Famous Coins Three-Legged Buffalo

Famous Coins Three-Legged Buffalo

There are many individuals throughout history who have found errors or mistakes and misprints on coins or other items to be fascinating and something that they may be interested in collecting. One error that happens when it comes to coins, specifically nickels, is the three legged buffalo nickels that were made in 1937. Many people enjoy this figure which is part of why it has been so largely forged. There is, however, many ways to be able to tell if the con is a forgery or an actual three legged buffalo coin.
If you are looking at one to buy you will want to make sure that it has been carefully checked, but if you are looking at three legged buffalo coins and trying to decipher for yourself if they are actual copies or not then you can look at some main factors. These main factors include that the side of the beard of the buffalo that is to the right is longer than the other side, the rear leg that is farthest back seems to be a weak print, no markings in the area where the leg is not present and when you look at the saying “Pluribus and Unum” above the back of the buffalo is should not be actually touching the back.

The designer of the 1937 five cents coin was James Earle Fraser and the mintmark is a “D” which means that these coins where mint in Denver Colorado at the United States Denver Mint. Unlike many other coins the sides of the 1937 buffalo three legged nickel are plain rather then leeded or having any other types of markings. The artist’s initial “F” is able to be seen underneath the gate and the model for the buffalo was in fact the buffalo “Black Diamond” who lived in the New York Central Park Zoo.