Numismatic

1937-D 3 Legged Buffalo Nickel AU-53 PCGS

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The 1937 Buffalo Nickel struck at the Denver Mint is home to one of the most famous and intriguing anomalies in American numismatics. While the Denver facility produced over seventeen million nickels that year, a specific run of coins emerged with a striking visual difference: the American bison on the reverse appears to have only three legs. This distinct variety has captured the imagination of observers for generations, turning an everyday five-cent piece into an object of intense curiosity. On the obverse, the coin features a powerful, detailed profile of a Native American chieftain facing right, accompanied by the word LIBERTY and the date 1937. The reverse showcases the iconic American bison standing on a mound, with the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM above, and the denomination FIVE CENTS below. On this particular variety, the front leg of the bison is missing, a fascinating quirk that invites close inspection. This specific specimen is certified in About Uncirculated 53 (AU-53) condition. It offers a wonderful opportunity to study the design details and the unusual minting anomaly up close, preserving a distinctive moment in the history of United States coinage.