Numismatic

1937-D 3 Legged Buffalo Nickel VF-35 NGC

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Among twentieth-century American coinage, few issues capture the imagination of observers quite like the 1937 Denver Mint five-cent piece featuring a unique minting error. This particular coin, composed of a mixture of 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel, has been graded in Very Fine 35 condition. It showcases a famous production anomaly that has fascinated numismatists for decades. The front of the coin displays a profile of an American Indian, accompanied by the legible inscription of the word LIBERTY. On the reverse, an American bison stands atop a raised mound. However, a close inspection of this side reveals the striking absence of the animal's front right leg. This distinct three-legged appearance was not an intentional design choice, but rather the result of excessive polishing on the coin dies at the Denver facility, which accidentally erased a portion of the original design. Designed by James Earle Fraser, this issue from the American Buffalo series represents a compelling moment where a simple mechanical maintenance error created one of the most recognizable and studied varieties in United States coinage history.