coin: look for scratches, a rough patch, or a leg stump under a loupe. The mint mark 'D' is on the reverse, below the buffalo.
Why it happened
In 1937 the Denver Mint polished a clashed die to remove clash marks — and polished away the buffalo's front leg in the process. The die kept striking coins, and the error was not caught until thousands had circulated. It is the only year of the three-legged variety.
What to do with it
- Do not clean it.
- Get it certified (PCGS/NGC). A raw three-legged Buffalo sells at a steep discount because the buyer must price in authentication risk.
- Get two offers from dealers who handle US errors.
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