3-1/2 leg Buffalo or just a 1916-D on a funky planchet?

OnWithTheHunt

I've found a lot of 3-1/2 leg Buffalos but never a 1916-D. I don't know if this is one or not. From what I've read, the die polishing on this variety isn't as much as on other dates.
The obverse seems really moth-eaten, like the rear leg on a 37-D 3-legger or the rear of a 17-D legger, the reverse is less so, if that means anything.

CaptHenway

Looks normal to me.

AUandAG

If the top is the "3.5 legger" it looks normal to my eyes.

If the bottom is a "double die obverse", that too looks normal to my eyes. Perhaps a 2.5 feather?

bob

Manorcourtman

I vote normal also, sorry.

Manorcourtman

Even after looking at Ron Pope's book a second time I still vote normal. Do you have a close up of the leg available?

johnny9434

it looks normal to me as well

ricko

I vote normal... Cheers, RickO

Tdec1000

Front leg looks a bit weak to me. What does it say in Ron Pope's book?

crazyhounddog

From what I've "herd" never seen with my eyes the 16-D 3 1/2 legged Buff is a hard one to recognize. I have a 16-D graded ms-63 a friend of mine pointed out it my be thee 3 1/2 legged variety but it also looks normal to me so I never took it any further. Please do let us in on the diagnostics. Thanks in advance.

DIMEMAN

Looks like it has 4 legs to me.

TwoFeathers

Here are a few quotes from Ron Pope's book regarding the 1916-D 3HL:

"This is the least effaced of the currently known 3 1/2 legged varieties, and it is not a widely recognized 3HL."
"The weakness of the leg can vary considerably from coin to coin."
"Note the extensive die damage present on both the obverse and the reverse on the specimen pictured."

I do not see the same die damage in this coin as is pictured in Ron's book; so I vote no on this being a 3HL. For those interested in abraded die buffalos, Ron's book is a must read and is available on eBay.

crazyhounddog

<< <i>I've found a lot of 3-1/2 leg Buffalos but never a 1916-D. I don't know if this is one or not. From what I've read, the die polishing on this variety isn't as much as on other dates.
The obverse seems really moth-eaten, like the rear leg on a 37-D 3-legger or the rear of a 17-D legger, the reverse is less so, if that means anything.

>>



From the "Abraded Die Varieties" book by Ron Pope he says ...Extensive die damage is seen on both the obverse and reverse of the coin. Also, the image he is showing in the book DOES show a good part of the Buffs right front leg. So, I believe it is possible this could be one. The image in the book, for this variety, show both the obverse and reverse looks moth eaten very similar to the coin your showing.

RichieURich

Looks like the 3 1/2 legger to me. As was eloquently stated by crazyhounddog, the 1916-D 3 1/2 leg variety has less of the leg missing than do the other dates of 3 1/2 leggers.

BTW, even for the 3 1/2 leg varieties of the other dates, the weakness of the partial leg can vary. The one you want to get is the one with the most leg missing.

Shamika

Were is Ron? We need to hear from him.

buffnut

<< <i>Were is Ron? We need to hear from him. >>





I think this coin has the potential for 3 1/2 status- it may be an earlier state of the die before more of the leg was abraded. Even on the 'real deal' examples, it isn't as obvious as the other leggers.

koynekwest

Looks like the the correct die to me but of an earlier die state than I've seen before. Unlike other coins (except perhaps some VAMs) the 3 1/2 legged varieties are more desirable in a late die state than an earlier one, which equates to a weaker leg.

This variety may not be very dramatic but if it's viewed side by side with a "normal" '16-D the difference should be easy to see. It is tough to find.

koynekwest

<< <i>

<< <i>Were is Ron? We need to hear from him. >>





I think this coin has the potential for 3 1/2 status- it may be an earlier state of the die before more of the leg was abraded. Even on the 'real deal' examples, it isn't as obvious as the other leggers. >>



Very well stated!!

BUFFNIXX

Yes, as Ron said this is the correct die. Another pick up point is the line under the six in the date, which is visible in this photo. It is only when you put a 16-d 3 and one half legger side by side with a normal 1916-d that the difference becomes quite noticeable.