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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, AU55 NGC. Formerly FS-020.2. CDN: $1,600 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55. Mintage 17,826,000....
$1,708
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS62 PCGS. ...
$3,782
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, Fine 12 PCGS. CDN: $500 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS Fine 12. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$610
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, XF40 PCGS. CDN: $900 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF40. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$1,159
1937-D Buffalo Nickel. FS-901. 3-Legged. AU-58 (NGC).
$2,318
1937-D Buffalo Nickel. FS-901. 3-Legged. MS-64 (NGC).
$6,710
1937-D Buffalo Nickel. FS-901. 3-Legged. MS-63 (PCGS). CAC.
$7,320
1937-D Buffalo Nickel. FS-901. 3-Legged. EF-45 (NGC).
$1,708
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF30 ANACS. Housed in a small-sized holder. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$885
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU50 ANACS. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$1,129
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS61 NGC. ...
$2,928
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS66 NGC. ...
$26,840
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF20 PCGS. CAC. CDN: $690 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF20. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$1,037
1937-D Buffalo Nickel. FS-901. 3-Legged. Fine-15 (PCGS).
$600
1937-D Buffalo Nickel. FS-901. 3-Legged. MS-65 (PCGS).
$25,200
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF35 PCGS. CDN: $840 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF35. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$946
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, Good 6 ANACS. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$420
1937-D Buffalo Nickel. FS-901. 3-Legged. EF Details--Scratch (PCGS).
$900
1937-D Buffalo Nickel. FS-901. 3-Legged. VG-10 (PCGS).
$504
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: $8 – $40,200
1913-S 5c Buffalo, Type 1 MS
Worth: $16 – $19,200
Buffalo Nickel 5c Type 2 Reverse, 1913-1938 MS [Type]
Worth: $0 – $4,800
1913 5c Buffalo, Type 2 MS
Worth: $5 – $3,600
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: $14 – $75,000
1915 5c MS
Worth: $3 – $9,600
1915-D 5c MS
Worth: $8 – $18,000
1915-S 5c MS
Worth: $24 – $50,000
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Events
Midlands Coin Club Coin, Currency and Collectibles Show - SC
Location: Medallion Center
Friday, May 1, 2026
