1937-D 3 leg, How do you tell its the real thing??

jabba · November 16, 2005 1:32AM

Ive been looking at some 3 legs raw, how can I tell they are real??? Any one have pics of real and fake?
David

Russ · November 16, 2005 1:43AM

Check to see if the buffalo is taking a piss.

Russ, NCNE

fivecents · November 16, 2005 1:47AM

What Russ said. I believe these are a line of die chips that look like Black Diamond is peeing.

Barndog · November 16, 2005 1:50AM

There are more pick-up points too. A counterfeit detection book or guide will help. For example, most will tell you to look for a "moth-eaten" rear (far right) leg.

Merc · November 16, 2005 1:59AM

There are several ways to tell if is real. The 3 legged buffalo was made from clashed dies that were heavily polished to remove the clash marks. The polishing removed the leg, plus made other distinctive marks. The easiest one to see is the raised line of dots from the underside of the buffalo to the ground or as Russ called it “taking a piss”. The buffalo's rear leg (closest to the rim) is always weak (moth eaten look). If the mint employees had polished that die a bit more, it would have made 2 legged buffalos! The polishing also shrank the buffalo. There is a bigger gap between the buffalo’s back and the motto. The fur from the buffalo’s chin is slightly pointer and separates into 2 points.

On the obverse, the back of the Indian’s neck is much weaker and rougher looking due to the polishing.

Most fakes are made by polishing off the Buffalo’s leg. This alteration should be easy to see. The real ones still have the hoof of the missing leg.

vega1 · November 16, 2005 2:05AM

Stupid observation perhaps, but one sure way is to buy it slabbed and crack it out if you want it raw but authentic.

Edited to add: Assuming a trusted TPG obviously

michael · November 16, 2005 2:39AM

check out this web site

http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/4044/Questions.html

jabba · November 16, 2005 3:22AM

Thanks guys, Thank god I didnt pick up the raw one at the show over the weekend! It didnt have a lot of the details you guys pointed out.
David

BuffaloIronTail · November 16, 2005 3:23AM

Once you see a genuine 3-leg, you'll be able to tell the difference in the future, as all of the things that were said previously will stick out.

There is one more, though.

ALL genuine 3-legs will have the inside of the bottom feather on Iron Tail abraided.

Look real close, and you'll see that the feather does not touch the Indian....

Hope this helps.

Pete

poorguy · November 16, 2005 3:29AM

Here's a large size image of a 3-leg. Feel free to guess the grade also.

BuffaloIronTail · November 16, 2005 3:38AM

Nice, detailed pic, Brandon.

If that IS NOT a tiny bit of rub on Black Diamond's rump..........

The coin is a 64.

Pete

poorguy · November 16, 2005 4:25AM

If that IS NOT a tiny bit of rub on Black Diamond's rump..........

It isn't. I was pleasantly surprised at the grade NGC gave the coin considering I was the buyer.

topstuf · November 16, 2005 4:44AM

Right click on the image and save it to disk for reference.

mgoodm3 · November 16, 2005 4:46AM

One other thing is that the front hoof is quite low relief on the real ones. Made ones generally have a high-relief front hoof.

poorguy · November 16, 2005 7:32AM

NGC actually graded it an MS62 if anyone was interested.

BillJones · November 16, 2005 7:34AM

<< <i>Check to see if the buffalo is taking a piss.

Russ, NCNE >>

Look for a rust mark on the back of the Indian's neck.

MikeInFL · November 16, 2005 7:39AM

If he walks with a limp...Mike

golddustin · November 16, 2005 7:48AM

I can show you a fake one!

I still keep it as a reminder of my newbie days....I've had it so long I forget where I bought it!

jabba · November 16, 2005 7:56AM

Now that I have seen the pic I think the one I looked at was a fake, good thing I did not buy it!
Thanks again guys

1937-D 3 leg, How do you tell its the real thing??

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