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Undoubtedly the most popular variety of the Buffalo nickel series is the 1937-D 3-Legged variety. This erroneous variety occurred in the aftermath of clashed dies, with a mint employee polishing away the damage perhaps too vigorously — the bison’s foremost leg was obliterated in the process. This minting blunder serendipitously created one of the hobby's most famous non-bronze error coins, one well known to many even beyond the numismatic crowd.
While there are no known mintage figures for the 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo nickel, numismatic experts believe approximately 10,000 survive, with the vast majority of these extant in circulated grades. Interestingly, news of this variety hit the public early on, and many 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo nickels were pulled from circulation within months of their release, meaning a good deal of the circulated pieces range from XF40 to AU58. Still, fewer than 15% of these coins are known in uncirculated grades, and they are particularly rare above MS64.
Obverse Description
James Earle Fraser's famous and simple design depicts a Native American chief with the word LIBERTY from 1-2 o'clock. The date is placed on the lower left of the chieftain's bust.
Reverse Description
A full portrait of the bison, Black Diamond, with the words UNITED STATES oF AMERICA at the top periphery with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM just underneath. The denomination FIVE CENTS is spelled out at the bottom. For the Type 1, the denomination is embossed on a flat surface.
Catalog Information
GSID:
3145
Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Obverse Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Obverse Lettering:
LIBERTY, 1937
Reverse Designer:
James Earle Fraser
Reverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, FIVE CENTS
Weight (gr):
5 gr
Weight (oz):
0.1608 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
21.2
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Plain
Variety:
3 Legs
Coin Date:
1937-D
Denomination:
5c
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
Denver
Mint Mark:
D
Mintage:
17,826,000
Coinage Type:
Buffalo nickel
Coinage Years:
1913-1938
Composition:
75% copper; 25% nickel
PCGS #:
3982
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Coin Value History
1937-D 5c 3 Legs MS
Value By Grade
1937-D 5c 3 Legs MS
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
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Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS67 |
|
$132,000 | $1,234 |
| MS67 | - | $102,000 | $1,234 |
| MS66 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS66 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU53 PCGS. CDN: $1,200 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU53. Mintage 17,826,000....
$1,388
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901 -- Corroded -- ANACS Details. Fine Details, Net VG8. Housed in a small-sized holder. Mintage...
$500
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF30 NGC. CDN: $720 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF30. Mintage 17,826,000....
$793
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU58 PCGS. CDN: $2,200 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU58. Mintage 17,826,000....
$2,806
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS62 NGC. ...
$3,172
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU50 PCGS. CDN: $1,150 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU50. Mintage 17,826,000....
$1,226
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901 -- Scratched, Cleaned -- ANACS Details. XF45. Mintage 17,826,000....
$660
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, Good 6 ANACS. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$420
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF20 ANACS. Mintage 17,826,000....
$750
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU55 PCGS. CDN: $1,600 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55. Mintage 17,826,000....
$1,620
1937-D 5C Three-Legged -- Whizzed -- ANACS Details. AU. Net XF40. Housed in a small-sized holder. Mintage 17,826,000....
$1,680
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS63 PCGS....
$4,812
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS64 PCGS. CAC....
$10,800
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS66 NGC....
$26,400
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VG10 PCGS. PCGS Population: (100/10091 and 0/59+). Mintage 17,826,000....
$540
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS65+ PCGS. CAC....
$33,600
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF25 PCGS. Mintage 17,826,000....
$750
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF35 PCGS. CAC. CAC Population: (44/1007). Mintage 17,826,000....
$900
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VG8 NGC. NGC Census: (50/7695). Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$480
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, Fine 15 NGC. NGC Census: (185/7262). PCGS Population: (7/212). Fine 15. Mintage 17,826,000....
$516
Buffalo Nickel 5c Type 1 Reverse, 1913 MS [Type]
Worth: $4 – $13,000
1913 5c Buffalo, Type 1 MS
Worth: $4 – $13,000
1913-D 5c Buffalo, Type 1 MS
Worth: $7 – $40,200
1913-S 5c Buffalo, Type 1 MS
Worth: $22 – $19,200
Buffalo Nickel 5c Type 2 Reverse, 1913-1938 MS [Type]
Worth: $0 – $4,800
1913 5c Buffalo, Type 2 MS
Worth: $4 – $3,120
1913-D 5c Buffalo, Type 2 MS
Worth: $50 – $36,000
1913-S 5c Buffalo, Type 2 MS
Worth: $115 – $30,000
1914 5c MS
Worth: $6 – $4,020
1914/(3) 5c MS
Worth: $150 – $50,000
1914-D 5c MS
Worth: $35 – $21,600
1914-S 5c MS
Worth: $13 – $75,000
1915 5c MS
Worth: $2 – $9,600
1915-D 5c MS
Worth: $8 – $18,000
1915-S 5c MS
Worth: $18 – $50,000
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