3 Legged Buffalo

[Justafarmer]

The three legged Buffalo Nickel is the result of excessive die polishing. I have often wondered if this polishing occurred before or after the working die was placed in service. If the polishing occurred after the die was placed in service then examples of this coin with all four legs should exist. I have never encountered someone claiming to have a full legged example of this coin and was wondering if anyone else had? Also is there a site that shows images of this coin in the different die states - (eds through lds)?

[jallengomez]

More than likely, it would have been from abrasion after the die was put into service. I can't think of any other reason unless the die had some strange damage on it before entering service that they tried to polish out. You would think that there would be a transitional variety. I'm not familiar enough with the series to know if anyone has found one.

[Roller]

I assume you are referring to the 1937 coin. What makes you say that no four legged ones have been found?

[mustbebob]

That's a great question. I would think there are indeed early die state examples of this die. However, there would also have to be markers on an EDS coin that could also be seen on the die after it was abraded. I personally don't know if anyone had ever got that deep into it. I also don't know if a proved 'before abrasion' example was found, if it would have a premium associated with it. I am also one of those who believes this so called '3 legged variety' should have no premium in the first place.

[DCW]

Premium or no premium, this is one of those coins everyone knows about. Non collectors and collectors alike. Famous as our own '55 doubled die.
As a boy I remember thumbing through the red book and staring at the three legged buffalo of 1937 dreaming of finding it at one of the many flea markets I was carted off to in childhood.
Never did own one, but the allure is still there. Naked eye visible error on one of the most beautiful designs in our coinage.
Nice discussion point, farmer.
Never really thought it out. I guess Im in the camp where a 4 leg and 3 leg exist with same markers somewhere in the world. Probably not in stages, since after polishing the leg completely off the die was probably put back into service right after.
Its probably worth noting here that the same thing happened at the denver mint the year before, less dramatically. 1936-d sports a 3 1/2 legger that is quite rare and valuable.

[Justafarmer]

Yes – I was referring to the 1937-D Three Legged Buffalo Nickel. I didn’t say full legged examples did not exist – only stated I never encountered anyone claiming to have found one. I too lean towards the idea the abrasion occurred after the die was initially placed in service and full legged examples do exist.

Bob, I understand your position concerning the premium associated with this coin and in most instances would agree. But this coin is just too important. It along with a few other coins are the foundation upon which the variety collecting hobby is built. Plus I own a couple and certainly would hate to see their value drop to a buck.

[Roller]

I agree with Bob on this in that I do not agree that its a legitimate variety. Falls in the category of the 1969 D abraded designer's initials on the reverse. Still, there are people willing to pay a premium and I think that is more important than our rumination over legitimacy. I sure would be thrilled to find a three legger.

[dixiejunksales]

Here is link from PCGS site.

http://www.pcgs.com/News/1937-d-3-legged-Buffalo-Nickel-Capturing-Attention

I do not know how long the 3 leg die was run or how many were made. Examples are plentiful on ebay, but mostly midgrade. I have read several stories on the internet about what happened. The main thing that is consistant is the error was a result of the attempt by a new employee to repair a die clash.

Origins are similar to the 1922 No D cent. Reworked damaged or worn out dies. I agree with Roller that is not really a variety. Just a mint error.

BTW. I have 2 and paid a lot of money for them.

[jcuve]

With such a low population and all legitimate examples showing a particular gouge scratch, I would think it was later in the die's life, and then pulled.

[mustbebob]

It along with a few other coins are the foundation upon which the variety collecting hobby is built.

I certainly don't (and won't) dispute anyone's opinion on this coin. It has been a seller for many decades. I also look at other things like the 1980 D/S hat was subsequently debunked. Lots of folks paid big money for examples of this, and now, it is essentially worthless as it is no longer a variety. However, since it was talked up for a lot of years, there is still the residual collectibility.
However to put this coin (the 3-legged Buffalo) in the same category as a 'variety' is incorrect to me. I am sure that if ANY type of abrasion is publicized and raved over enough, it could become another collectible like the 3-legged Buffalo. Some of us are purists in the hobby, but that doesn't mean we don't have views or opinions that others would find a little 'wacky'.

[GrumpyEd]

It gets into semantics, people call them a "3 leg variety" or a "no D variety" but they are not "die varieties".

These coins bring to light that there is a difference between collecting "varieties" and collecting "die varieties".

It's ok to like both but they're different.

[jcuve]

I don't see the 3-legged nickel ever going away. I agree it's abrasion, thereby eliminating it from the true variety category. Coins that bother me more are the low/high leaf quarters and the so called speared bison nickel...

[Justafarmer]

I agree the three legged Buffalo is not a variety but that fact does not change its historical significance to the variety collecting hobby. It along with a few others are the coins which focused collectors attention and searching for coins based on a deviation in the design attributed to a specific working die. The abrasion and markers are unique, easily identified and authenticated. The mainstream coin collecting public loves it. No Buffalo Nickel set is considered complete without an example of this coin. Therefore I have decided to accept it with all its flaws and appreciate it for what is has done and continues to do in promoting our hobby. Plus like I said – I own a couple and as such have a vested interest in it remaining a top dog. Still wouldn’t mind adding a full legged example to my collection though.