May 2026 – The 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel – A Mint Worker’s Mistake Made Famous
The 1937-D Three-Legged Buffalo Nickel is one of the most visually striking error coins in American numismatics. What began as an overzealous polishing job on a worn die became one of the most beloved and recognizable varieties in the entire Buffalo Nickel series.
The Error Explained
The coin’s distinctive appearance traces back to a Denver Mint worker who over-polished a deteriorating working die in an attempt to extend its usable life. The aggressive grinding removed the buffalo’s front right leg entirely, along with fine detail across the animal’s belly and chest. The resulting coins show a three-legged bison in unmistakable relief — a defect so obvious it is visible without magnification. The coins also typically display a small “blob” of displaced metal beneath the buffalo’s belly where the leg once was, which has become a key authentication marker.
Design and Legacy
James Earle Fraser’s original Buffalo Nickel design, introduced in 1913, was celebrated for its bold, distinctly American imagery — a composite Native American portrait on the obverse and an American bison on the reverse. The three-legged variety carries that same artistic weight, but with an added layer of numismatic lore that has made it a fixture on collector want lists for generations.
Authentication Concerns
Altered coins are a genuine threat in this series. Counterfeiters have been known to file away the front leg of ordinary 1937-D nickels to simulate the error. Genuine examples show mushy or missing detail across the entire right foreleg area and underside, not a clean removal. The faint remnant “blob” beneath the belly and a characteristic thinness to the bison’s right shoulder are hallmarks of the authentic die error. Third-party grading is strongly recommended before purchasing.
Current Market Values
- Good-4: $400–$550
- VF-20: $750–$1,100
- EF-40: $1,400–$1,800
- MS-63: $3,500–$5,000
- MS-65: $10,000+
