1937-D 5C 3 Legs Buffalo Nickel PCGS MS64

1937-D 5C 3 Legs Buffalo Nickel PCGS MS64
PCGS # 3982
Grading Service PCGS
Grade MS64
Mint Location Denver
Year 1937
Designation
Strike Business
Grade Add On NONE
1937-D 5C 3 Legs Buffalo Nickel PCGS MS64
1937-D 5C 3 Legs
SKU: 53726627
A famed and instantly recognizable Buffalo Nickel variety, this 1937-D “3-Legged” Nickel is certified PCGS MS64 and offers the strong visual impact that has made the issue one of the most celebrated mint-made errors in all of 20th-century United States numismatics.
James Earle Fraser’s Buffalo Nickel design remains one of the most admired motifs in American coinage. The obverse presents the composite right-facing portrait of a Native American with LIBERTY at the right rim and the date 1937 below, accompanied by the Denver mintmark. The reverse displays the iconic American bison standing above FIVE CENTS, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around the upper periphery and E PLURIBUS UNUM at upper right, translated as “Out of many, one.” On this famous variety, the bison’s front right leg is missing, the result of excessive die polishing after clash marks were removed from the reverse die.
In MS64, this example sits at an especially desirable level for collectors seeking a balance of quality, eye appeal, and affordability within this famous issue. The surfaces retain attractive satiny to softly frosted luster with warm golden-gray coloration and pleasing overall brightness. Strike definition is solid for the issue, with the major design elements remaining bold, while the distinctive missing foreleg is plainly evident at a glance. Light field chatter and scattered contact marks are consistent with the assigned grade, but the coin remains notably appealing, with strong type character and the kind of visual immediacy that has made the variety a perennial collector favorite.
The 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo Nickel occupies a special place in the Buffalo Nickel series and in the broader culture of American coin collecting. Unlike many collected varieties that require magnification or specialist knowledge, this dramatic die-polishing error is visible even to non-specialists. It emerged from the Denver Mint in the final full year of regular Buffalo Nickel production, adding further interest to a series already beloved for its distinctly American artistry. Mid-20th-century dealers and writers helped elevate the coin to legendary status, and it has remained ever since one of the hobby’s most widely recognized and eagerly pursued varieties.
Although the Denver Mint produced 17,826,000 nickels in 1937, only a tiny fraction were struck from the improperly polished reverse die responsible for the 3-Legged variety. As such, the issue is collected not by date alone but as a major variety with its own established following. PCGS reports a population of 213 in MS64, with only 106 graded finer, confirming its scarcity in this select condition tier. That combination of broad name recognition, genuine rarity in upper Mint State, and enduring demand ensures continued market strength. For Buffalo Nickel specialists, major variety collectors, and type collectors alike, this is a semi-key trophy issue with unquestioned numismatic importance.
Few American coin varieties combine fame, historical intrigue, and immediate visual appeal as successfully as the 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo Nickel. This certified MS64 example represents an outstanding opportunity to acquire one of the classic coins of the U.S. series.