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1937-D 5c 3 Legs, FS-901 MS

Greysheet & CPG® Values
1937-D 5c 3 Legs, FS-901 MS
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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: 376679
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
Variety 2: FS-901
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 #: 38475
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Coin Value History
1937-D 5c 3 Legs, FS-901 MS
Value By Grade
1937-D 5c 3 Legs, FS-901 MS
CPG (retail) values
Value by grade is available to subscribers. Subscribe to View

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
GSID:376679 PCGS:38475 Shop related

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values by grade for 1937-D 5c 3 Legs, FS-901 MS
Grade CAC CPG Value (Retail) Greysheet Price (Wholesale)
MS67 CAC $132,000 $1,234
MS67 - $102,000 $1,234
MS66 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS66 - $1,234 $1,234
MS65 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS65 - $1,234 $1,234
MS64 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS64 - $1,234 $1,234
MS63 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS63 - $1,234 $1,234
MS62 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS62 - $1,234 $1,234
MS61 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS61 - $1,234 $1,234
MS60 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS60 - $1,234 $1,234
AU58 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU58 - $1,234 $1,234
AU55 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU55 - $1,234 $1,234
AU53 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU53 - $1,234 $1,234
AU50 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU50 - $1,234 $1,234
XF45 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF45 - $1,234 $1,234
XF40 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF40 - $1,234 $1,234
VF35 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF35 - $1,234 $1,234
VF30 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF30 - $1,234 $1,234
VF25 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF25 - $1,234 $1,234
VF20 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF20 - $1,234 $1,234
F15 CAC $1,234 $1,234
F15 - $1,234 $1,234
F12 CAC $1,234 $1,234
F12 - $1,234 $1,234
VG10 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VG10 - $1,234 $1,234
VG8 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VG8 - $1,234 $1,234
G6 CAC $1,234 $1,234
G6 - $1,234 $1,234
G4 CAC $1,234 $1,234
G4 - $1,234 $1,234
AG3 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AG3 - $1,234 $1,234

Related Items

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Auction Prices

Recent public sale records for this item
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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....
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
Sold 7/18/2026
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS62 PCGS. ...
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS62 PCGS. ...
$3,782
Sold 7/17/2026
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, Fine 12 PCGS. CDN: $500 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS Fine 12. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, Fine 12 PCGS. CDN: $500 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS Fine 12. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$610
Sold 6/23/2026
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, XF40 PCGS. CDN: $900 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF40. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, XF40 PCGS. CDN: $900 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF40. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$1,159
Sold 6/23/2026
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU58 NGC. CDN: $2,300 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU58. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU58 NGC. CDN: $2,300 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU58. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$2,440
Sold 6/16/2026
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF30 ANACS. Housed in a small-sized holder. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF30 ANACS. Housed in a small-sized holder. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$885
Sold 5/26/2026
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU50 ANACS. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU50 ANACS. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$1,129
Sold 5/5/2026
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS61 NGC. ...
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS61 NGC. ...
$2,928
Sold 5/1/2026
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS66 NGC. ...
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS66 NGC. ...
$26,840
Sold 4/29/2026
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, XF45 PCGS. CAC. CDN: $1,020 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF45. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, XF45 PCGS. CAC. CDN: $1,020 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF45. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$1,342
Sold 4/28/2026
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF20 PCGS. CAC. CDN: $690 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF20. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF20 PCGS. CAC. CDN: $690 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF20. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$1,037
Sold 4/20/2026
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS64 NGC. ...
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS64 NGC. ...
$6,710
Sold 3/27/2026
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF35 PCGS. CDN: $840 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF35. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF35 PCGS. CDN: $840 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF35. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$946
Sold 3/3/2026
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU53 PCGS. CDN: $1,200 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU53. Mintage 17,826,000....
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, AU53 PCGS. CDN: $1,200 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU53. Mintage 17,826,000....
$1,388
Sold 1/27/2026
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, Good 6 ANACS. Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$420
Sold 12/9/2025
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS63 PCGS....
$4,812
Sold 10/2/2025
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VG10 PCGS. PCGS Population: (100/10091 and 0/59+). Mintage 17,826,000....
$540
Sold 8/5/2025
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, MS65+ PCGS. CAC....
$33,600
Sold 7/17/2025
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VF25 PCGS. Mintage 17,826,000....
$750
Sold 6/3/2025
Heritage Auctions
1937-D 5C Three-Legged, FS-901, VG8 NGC. NGC Census: (50/7695). Mintage 17,826,000. ...
$480
Sold 11/19/2024
Heritage Auctions
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