Three 3 1/2 Leg Buffalo Nickels
BuffaloIronTail
Posts: 7,740 ✭✭✭✭✭
Don't look past these rather obscure 3 1/2 leg Buffalo Nickels. 1926-D, 1927-D, and 1936-D (FS-901) are often overlooked when Buffalo hunting.
The same fate befell these Buffs as did the famous 1937-D 3 Legger. I speculate that the same employee might be responsible for inflicting the damage in the process of removing clash marks.
You see, the front leg on "Black Diamond" has a very shallow relief, and being at the front position is easily attenuated, and if you don't watch what you're doing, the leg will start to disappear.
That's what happened to the three shown here. The realized price at auction for them is more than I imagined until I sought them out for this thread.
Collecting is fun.
Pete
Pete
"I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
6
Comments
Amazing that basically coins resulting from sloppy work at the mint fetch such astounding amounts from coin collectors. Buffalo nickel missing part of a leg doesn't capture my imagination. If I had example of one of the three pieces seen above it would definitely be for sale.
The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.
Albert Einstein (14 March 1879--18 April 1955)
That’s good information, although I don’t need more people looking for them as it diminishes my chances. I did find this one this year in a part set I won on eBay. It was in the old blue Whitman folder so the reverse was never visible.
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Good luck finding one.
Pete
I have never picked one.
It would be cool to own one.
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Interesting information
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do you know if pope's book still the authoritative reference for various abraded die buffalo nickels?
Thank you for the insights @BuffaloIronTail ☺️
The very very Fine one is so very very expensive ……. To the point where I see NO LEGs 😬
There are also 3 1/2 legged buffalo nickels from 1913 (type 1,) 1916-D, and 1917-D, according to CoinFacts.
Over the years, I have seen a lot of 3 leggers. They are not scarce. I do not consider them errors. Just shoddy workmanship.
YMMV.
Far as I'm concerned, it will always be.
I don't see anyone putting in years of their life to prove otherwise,
Pete
My post never said that what I've shown was all of them.
Pete
I had a 1936 D 3 1/2 I in AU 50 I sold at Fun a few years ago. Got about 2/3 it's value but that's how it goes sometimes. They are quite rare.
There are also 3 1/2 legged buffalo nickels from 1913 (type 1,) 1916-D, and 1917-D, according to CoinFacts.
So what I'm hearing is that 3-1/2 legged Buffalo nickels, when one considers all the dates 1913 to 1938, are not really that scarce. A common mint botch coin, in other words.
I had a 1936 D 3 1/2 I in AU 50 I sold at Fun a few years ago. Got about 2/3 it's value but that's how it goes sometimes. They are quite rare.
Good for you. Did you get 2/3 of wholesale value or 2/3 of retail? Either way you did good. I once overheard a show dealer telling another show dealer that he had found "many" 1936-D 3-1/2 leg nickels by going through large lots of Buffalo nickels. This was when they were relatively unknown as a variety. There very well could be dealers like the one I overheard bragging to the other dealer sitting on scary high numbers of 3-1/2 legged Buffalo nickels.
The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.
Albert Einstein (14 March 1879--18 April 1955)
I have a quantity of Buffalo nickels that I acquired years ago.... Some in a lot I acquired... many others in 2x2's.... I have never scrutinized them for varieties etc. One cold, snowy winter day - perhaps. Probably a 3 1/2 legger in there somewhere... maybe - or not.
Cheers, RickO
Varieties like these cause a limp.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
all useful information
..................and a hobble.
Here's the 1917-D 3 1/2 legger:
Pete
Thanks, Pete. I think the 3 1/2 leg coins are cool and I also like the two feather varieties. The 26-D is a beautiful Buffalo regardless of variety - that’s a tough date for strike.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Only 3 1/2 leg in PCGS price guide is 1936D. NGC lists 27D,, 17D and 13TI (P). No 36D listed Does this lack of listings indicate these are scarce?
I think it’s quite the opposite